Comments on: US official: "Can you imagine what's on Osama bin Laden's hard drive?" http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 21:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: bzishi http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099268 bzishi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099268 When they had the intelligence in late 2010 it would have been easy to have hit the compound with JDAMs or cruise missiles and then justify the killing of civilians with the term "high value target". There were a lot of chances for this to be screwed up by having bin Laden tipped off or for the helicopters to be intercepted by Pakistan. If this mission would have failed, there is no question it would have cost Obama another term and would have been a major morale booster and propaganda tool for al Qaeda. I am impressed that even with the incredible potential for a mishap that Obama still selected the option that was implemented. This action killed the leader of al Qaeda while minimizing civilian casualties and maximizing intelligence gains. Truly this was a gutsy move. I think it is going to take a while for the significance of this action to sink in. When they had the intelligence in late 2010 it would have been easy to have hit the compound with JDAMs or cruise missiles and then justify the killing of civilians with the term “high value target”. There were a lot of chances for this to be screwed up by having bin Laden tipped off or for the helicopters to be intercepted by Pakistan. If this mission would have failed, there is no question it would have cost Obama another term and would have been a major morale booster and propaganda tool for al Qaeda.

I am impressed that even with the incredible potential for a mishap that Obama still selected the option that was implemented. This action killed the leader of al Qaeda while minimizing civilian casualties and maximizing intelligence gains. Truly this was a gutsy move. I think it is going to take a while for the significance of this action to sink in.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099524 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099524 I am guessing Angry Birds..... I am guessing Angry Birds…..

]]> By: bimtott http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099269 bimtott Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099269 I'd love to see a pirated copy of The Hangover. Or his backed up iPhone geolocation file. I’d love to see a pirated copy of The Hangover.

Or his backed up iPhone geolocation file.

]]> By: JM http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099532 JM Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099532 The best records in Free Cell ever. The best records in Free Cell ever.

]]> By: slk http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099279 slk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099279 Considering he's an ex-CIA spook, I'd hope for some incriminating evidence against his handlers... which would never see the light of day. Considering he’s an ex-CIA spook, I’d hope for some incriminating evidence against his handlers… which would never see the light of day.

]]> By: Jeremiah Cornelius http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099286 Jeremiah Cornelius Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099286 Psyop? What if? What if OBL died of renal failure in 2001, and has been a useful "Goldstein" for 10 years? What? No body? Really? Hey. So much for forensic verification. Maybe they took him to wherever the steel from the WTC wound up. But wait a minute. This came from the CIA. They don't lie anymore. Psyop? What if?

What if OBL died of renal failure in 2001, and has been a useful “Goldstein” for 10 years?

What? No body? Really? Hey. So much for forensic verification. Maybe they took him to wherever the steel from the WTC wound up.

But wait a minute. This came from the CIA. They don’t lie anymore.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1100054 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1100054 Classic version of Prince of Per...Pakistan! Classic version of Prince of Per…Pakistan!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1100057 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1100057 If I were him I would use Google Docs. If I were him I would use Google Docs.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099295 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099295 In that case, you ought not to putting these ideas into Al Qaeda's heads. :P In that case, you ought not to putting these ideas into Al Qaeda’s heads. :P

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099307 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099307 "Can you imagine what's on Osama bin Laden's hard drive?" I'd wager "various Excel spreadsheets, a collection of family photos, and a music collection (128kbps MP3, natch) entitled 'Osama's Favorites'" “Can you imagine what’s on Osama bin Laden’s hard drive?”

I’d wager “various Excel spreadsheets, a collection of family photos, and a music collection (128kbps MP3, natch) entitled ‘Osama’s Favorites’”

]]> By: voiceinthedistance http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099308 voiceinthedistance Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099308 A friend of a friend told me that he was way into Mario Brothers, and that the guy had bowled three perfect games in Wii Sports. It will all come out soon enough. A friend of a friend told me that he was way into Mario Brothers, and that the guy had bowled three perfect games in Wii Sports. It will all come out soon enough.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099821 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099821 Al Qaeda's biggest secret: OBL was the guy in goatse. Al Qaeda’s biggest secret: OBL was the guy in goatse.

]]> By: Major Variola (ret) http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099568 Major Variola (ret) Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099568 Did he use Vi or Emacs? or keep a copy of Wordperfect going? Did he use Vi or Emacs?

or keep a copy of Wordperfect going?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099574 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099574 Option 1: They got the stash of computers and media. That's an incredibly valuable find regardless of what and how much is on it. Option 2: They found nothing and the assertion is smoke & mirrors (which I very much doubt considering what we already know, but not having been there myself I must consider it a possibility). That would still be a very valuable move, because it would cause panic and commotion in terrorist circles and they'd stir up dust and leave traces in the process, since it would be too dangerous for them to just sit still and wait it out. Option 1: They got the stash of computers and media. That’s an incredibly valuable find regardless of what and how much is on it.

