UPDATE- Bin Laden is Dead-President spoke

[Kat]

They won't Charlie but that is such a nice thought I had to say so

I would have been very surprised had their names been released. It would have made them a target (and their families) and a few other reasons that would be more personal to them- off the top of my head comes to mind that if they are like any of the other countless men (and women) I have ever met that wear the uniform 1. They may have been the ones who went into the compound but they were supported by countless other troops behind the scenes. They consider themselves a part of the team not an individual who did killed OBL. 2. Simply put---they see this as their job. 3. It's probably business as usual today for them. Once a mission is completed successfully there are other missions to attend to . Just a few thoughts off the top of my head.

As for Obama, I can't say that I voted for him or have ever been a great fan of his but he is the CinC and he did give the order for the mission to be carried out. It is his successful mission just as much as it is the countless other troops that participated. It could have turned out ugly-I was actually thankful that Obama followed through as he did and didn't waver as Clinton did when Somalia happened. The president showed fortitude and took the risk.

Now, I did find something pretty amusing after I had listened to the Pres. speech several times and it's neither here nor there but I got tickled at how many times he was able to use the word "I" in his speech. Sorry I have a very bizarre sense of humor and the things that tickle me other's may not find funny. Not picking on him just found it amusing for a bit. Hehe.

 

[krkrjx]

They won't Charlie but that is such a nice thought I had to say so

I would have been very surprised had their names been released. It would have made them a target (and their families) and a few other reasons that would be more personal to them- off the top of my head comes to mind that if they are like any of the other countless men (and women) I have ever met that wear the uniform 1. They may have been the ones who went into the compound but they were supported by countless other troops behind the scenes. They consider themselves a part of the team not an individual who did killed OBL. 2. Simply put---they see this as their job. 3. It's probably business as usual today for them. Once a mission is completed successfully there are other missions to attend to . Just a few thoughts off the top of my head.

As for Obama, I can't say that I voted for him or have ever been a great fan of his but he is the CinC and he did give the order for the mission to be carried out. It is his successful mission just as much as it is the countless other troops that participated. It could have turned out ugly-I was actually thankful that Obama followed through as he did and didn't waver as Clinton did when Somalia happened. The president showed fortitude and took the risk.

Now, I did find something pretty amusing after I had listened to the Pres. speech several times and it's neither here nor there but I got tickled at how many times he was able to use the word "I" in his speech. Sorry I have a very bizarre sense of humor and the things that tickle me other's may not find funny. Not picking on him just found it amusing for a bit. Hehe.

I too find it funny. Please...count how many times you use "I" in your post.

I know...apples and oranges... but it really is difficult to avoid using "I" in many situations.

I thought Obama was speaking sincerely and I never got the impression he was patting himself on the back. This was a successful mission with many participants, and Thank God it went as intended.

 

[Dark Knight]

Were it not for this high-value target, it might have been a routine mission for the specially trained and highly mythologized SEAL Team Six, officially called the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, but known even to the locals at their home base Dam Neck in Virginia as just DevGru.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclu...clusive/the-secret-team-that-killed-bin-laden

 

[Quiche]

Well, it's finally done and under Obama's orders, I for one, am giving him that. :great:

 

[Dark Knight]

WASHINGTON – From halfway around the world, President Barack Obama and his national security team monitored the strike on Osama bin Laden's compound in real time, watching and listening to the firefight that killed the terrorist leader.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110502/ap_on_re_us/us_bin_laden_obama_s_suspense

I find it absolutely amazing that they were able to watch the raid live at the White House!

 

[hollyblue]

I still can't undestand why there was such a fire at the compound. The copter was blown up, but did it spread to the house? It took them 40 minutes all together and only firing weapons. ??? Did they use explosives? Confused.

Also, if Bin Laden never had a weapon..nor fired any shots...why couldn't they capture him alive? I think it's the preferred way...because of all the $xit* that would have generated...plus the expense. But curious.

 

[Stella5]

BTW, one report I heard on TV today said the names of the actual Seals and CIA agents involved will not be released for fear they would immediately become targets for terrorists. I trust those brave men know they have our gratitude, even if we don't have their names.

Just an FYI on Navy OPSEC procedures... you will never know the names of those Seals. In fact their families won't ever know they were involved, nor will their Navy counterparts that were not part of the operation. I'm a bit surprised the Unit was named. All Seal units are numbered, and it was just shocking to hear the number released. As a Navy Mom, that concerned me greatly.

And just for clarity Seals are Sailors, not Soldiers. (not directed at anyone in particular, they just have an issue with that... i know from experience )

 

[mysteriew]

Were it not for this high-value target, it might have been a routine mission for the specially trained and highly mythologized SEAL Team Six, officially called the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, but known even to the locals at their home base Dam Neck in Virginia as just DevGru.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclu...clusive/the-secret-team-that-killed-bin-laden

Great article

 

[Nova]

I just hope they get part of the bounty

I suppose Kat is right. But if it were up to me, I'd have no problem with Navy seals splitting the reward.

 

[Nova]

Just an FYI on Navy OPSEC procedures... you will never know the names of those Seals. In fact their families won't ever know they were involved, nor will their Navy counterparts that were not part of the operation. I'm a bit surprised the Unit was named. All Seal units are numbered, and it was just shocking to hear the number released. As a Navy Mom, that concerned me greatly.

And just for clarity Seals are Sailors, not Soldiers. (not directed at anyone in particular, they just have an issue with that... i know from experience )

I hope that wasn't MY mistake! I certainly know the difference, but I'm about three slips from the Alzheimer's ward. (That's only half a joke. Alzheimer's runs in the family.)

