LET'S GET IT RIGHT, FELLAS – AT 8:50 A.M. ET:  We still, as a nation, bask in the glow of bin Laden's termination, but already the conspiracy theorists and borderline mental cases are at work, casting doubt, demanding super-proof and raising the kinds of questions previously reserved for George W. Bush. 

Unfortunately, some information botches aren't helping matters.  From The Politico:

The White House backed away Monday evening from key details in its narrative about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, including claims by senior U.S. officials that the Al Qaeda leader had a weapon and may have fired it during a gun battle with U.S. forces.

Officials also retreated from claims that one of bin Laden’s wives was killed in the raid and that bin Laden was using her as a human shield before she was shot by U.S. forces.

At a televised White House briefing Monday afternoon, Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan said bin Laden joined in the fight that several residents of the Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound put up against the Navy SEALs during the 40-minute operation.

“He [bin Laden] was engaged in a firefight with those that entered the area of the house he was in. And whether or not he got off any rounds, I quite frankly don’t know,” Brennan said.

At a Pentagon briefing earlier in the day, a senior defense official said bin Laden used a woman as a human shield so he could fire shots. “He was firing behind her,” the official said.

In another background briefing early Monday morning, a senior administration official also said bin Laden put up a fight. “He did resist the assault force. And he was killed in a firefight,” the official said.

However, during a background, off-camera briefing for television reporters later Monday, a senior White House official said bin Laden was not armed when he was killed, apparently by the U.S. raid team.

Another White House official familiar with the TV briefing confirmed the change to POLITICO, adding, “I’m not aware of him having a weapon.”

“The bottom line is the team that entered that room was met with resistance and took appropriate action,” said a third American official.

COMMENT:  If they don't get their stories straight, conspiracy theories will grow.  All we need is stories in the Muslim world claiming that bin Laden was "murdered" in cold blood, despite putting up no resistance. 

And the hard left waits in the wings, ready to pounce with its own "narrative."  Consummate wackjob Cindy Sheehan is already out with a claim that bin Laden isn't dead.

The White House has got to produce a clean story, and I'm afraid pictures of the dead bin Laden may have to be released. 

Bin laden's physical size was unique in the Arab world – he was a very tall man in a society of shorter men, and tha fact alone is compelling.  But let's get all the evidence out to silence the unbelievers, who see profits and books ahead.

May 3, 2011