"Why do you automatically assume that the 8 women are non-combatants?"
I'm assuming nothing of the sort, they were all described as non-combatant family members by the CIA observers.
The CIA observer making the report took pains to point out that bin Laden was a devoted family man who took an enormous risk in bringing his family to the compound - he headed his statement, "You may not want to know this but....." Given the US record on civilian casualties, BL would have been rather daft to have relied on their humanity towards "hostages" as Keith described them further up the thread.
Your speculation on how many people would be killed by a 2,000 is just that - pure speculation
Maybe they could have use done of those non-chemical weapons you're so fond of!!
Jim Carroll