Osama Bin Laden's Wife Not Killed In Raid: U.S. Official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A woman killed during the raid of Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan was not his wife and was not used as a human shield by the al Qaeda leader before his death, a U.S. official said on Monday, correcting an earlier description.

John Brennan, President Barack Obama's top counter- terrorism adviser, told reporters earlier that the slain woman had been one of bin Laden's wives and had been used -- perhaps voluntarily -- as a shield during the firefight.

However, a different White House official said that account had turned out not to be the case. Bin Laden's wife was injured but not killed in the assault.

U.S. officials have said a small U.S. strike team, dropped by helicopter to bin Laden's hide-out near the Pakistani capital of Islamabad under cover of night, shot the al Qaeda leader dead with bullets to the chest and head. He did not return fire.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Alister Bull; editing by Christopher Wilson)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[G Carey]

05:45 AM on 05/04/2011

My point was Mmadog, which you seem to keep missing is WE DID NOT NEED BIN LADEN to find a reason to either attack or defend others around the globe, particularly in the middle east. Sometimes we fight for ultruistic reasons, but there have to be other mitigating factors, like an announcement from Gadafi that he was going door to door to kill innocents. We can not presume to second guess what our leaders know for sure. We can only elect those we believe will do the best they can with what they have, and make the right decisions

Those decisions don't include allowing a terrorist who murdered 3,000 innocent Americans to live JUST for an excuse to fight other battles in the middle east. Or to claim he is alive even if he's dead just for a reason to carry on other operations.

You read too many novels. geesh

[hairydodger]

10:49 PM on 05/03/2011

He's dead. Let's get out of spending two billion dollars a week and bring our troops home. We could spend that here.

[johnscncmachine]

06:53 PM on 05/03/2011

what incorrect info from the government,,unheard of

[BBLOND]

07:46 PM on 05/03/2011

TYPICAL OF THIS ADMINISTRATION

[fpfp040408]

06:46 PM on 05/03/2011

Proof again why President OBAMA so richly deserves the Nobel Peace Prize !! By acting with such courage and wisdom Obama has promoted and preserved peace by helping to eliminate terrorists & terrorism !!

[engnmechanic]

06:52 PM on 05/03/2011

Probably didn't know what was going on congrays to him ha ha

[BBLOND]

07:47 PM on 05/03/2011

HE OK'S THE SHOOTING IN THE HEAD -MAYBE SHOULD GIVE THE PEACE PRIZE BACK

[fpfp040408]

06:43 PM on 05/03/2011

Another promise delivered on by President OBAMA !! 2012 GUARANTEED !!

[Ayngel Overson]

06:42 PM on 05/03/2011

Lol, once again the media rushes to tell the story, and facts get skewed, and years from now we will be hearing this as proof for yet another conspiracy theory. It always takes a week or two for the real story to come out... I'll wait.

[BBLOND]

07:47 PM on 05/03/2011

THE WHITEHOUSE CAN'T KEEP THEIR STORY STRAIGHT

[Michael Cimino]

08:46 PM on 05/03/2011

Simply because this is a Obama re-election convoy... The story just doesnt sound like it is complete... And why would they shoot an un-armed man.. Saddam was the president of his country and was taken in without being killed. How/Why would they kill an un-armed man?

[fpfp040408]

06:40 PM on 05/03/2011

OBAMA ***2012 *** A great & courageous world leader who acted with strength, determination, and resolve !! President OBAMA got the job DONE !!

[Michael Cimino]

08:47 PM on 05/03/2011

What exactly did Obama do... I do not recall him leaving the US... So how are you going to pin this on him? It was our military you baboon...

[holyghostie]

09:21 PM on 05/03/2011

He ordered the strategy to find him, and the operation to monitor the house....and the decision to send the teams in. Commander in Chief a Democrat kept you safe.

[caramelosdos]

06:35 PM on 05/03/2011

OK guys, let's get the story right! There are enough doubters out there who are looking
for any little excuse to deny his death. These "corrected" accounts only add fuel to the fire.

