The French Could Have Killed bin Laden? (But the US Didn't Let Them?)

Hmmm. Would it have been too much for the US to have the French "get" bin Laden? Is this another case of US incompetence? Is it a lie? Is it more deeply nefarious? From France24:

French special forces in Afghanistan had Osama Bin Laden in their line of fire on two occasions in 2003 and 2004, but waited in vain for orders to shoot, according to several sources in the French army. “We had our finger on the trigger, ready to shoot. We were waiting for an order from the US command that never came,” said one soldier who asked to remain anonymous.

The French Defense Ministry and the US both deny this.