WERE THE CHILDREN IN THE OBL COMPOUND ARMED?

I am reminded of the ridiculous claims in the case of Gerry Conlon in which it was claimed that children were involved in the Guildford bombing, for which Conlon was found guilty. Conlon later proved himself innocent when it was found that evidence proving his location at the time of bombing had been withheld from the defence.

Now, it is being alleged that many people in the compound where ObL was alleged to be were armed.

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was not armed when U.S. special forces stormed his compound in Pakistan but he did resist before he was shot, White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Tuesday.

Carney said bin Laden's wife "rushed the U.S. assaulter" and was shot in the leg but not killed, contrary to what a White House official said on Monday.

Carney declined to offer further details on bin Laden's behavior during the raid. Resistance did not require a firearm, he said.

U.S. forces faced a firefight throughout the 40-minute raid. "We expected a great deal of resistance and were met with a great deal of resistance. There were many other people who were armed in the compound," Carney said.

[source : http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/may/03/osama-bin-laden-death-aftermath]

According to many reports, at most only five people died at the compound. ObL, the courier, and the courier's brother. An unnamed woman also died, but there are contrary reports that ObLs son either died or survived.

But there is an agreement that nearly ten children aged 2 to 12 years old were found at the compound.

And many reports state that at most 18 people were in the compound at the time of the assault.

So who were these "many other people" at the compound who were armed and put up such great resistance that a unit of at least 24 elite US military (some reports suggest it was 79) took 40 minutes to kill 5 people, yet only children, some as young as 2 years old, and some women could be found?

Did these great warriors, these "many other people" escape, and were allowed to escape?

Or was it the kids, who gave bunny rabbits to local kids, found in the compound, who were apparently not ObLs children, but could hold up at least 24 elite US military for 40 minutes yet no arms could be found at the compound?

[cue music for Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]