Osama Bin Laden is Dead: What Happens to $25 Million Reward?

[Skip_In_Boulder]

Opinion by Alex Groberman
(3 Hours Ago) in Politics / War on Terror



Mere hours after the announcement that Osama Bin Laden had been killed in a daring raid inside Pakistan, talk quickly turned to the bounty that had been placed on his head.

What happens to the standing $25 million reward offered on Bin Laden now that he’s dead?

For nearly 10 long years multiple intelligence agencies sought the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Despite pressure from the U.S. government -- who expected results -- and the public -- who demanded the No. 1 most wanted man in the world -- cooler heads prevailed within the CIA, FBI and an assortment of other agencies as they patiently tracked Bin Laden’s whereabouts.

Then, finally, on Sunday evening President Barack Obama made it known to the world that American forces had cornered and eventually killed Bin Laden in what he could only describe as "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda.”

So who gets the big bucks for this monumental U.S. victory? Could it be the trusted "courier," who became known to U.S. military officials via interrogation at Guantanamo Bay? Is it another, unknown confidant, who secretly betrayed Osama in the years and months leading up to the execution? As it turns out, we may never know.

"The department does not generally discuss nominations for awards," said Harry Edwards, a spokesman for the State Department. The offer, he added, is for a maximum of $25 million. "If it were paid, it could be less."

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-what-happens-to-25-million-reward

[Blue-Jay]

1. I suspect the reward will go unclaimed.

[FreakinDJ]

2. It could be collected - but we will never know

like the witness protection program

[NYC_SKP]

3. The team members that took this action are ineligible for the reward. nt

[tekisui]

4. I don't know, but the US is giving Pakistan $3 billion in new toys.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/21/us-drones-pakistan_n_852269.html

[eggplant]

5. Well, if it came from info out of gitmo...

...then maybe the money can go to their defense funds.

Sorry, no smiley.

[AmericaIsGreat]

6. I thought it was pretty obvious

That this would fall under the same category as when employees are ineligible of entering sweepstakes or playing lotteries put on by their employer

[kenny blankenship]

7. I think most of that was eaten up by bank fees, some time ago

You establish an escrow acct. w/ $25M, and then there's this charge and that charge applied by the bank to set up the acct, to issue checks, to cover taxes on the interest it's not earning, etc, and then monthly management fees accrue, plus the interstate surcharge for not using the acct regularly and having the bank investigate why the acct is inactive and whether it shouldn't be closed altogether. Before you know it your 25 mill is down to a motheaten pittance in the 6 figure area. Banking is hard work, conducted by highly educated people whose time and expertise is extremely valuable, and if you want quality banking done well you just have to get used to paying well for it to be done to you.

[Kali]

11. ...

:rofl: and :cry:

:thumbsup:

[applegrove]

12. lmao.

[Webster Green]

8. Obama should collect the reward.

Just to watch heads explode.

[Cid_B]

9. Heard a pakistani could potentially get it...

Some guy in the house...

[LadyHawkAZ]

10. I'm hoping it will make some wealthy soldiers.

If not, it should.

[HopeHoops]

13. I think it should be split among the SEALS who conducted the raid!