 

[Trino]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclu...clusive/the-secret-team-that-killed-bin-laden

22 people were killed or captured at the compound.

 

[Quiche]

Teacher Gary Weddle Shaves Beard For First Time Since 9/11

EPHRATA, Wash. — A middle school teacher vowed after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, that he would not shave his beard until Osama bin Laden was caught.

Gary Weddle kept his word Sunday evening.

"I spent my first five minutes crying and then I couldn't get it off fast enough," Weddle, 50, told the Capital Press.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/02/gary-weddle-teacher-beard_n_856637.html

 

[Concerned Papa]

Well, it's finally done and under Obama's orders, I for one, am giving him that. :great:

As will I with gratitude. I wasn't a member of the Obama fan club yesterday, and possibly won't be tomorrow, but today Barack Obama is MY PRESIDENT.

We may just start fresh and take it one day at a time. I hear there's still some membership openings available.

 

[panthera]

 

[PassTheMotrin]

An impromptu celebration broke out late Sunday at the security gate to former President George W. Bush’s Preston Hollow neighborhood. Residents waving flags and homemade signs sang patriotic songs and made merry.

They dispersed as rain blew in overnight, but signs of their revelry were still apparent Monday: A couple of empty beer cans mingled with an American flag and red, white and blue balloons.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/comm...evelry-at-news-of-osama-bin-laden_s-death.ece

 

[panthera]

Well, it's finally done and under Obama's orders, I for one, am giving him that. :great:

Yes, and thankfully before the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

MOO

 

[gitana1]

Let's be clear on this: OBAMA did NOT kill Bin Laden. An American soldier, who Obama just a few weeks ago was debating on whether or not to PAY, did. Obama just happened to be the one in office when our soldiers finally found Osama Bin Laden and took him out. This is NOT an Obama victory, but an AMERICAN victory!!

It's funny, but no one on here was gushing with praise for Obama as if it was an Obama victory. Mostly, we were praising the intelligence operations and the incredibly brave Navy Seals. But, now that you mention it...

John Brennan, a chief counterterrorism adviser:

(snip)Brennan, who has spent 15 years trying to hunt down the notorious fugitive, reveled in the successful mission

(snip)The President himself deserves enormous credit for giving the final green light to the nighttime raid, Brennan said, calling the decision one of the "gutsiest calls of any president in recent history."

There was an increasing confidence within the CIA that the bin Laden was living in the compound, but up until the last minute, U.S. officials could not be 100 percent certain, and there were members of the President's national security team who disagreed with the decision to order the raid, Brennan said.

"There was nothing to confirm that bin Laden was at the compound - the President had to evaluate the situation," Brennan said.

read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...sama-bin-laden-used-woman-as-human-shield.php​

That's right. During the Clinton Administration, he had the chance to get Osama but his mission failed: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/09/26/BL2006092600692.html. They bombed his training camp but missed Osama. Of course, Osama had not committed 911 yet so although the need to get him was strong, it wasn't what it became.

Then came President Bush. We engaged in a drawn out war in Iraq, which over two hundred countries around the world knew going in was a red herring. In the meantime, we didn't really try too hard to find Osama. President Bush said that he wasn't that concerned about Osama and finding him was not a priority once Iraq came into play: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/02/obama-bush-bin-laden-dead_n_856428.html

Except we had a real good chance that was blown, in 2002, in Tora Bora: http://www.kansas.com/2002/10/14/1831450/us-lost-its-best-chance-to-decimate.html


And then, came the Obama administration:

[video=youtube;kxZHSArs_Qc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxZHSArs_Qc[/video]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej8HpXcR6_s&feature=related

He kept his promise.

I'm not saying this victory is Obama's alone, or even if the majority of the credit should be given to him. But he made the decision to make Osama's capture a national security priority. And when you are the president who has to make that final decision, when you realize it can easily become another "Black Hawk Down" situation, or a situation with tons of collateral damage, children dead, and Osama not captured or killed and you are trying to determine whether to give the go ahead or not, that's your decision alone and it's one many leaders throughout time have blown. It takes more fortitude than I would have to do it. I would not want to be the one whose shoulder such decisions rest on. :twocents:

 

[Charlie09]

Does anyone really think there was only one close call in Afghanistan? Or just one reported/known about by the media?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I still can't undestand why there was such a fire at the compound. The copter was blown up, but did it spread to the house? It took them 40 minutes all together and only firing weapons. ??? Did they use explosives? Confused.

Also, if Bin Laden never had a weapon..nor fired any shots...why couldn't they capture him alive? I think it's the preferred way...because of all the $xit* that would have generated...plus the expense. But curious.

I've read several articles and posted them in the PP today that said he did have a gun and fired upon the Seals.
Did I miss an update?
I'm trying to keep up with 2 threads on the same subject.

ETA:

Here are a couple of examples:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42859770/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden/?GT1=43001

In a background briefing with journalists, U.S. officials suggested that Bin Laden opened fire on the U.S. forces. NBC News' Savannah Guthrie, citing an unnamed U.S. official, reported that he was shot in the left eye.


____________________________________________
They were not even certain he was there. There was no "smoking gun" that put him there.
BO gave them the green light to attack / to kill OBL.
when the helicopters landed and they raided, OBL opened fire on the troops, the troops returned fire.
They killed him and put is body on the helicopter.
It all took 40 minutes.
Video at link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=42856124?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Maybe this has already been discussed - sorry if it has - but what happened to the bodies of the other 4 who were killed: wife, two men, son? One would suppose there were guards at the compound. What happened to them?

I read they were left at the compound but I've read so many articles today, I can't provide a link.
But I remember reading OBL's body was the only dead body they took.