Option 2: They found nothing and the assertion is smoke & mirrors (which I very much doubt considering what we already know, but not having been there myself I must consider it a possibility). That would still be a very valuable move, because it would cause panic and commotion in terrorist circles and they’d stir up dust and leave traces in the process, since it would be too dangerous for them to just sit still and wait it out.

]]> By: Neko http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099834 Neko Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099834 Illegal torrents, no doubt! Illegal torrents, no doubt!

]]> By: S1s3but0 http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099332 S1s3but0 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099332 A senior White House official who insists on staying anonymous told the press OBL holds the current speed record on Minesweeper and Spider Solitaire, but that they are doing everything in their power to beat these standing records which could only have been achieved after years of training. All fun aside, rumor has it they found photos of him posing with a former US president. A senior White House official who insists on staying anonymous told the press OBL holds the current speed record on Minesweeper and Spider Solitaire, but that they are doing everything in their power to beat these standing records which could only have been achieved after years of training.

All fun aside, rumor has it they found photos of him posing with a former US president.

]]> By: glamaFez http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099849 glamaFez Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099849 The music from Wolfenstein 3D makes a great soundtrack for reading about the mission. The music from Wolfenstein 3D makes a great soundtrack for reading about the mission.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099342 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099342 A backup of his iPhone. A backup of his iPhone.

]]> By: Orkney Mutant http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099348 Orkney Mutant Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099348 Wait a minute, I thought that part of the reason his compound was even suspected was due to its lack of an internet connection. I'm betting he wasn't really big on email correspondence (a fact perhaps reinforced by all his hand delivered videos). Wait a minute, I thought that part of the reason his compound was even suspected was due to its lack of an internet connection. I’m betting he wasn’t really big on email correspondence (a fact perhaps reinforced by all his hand delivered videos).

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099361 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099361 Porn. Porn. Porn. And Civilization III. Porn. Porn. Porn. And Civilization III.

]]> By: huntsu http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099383 huntsu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099383 Either way ... Either way …

]]> By: Toff http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099389 Toff Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099389 It would be interesting to know what's on those hard drives. @Orkney Mutant: it's possible he did read and write e-mails, but didn't send or receive them at the compound, instead having the couriers bringing the computers in and out. However, according to Islamic burial customs, the Navy SEALS dumped the hard drives into the ocean. It would be interesting to know what’s on those hard drives. @Orkney Mutant: it’s possible he did read and write e-mails, but didn’t send or receive them at the compound, instead having the couriers bringing the computers in and out.

However, according to Islamic burial customs, the Navy SEALS dumped the hard drives into the ocean.

]]> By: Orkney Mutant http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099397 Orkney Mutant Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099397 I imagine it was to prevent their final resting place becoming some kind of shrine for al-Qaeda's computer club. I imagine it was to prevent their final resting place becoming some kind of shrine for al-Qaeda’s computer club.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1100171 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1100171 We knew about other failed "secret" missions. The failed Lebanon rescue of hostages in 79. The "Bay of Pigs". Trust me, if we went attacking into another country some 50 miles from their capitol and killed a bunch of civilians, we would find out about it. We knew about other failed “secret” missions. The failed Lebanon rescue of hostages in 79. The “Bay of Pigs”.

Trust me, if we went attacking into another country some 50 miles from their capitol and killed a bunch of civilians, we would find out about it.

]]> By: ultranaut http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099916 ultranaut Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099916 I'd be happy if they just released a screenshot of his desktop I’d be happy if they just released a screenshot of his desktop

]]> By: dole http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099930 dole Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099930 Duke Nukem Forever release candidates Duke Nukem Forever release candidates

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099678 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099678 77 million playstation network account details? 77 million playstation network account details?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099935 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099935 I thought that the story was that the Bin Laden compound was "off the grid" with no access to telephone or internet. In which case, what would be on the thumb drives, etc? I bet any equipment is being examined with the intention of prosecution by the RIAA for multiple ripped copies of "Never Gonna Give You Up." Somehow this just seems odd to me. I thought that the story was that the Bin Laden compound was “off the grid” with no access to telephone or internet. In which case, what would be on the thumb drives, etc? I bet any equipment is being examined with the intention of prosecution by the RIAA for multiple ripped copies of “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

Somehow this just seems odd to me.

]]> By: Taniwha http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099177 Taniwha Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099177 Come onwe all know that 99% of it will be spam and pictures of women in burqas showing their ankles Come onwe all know that 99% of it will be spam and pictures of women in burqas showing their ankles

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/02/us-official-can-you.html#comment-1099179 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1099179 The best porn stash in all of Pakistan, mark my words. The best porn stash in all of Pakistan, mark my words.

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