The enlightening point he makes is that these assault squads are not kill teams, and that they fire only in self-defense. His information is that Osama was suddenly confronted by the squad, he dove for his rifle, and was shot in the head and chest.
Note however that the CIA Head indicates that a kill authority was present:
On rules of engagement:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Did the President's order read capture or kill or both or just one of those?
LEON PANETTA: The authorities we have on Bin Laden are to kill him. And that was made clear. But it was also, as part of their rules of engagement, if he suddenly put up his hands and offered to be captured, then-- they would have the opportunity, obviously, to capture him. But that opportunity never developed.
It is puzzling to me why Osama wasn't shot in the leg and taken alive -- just for the intelligence opportunities. It is also puzzling that the body was not presented for a a thorough and accurate autopsy (so lethal wounds and shooting ranges could be confirmed).
It remains my opinion that Osama should have been taken into custody alive at all costs and incarcerated at Guantanamo for the remainder of his natural life -- not because he deserved it, but because a superpower has the means to stand for something better than cycles of killing. This would have been the perfect opportunity to stop "being at war" because this war posture will continue (and will continue to posture America as a prominent and emulable killer in the world) until the leadership demonstrates otherwise.
