WI Bin Laden captured fleeing from Afganistan

As the title says, what if Bin laden was captured by US forces trying to flee into Pakistan. What effects does this have on Bush's presidency, the war against Terror, and AQ? Sorry if this has been done.
 
He is, in all likelihood, taken to some deep dark bunker and tortured endlessly for information on the whereabouts of the AQ leaders.

Afterwards, he is executed.

Next.:cool:
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
Actually, I think he would be paraded before the world and then given a trial, although the Americans would never allow him to be sent to the Hague or any international justice organization. The result of the trial is pretty obvious and Bid Laden would end his days with three IVs stuck into his arm.

Bush's popularity might remain high longer than was the case IOTL, but the American people would come to view the "War on Terror" as having been successfully concluded with Bin Laden's capture. Therefore, the Bush administration would not be able to use the threat of terrorism to scare the American public as they have done IOTL. It's quite possible that this would mean that public support for an invasion of Iraq is nonexistent and that Bush might well lose in 2004 election.
 
Actually, I think he would be paraded before the world and then given a trial, although the Americans would never allow him to be sent to the Hague or any international justice organization. The result of the trial is pretty obvious and Bid Laden would end his days with three IVs stuck into his arm.

I doubt he'd get leathal injection. Its more likely that he'd get the noose or a firing squad.
 
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Anaxagoras

Banned
Strictly speaking, I think executing Bin Laden would b a mistake, as it would transform him into a martyr figure. Better by far to lock him up forever and reduce him to the status of a pathetic prisoner.

Sort of like those photos of Saddam shortly after his capture, with the doctor telling him to open his mouth and say "Ahh". He looked absurd, and certainly not like a powerful warlord. Had he gone down fighting like his sons, the Baathists would have at least had a moral victory of sorts.
 
I'm confused. Some of the posts state that Bush could possibly lose the election, yadda yadda. Can we be given a date? Is this pre 2004 election or post? Is this near 2008 or shortly after 9/11?

And who cares if he is executed? If I had it my way, I would have him be executed 3,000 times.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
I'm confused. Some of the posts state that Bush could possibly lose the election, yadda yadda. Can we be given a date? Is this pre 2004 election or post? Is this near 2008 or shortly after 9/11?

I assumed that the statement about "fleeing from Afghanistan" implied a time frame of late 2001/early 2002.
 
He's kept in a secret prison and nobody outside of a very restricted circle ever knows he isn't still free. From time to time, he is made to perform in some videos....
 
A interesting WI I have thought about: WI bin Laden is captured before the Kerry-Bush election, but it would be important to keep it secret for intelligence/law enforcement reasons (ie intercept all communications comming in to bin Laden.)
 
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