Who–and What–Are Behind the “Official History” of the Bin Laden Raid?

[spooked911]

Really good analysis of the official bin Laden assassination story:

http://whowhatwhy.com/2011/08/17/raidbinladen/

Summing up about the reliability of this account, which is now likely to become required reading for every student in America, long into the future:

* It is based on reporting by a man who fails to disclose that he never spoke to the people who conducted the raid, or that his father has a long background himself running such operations (this even suggests the possibility that Nicholas Schmidle’s own father could have been one of those “unnamed sources.”)
* It seems to have depended heavily on trusting second-hand accounts by people with a poor track record for accurate summations, and an incentive to spin.
* The alleged decisions on killing bin Laden and disposing of his body lack credibility.
* The DNA evidence that the SEALs actually got their man is questionable.
* Though certain members of Congress say they have seen photos of the body (or, to be precise, a body), the rest of us have not seen anything.
* Promised photos of the ceremonial dumping of the body at sea have not materialized.
* The eyewitnesses from the house—including the surviving wives—have disappeared without comment.

We weren’t allowed to hear from the raid participants. And on August 6, seventeen Navy SEALs died when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. We’re told that fifteen of them came, amazingly, from the same SEAL Team 6 that carried out the Abbottabad raid—but that none of the dead were present for the raid. We do get to hear the stories of those men, and their names <35>.

Of course, if any of those men had been in the Abbottabad raid—or knew anything about it of broad public interest, we’d be none the wiser—because, the only “reliable sources” still available (and featured by the New Yorker) are military and intelligence professionals, coming out of a long tradition of cover-ups and fabrications.

Meanwhile, we have this president, this one who according to the magazine article didn’t ask about the core issues—why this man was killed, who killed him, under whose orders, what would be done with the body.

[hack89]

1. You really think Seal Team 6 will go public with their names?

you don't think it might put them and their families in danger? Or you just don't care?

[spooked911]

2. ooooh, afraid the big bad terrorists are going to come out to get them?

In any case, that was hardly the point of the article, if you'd bother to read it.

[zappaman]

3. Really Spooked?

I'd stack their bravery and courage against yours any day.
My cousin's husband is a Seal.
How about you come over next time we get together and you can mock him to his face?
oooooh, what a big bad keyboard warrior you are!

[spooked911]

4. set up a meeting, and I'll happly talk to him

Love to know what he thinks about this raid.

And I am not doubting their courage, zappo. I really doubt THEY are afraid of the terrorists. Get it???

[zappaman]

5. No Spooked. He won't answer any of your dumb questions.

And why do you need names?
You do realize they have families, right?
Any reason terrorists should know who they are?
Sometimes I wonder what planet you are from.

[spooked911]

6. how do you know he won't answer? sounds like a cop out to me

Jeez, are you REALLY so afraid of the big bad terrorists? Do you check under your bed every night?

Oh yeah-- they're EVERYWHERE! And of course the families of Seals are their top target. No doubt.

[KDLarsen]

7. It's basic operation security, spooked...

It's not just terrorists, it's any foreign adversary who would take note of their names and then start digging up any personal info they can find. Which can then be used to gain access to them - undercover of course.

[spooked911]

9. are you saying all SEALS work undercover?

seemed like there was a special deal about keeping the bin Laden SEALS secret.

[KDLarsen]

10. Not necessarily, but most Special operations forces are secretive

Hell, most of the British public hadn't heard of the SAS until 1980, about 37-38 years after the unit was formed.

EDIT: Look at Bravo Two Zero. 20 years ago, and two of survivors are still only known by their pseudonyms, while some of the others have stepped forwards with their real names.

[terrafirma]

8. Hey Spooked, why don't you lead by example...

What's YOUR real name? Any wife and kids? Whereabouts do you live?

I'm sure you won't mind divulging this information as you aren't or haven't been involved in anything remotely near as dangerous as the bin Laden raid.

So... we're all waiting.

[spooked911]

11. Heh heh. Well my profile does give some info about me and overall it's probably not too hard

to find out my real name.

But more to the point, I am saying the bin Laden raid and al Qaeda in general is bogus, so there was no need to protect anyone involved.

On the other hand, I am questioning basic premises of the US govt, and that is a pretty dangerous organization, I would say.

[terrafirma]

13. You're not just going to divulge it?

Why? What are you concealing or hiding from? Scared of something?

[spooked911]

14. did you read the piece, and if so, what did you think?

that's the more relevant issue.

[terrafirma]

15. Based on your history of postings

I generally don't follow links you share. But for this case, I did click over and skim quickly. It's essentially based off of the New Yorker article about the raid.

I don't know about you, but if I'm looking for strict military reporting, The New Yorker is never my first choice. Or second. Or third.

It read more like a Clancy novel than a specific recounting of the raid. And that was its purpose.

But if you're all in a tizzy about this article, I can't wait to see you when the movie comes out.

[spooked911]

18. Sigh. You're just too clever for your own good.

The point of the piece was to unpack some major propaganda and show the lies. If you don't mind how the govt puts out propaganda, then I'm not even sure what you are doing here.

[terrafirma]

16. Out of curiosity

If there is no al Qaeda or "big bad terrorists" (as you like to mock), then who exactly is overseas killing our armed service members?

Or is Obamushco in on that as well? Or are those service members (much like the Flight 93 victims) merely just made up names?

[spooked911]

17. who is killing our troops? Seriously?

how about people who don't like being occupied by a foreign power.

[spooked911]

12. I'm surprised Richard Dawkins gives out his real name

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhYus6TiGEE&feature=youtu.be