<p>
</p>
<p>I didn’t realize that SEAL Team 6 was only the name of the unit for a very short time (7 years). That’s all I’ve ever heard it called though. Also, out of the Iran attempt came the 160th SOAR AKA The NightStalkers based out of Fort Campbell. They are specially trained chopper pilots probably most famous from the movie and book Black Hawk Down.</p>
<p>It seems to me there are two prongs to any really successful covert military operation: 1). Assemble the best possible disciplined and trained personnel for the job (which we most certainly do). And 2). Implement hardware and equipment that is well built and meticulously maintained, so as to enable those personnel to successfully carry out their mission. Serious equipment failure can doom the best planned mission, and render ineffective months of intensive training. I think this is the one area in which we could do some improving.</p>
<p>“I think the US should have taken him as a prisoner… They’ve triggered something bigger…”</p>
<p>I think the US just saved a whole bunch of taxpayers’ money by not having to keep this special prisoner secure and so on. Kudos to the Seals for doing a fantastic job.</p>
<p>Here is a video in which Samantha Guthrie describes a group in the situation room, including Obama, watching and listening to the assault on the compound in real time:</p>
<p>[Obama’s</a> golf shoes a clue to bin Laden raid? - World news - Death of bin Laden - msnbc.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42874398/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden/]Obama’s”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42874398/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden/)</p>
<p>They have better nerves than I do! The last part of the report, where she repeats the words of the SEAL reporting success, brought tears to my eyes.</p>
<p>I applaud the work of the seals, but I am really having a hard time with the celebrations that are going on. I feel this will only promote more hatred towards the US. I remember watching people cheer in other countries when 9/11 took place and I thought that was horrible. I know OBL is an evil, evil man, but I just don’t take pleasure in his death. Relief that he is caught, of course, but pleasure, no. I just wish we could all get along. Again, the work of the seals is beyond amazing. I cannot imagine what was going through their minds as they started that mission. We are blessed to have such talented and willing members in our military. I know it is polly-anna-ish, but I wish we didn’t need groups like this and that we could all get along. Won’t happen, I am sure, but a girl can pray!</p>
<p>NYMom - that gave me goosebumps. I do think Savannah got a little choked up getting those words out -
“For God and Country, Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo”.</p>
<p>Today out come the reports of the things that went wrong with the mission and how they were overcome. Apparently one of the blackhawks landed inside the compound - whoops. And then became disabled - prob on account of a hard landing?
Good reading ahead. </p>
<p>These SEAL’s and CIA paramilitary (most former SF or SEALS) are American Heros - no accolades or medals for them. Their identies are a closely guarded secret.</p>
<p>jmmmom, there’s such a difference between cheering the deaths of all those innocent people that died on 9/11 versus celebrating the mastermind of those deaths, not to mention the thousands of others he is responsible for.</p>
<p>JustaMom, it appears both choppers landed inside the compound as planned. Reports I saw said they were receiving fire and so the landing was hard with the second one. But everyone was able to get out alright; they just had to blow up the helicopter to prevent its technology and such getting into the wrong hands.</p>
<p>They’ll get their medals; we’ll just never know about it. And they prefer it that way…</p>
<p>Not surprising that there is a slight conflict of information at this time. Last night on the PBS News Hours former Secretary of State Albright and former Senator Hegel (current head of some Presidential Intelligence/Security organization) said that the military group was actually a joint strike force made up of Army, Marines as well as Navy Seals. Maybe the confusion is an attempt to keep all publicity about the team minimal? And that’s probably necessary. Perhaps we should follow the Israeli Defense Forces example of the “elimination” of the perpetrators of the Munich Olympics terrorist attack; my understanding is that the IDF never officially acknowleged its participation in that action, but the guilty terrorists are dead nevertheless.</p>
