Usama or Osama? Dead or alive? The answers:

3 things -

1.)CIA uses "Usama." And after hearing of a report, which recorded 93 incidents of pundits and journalists mistakenly saying "Obama" rather than "Osama" (when describing being slain in a raid no less), I can understand why. I, however, have always gone with the "O" spelling.

2.) The "he's not dead" conspiracy theories were beginning to take root, especially in the Middle East where these things are as much a part of the culture as McDonald's is here.

Well, I heard news this morning which answers, or lays to rest (if you'll pardon the pun), both questions. In a Reuters article, out of Dubai (& confirmed in Egypt), found HERE, Al Qeada confirms both the death and the spelling:

"In a historic day for the great Islamic nation... the mujahid (holy warrior) Shiekh Abu Abdullah, Osama bin Mohammed bin Laden, God have mercy on him, was killed on the path taken by those before him and will be taken by others after him... Congratulations to the Islamic umma (community) for the martyrdom of its son Osama."

They also threatened to avenge his death, yada, yada, yada. But I hope this settles both issues, for everyone.

Oh yes, the third thing - not releasing the OBL death photo. Look, personally I don't need to see it to believe he's dead. SEAL TEAM 6 doesn't do "surrender" (did you see the photos the Pakistanis released of those bodies left behind?). But I did want to see it, for whatever reason drives the human compunction to verify facts visually. However, if releasing the photo were to cause our troops in action even one more unnecessary burden, then I say fine, keep them out of public view.

BUT! President Obama (and AG Erik Holder) don't you dare try to sell me on the fact that that's the reason you're withholding the photo. It may well have been requested by Generals to be witheld, and those Generals may well be right, but that's a mere convenience for you. For you two are the gentlemen whom pushed, and hard, to release the additional Abu Grab photos upon assuming office (& relented on the idea only after immense public pressure & repeated requests from commanders in the field), and reversed the Bush era policy of not filming/photoing the coffins of US service men KIA, upon their return to the States. And now I'm to believe you don't want to release the OBL photo because it might give the terrorists a recruiting tool, a reason to be even more angry?

Yeah, right. Sell that crap to someone else, I ain't buying.