The reason is indeed what you mentioned: to avoid creating a site which would become a shrine. Why does that not add up? Burying him at sea was not a mark of compassion. We had to do something with his remains...What would you have done with him?

UPDATE FOR VINCE: Did you actually read the December 2001 posting by Fox News that you cite? Here is the key phrase from that article: "...the Pakistan Observer reported, citing a Taliban leader who allegedly attended the funeral of the Al Qaeda leader."

A Taliban leader as a source? You gotta love Fox News!

BTW Vince, I guess you missed all the videos of OBL from after December 2001 in which he makes reference to events of the time which he could not have known in December 2001.

The picky fishes were demanding middle eastern food.

OBL died in December 2001. This is why GWB saw no urgency in capturing him after invading Iraq and Afghanistan in the years following 9/11. And BHO saw the OBL capture and killing as a way to gain popularity for the upcoming election. Strangely enough, all the SEALs that were involved in the capturing and killing of OBL were killed in a helicopter crash shortly afterward.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,4157...

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/10/...

For terrorests

Because Obama is still alive.

I was having a conversation with my family about Osama and we were talking about why they buried him at sea. If he disrespected other people's beliefs and religion's so much so that he killed people for it, why would the US government be so compassionate to give him a Muslim burial at sea? I know they said it was to make sure his grave didn't become a shrine, but, it still doesn't add up. I am starting to think he isn't dead and is locked up in Guantanamo bay or something.