[nmaddog7]

06:19 PM on 05/03/2011

I knew , I just knew this was a lie,from the moment I heard it. It simply fit too nicely with the Muslims hid behind women/children and that's why are "smart" "surgical" bomb strikes kill so many innocent civilians- also, would a human shield have helped in this case? No, the guns our soldiers use will go right through a human "shield" and we even have tech that allows soldiers to aim and fire right through walls,around right angle corners,etc that any soldier fighting us would know about.
I really wonder how many of these events which seem to portray Muslims as women hating madmen are really in fact lies? Or simply instigated, like the abuse of the anchorwoman in Tahir square- I have a feeling this was either made up, or instigated/planned(by plan I mean they knew how bad Tahir Sq was and dropped a hot western reporter in there) by this poor woman's employer,desperate for ratings and fulfilling the Muslims all hate women quota. What are some others: obviousy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction one, in Iran the shooting of that poor women(I have a feeling this was also a media ploy,either real or not by western media), and the media created flag burning Muslim crowds.
How about covering an average Muslim family,young man/woman? Well maybe about 1% of coverage dedicated towards Muslims. We have the drunk Chris Hitchens for making it legit to dismiss the entire Muslim world as if it was one block.

[Culpepper]

07:10 PM on 05/03/2011

While I think you are well-intentioned playing the devil's advocate, you might want to explore the subject you are so passioinate about a little more carefully. I would venture to guess that most Americans do not see the Muslim community as women-haters or contribute to the hate and violence perpetrated by people who abuse the Muslim faith to further their hateful agenda. Bin Laden was a wanted fugitive responsible for thousands of deaths, many, many of whom were Muslims. He was a disgrace to humankind and disgusting in the abuse of his Muslim relgion. With his resources, his education and charisma, he had every means at his disposal to make a positive impact on the world. Instead he chose the tools of death, and that will be his legacy.

[tfcrow]

05:48 PM on 05/03/2011

Bin Laden's final words.Shouldn't have bought that PS3.

[eazygoing2u]

05:47 PM on 05/03/2011

This whole incident is nothing ut an Obama photo op.. After all Bin Laden was killed almost a week before any reports were handed out. You see they had to perpair for the political sideshow that will take place for the next couple months on how Obama got Bin Laden when infact he most likely never knew anything about the mission until it was over.. These types of missions were routine events over there. They get an intelligence report they think might be good.. They send a team out to investigate --most of time coming up empty..This time it hadn't..

Now the liberal government wants to play with your head and trying to make you think Obama was involved in every detail of the mission..If you believe that one --well I got some swamp land to sell you..

[engnmechanic]

06:08 PM on 05/03/2011

It is somewhat interesting to see how this incident with OBL just happen to come up at this time. Between the photo ops, sound bite's so on. Sure seems to be bailing out Obama at the moment. Maybe.

[castlekram]

06:10 PM on 05/03/2011

Are you saying that Bush knew everything about Iraq's WMD before he sent in our troops, or when Bush stated to the nation "Mission Accomplished"?

[Krisgi]

05:34 PM on 05/03/2011

Did OBL fire back or not? I am so confused.

[engnmechanic]

06:34 PM on 05/03/2011

No

[lorenardgerunner]

05:19 PM on 05/03/2011

Several have mentioned in their posts that the killing of Usama Bin Laden will make it a shoo in for
Pres Obama in 2012.. It goes to show the mentality of many posters on here..If you think this incident will convince people to reelect Pres Obama.. Lets look at the over all picture..violations of the constitution, lies, failure to listen to the american people...This is just a distraction and I might say--a well planned one... Lets look at the Czars giving orders to our president...All communist, socialists, believers in Mao and his teachings..There are still some in this country who do not want to live under those principals.. NO..there is more at stake than killing Usama Bin Laden..
Way more !!! God Bless American and the principals that this country was founded on...Not what has been taught by liberals and secular humanist school teachers thru the years...

[prosepo]

05:36 PM on 05/03/2011

The same could be said of Bush of every point you made of Obama.
Liberals are also the American people. It's very arrogant for anyone party to say the other is not. YesGod Bless America! For this great land has the ability to support all not just one ideal. Just because you disagree with someone does not make them anti-american

[castlekram]

06:12 PM on 05/03/2011

GO TRUMP-

[tbwest84]

05:18 PM on 05/03/2011

What a minute what happened to the policy of adhering to the Army field manual . Hmmm
the Seals must have forgotten it. Pretty much everything this President says is meaningless

[sagmann]

04:54 PM on 05/03/2011

My micro-bio has been "pending" for more than a week now. Shoul I suppose that "somebody" feels that "People First" is too "provocative"?