Was Osama bin Laden killed, murdered, or assassinated?

By Lionel Gayle

When the United States special-forces raided Osama bin Laden’s hide-out at Abbottabad, in north-west Pakistan, did they kill him, did they murder him, did they assassinate the man regarded as America’s most wanted terrorist mastermind behind the 9/11 atrocities?

America and the rest of the world are referring to that daring act of May 2, 2011 as “the killing” of bin Laden. To me it sounds crass and impolite. Even President Barak Obama’s direction to his elite commandos to “capture or kill” and his reported success of the mission as “an operation that killed Osama bin Laden” sent chills to my spine.

Yet, it’s reality. But I have an aversion to the way in which the word “kill” is being used in such serious matter by intelligent people. It’s like part of a loose-talk that belongs to the street. And as such, it lessens the impact of the milestone reached in the demise of the mass murderer who had classified decent, law-abiding citizens worldwide as mere infidels whose lives are expendable.

Even though I would’ve preferred bin Laden to be captured and prosecuted (like Saddam bin Hussein of Iraq), I never had even an inkling of admiration for the unholy imposter. And gladly, I celebrate with all Americans who have lost loved ones at his dirty, devil-riddled hands. And to those Somalis who marched vociferously in celebration of his death in the streets of Mogadishu last week, I tip a symbolic hat. As one of the marchers told the Associated Press in a story published in the Arab News, “His death will be a milestone for world peace.”

But taking into consideration the universal recognition of polite behavior and the etiquette usually observed by diplomats and heads of state, was the al-Qaeda leader really killed, murdered, or assassinated?

What’s the difference? It is crystal clear that whichever label is used to describe his demise is of no significance. However, because in certain instances I’m a stickler for political correctness, we should at least strive to call a spade a spade.

While I’m not rooting for any reserved respect for the departed monster, I take some solace in the report that his speedy sea burial “had been handled in accordance with Islamic custom.”
Now, take it from me: The course of action employed in the elimination of Osama bin Laden was definitely an assassination. As Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines assassinate: “to murder (a usually prominent person) by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons.”

There is no doubt that bin Laden was a prominent person, albeit infamous. And as Kingston, Jamaica-based imam Muhammad Islam told the Jamaica Observer newspaper, "Osama bin Laden was a politician who just happened to be Muslim."

The Oxford English Reference Dictionary defines assassinate as, to kill “especially a political or religious leader for political or religious motives.” And The Free Dictionary (online) says to assassinate is “To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons.”
There is no secret that the US Navy SEALs had executed a surprise attack on bin Laden’s enclave and assassinated him for his political terrorism. But from a popular standpoint, he was killed and not assassinated. Perhaps “assassination” is a euphemism reserved for the clandestine killing of people with respectability, such as presidents, kings and prime ministers.