<p>A couple of random thoughts - First, I heard on the news this morning that the average age of the SEALs is 38. So in addition to being in incredibly good shape, these guys are well trained, well vetted, and experienced. A billion dollars? As was said upthread, worth every penny. </p>
<p>Secondly, no one has talked about how many people were in the compound in total, but it seems logical to think that there were people we left alive. It says a lot about us as Americans that we killed the fewest we needed to kill. At least if our accounts are to be believed, and I do believe them, we did not kill indiscriminately or inappropriately. I’m pretty proud of that.</p>
<p>Blankmind, I agree with you completely. There is a huge difference. But for me, personally, I just am not on board with the huge street scenes of Americans going nuts. I really think this will only bring on more terrorist activity. I understand the joy in finally putting an end to his reign, but I wonder how many of those folks out celebrating ever vote? How many think about what is going on with our military in foreign lands everyday? What are they doing to make our country better? To me, some looked as if they were just there for the party, for being seen on tv and saying they were there. It just makes me sad overall, that there is so much hate in this world. I know, wars have been around forever, but at some point, I wish people would learn.</p>
<p>I am disturbed by the fact that Osama was living in that compound for years. Didn’t we all believe that he was hiding in the impenetrable rugged mountains along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border? How could he possibly have been living, in a fortress-like compound where the inhabitants behaved strangely, in the Pakistani equivalent of Scarsdale next to the Pakistani equivalent of West Point, without the knowledge and complicity of the Pakistani government? I’m trying to find a way to feel better about this. Maybe the story about following the courier for years is not true, and the Pakistani government actually revealed his whereabouts?</p>
<p>I also don’t like the public celebrations. I especially don’t like the chants of “U.S.A.!! U.S.A.!!” I don’t even like that chant in other contexts such as the Olympics, since it feels excessively arrogant and jingoistic to me. I’d like to think we are better than that, better than cheap triumphalism.</p>
<p>But don’t think for a minute that I was sorry to see Bin Laden get taken down. And I applaud and admire the US military’s skill and courage in doing it. To me the event carries a profound sense of just retribution - that a horrible wrong has to some extent been righted.</p>
<p>Instead of the chants and cheers I would have preferred quiet public memorials to honor the victims of 9/11 and publicly say to their memory that we did not forget them, that justice has been served out in their name.</p>
<p>In the meantime, the Pakistanis have some explaining to do…</p>
<p>I agree, coureur.</p>
<p>
Me too. Particularly with the most recent instability in Pakistan’s government. Bin Laden was living among its military and intelligence elite, which is a horrifying scenario in light of Pakistan’s nuclear capability.</p>
<p>Well said, Coureur.</p>
<p>Zoosermom; we’re all suspicious of Pakistan. Interestingly, former Mayor R. Guiliani gave a most rational perspective of the U.S. - Pakistan alliance this morning in a radio interview. He said that we’ve paid them a lot of cash and they’ve been an important ally in the battle against terrorism. However, he went on to say, they are our good friends one day and double-cross us the next day, a situation we have to live with because of the help we get from them…and because they have nukes.</p>
<p>
My personal concern is that, since Zardari is considered such a buffoon by his countrymen, should there be a military coup (which is not out of the question), Bin Laden would have been in the perfect position to exert significant pressure or even be a shadow part of a military government. Dead, that can’t happen.</p>
<p>I didn’t realize it was possible to hold celebrations in the street without ordinary people firing AK-47s into the air.</p>
<p>I know in the logical part of my mind that what you all say is right. We should be more subdued and maybe not be celebrating in the streets. I do understand that this would be the more elevated way to behave. But I am giving myself a pass this time, and taking the low road. I was happy to see people out celebrating (without AK-47s). My bad.</p>
<p>In paper here today, an interesting revelation that the top secret info used to achieve this mission was gained, god knows how, from Guantanamo prisoners.
There is really is no clean moral path in any of this.
i am so proud of the individuals who sacrifice for the freedom of all, but it does seem to come hard, at much expense to many.
Take care, all.</p>