The Killing of Osama bin Laden

[Griff]

I think we all had some doubts about the official narrative. Seymour Hersch gives an alternate narrative in the London Review of Books.

Obama today is not facing re-election as he was in the spring of 2011. His principled stand on behalf of the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran says much, as does his decision to operate without the support of the conservative Republicans in Congress. High-level lying nevertheless remains the modus operandi of US policy, along with secret prisons, drone attacks, Special Forces night raids, bypassing the chain of command, and cutting out those who might say no.

[Lamplighter]

First, I was surprised that such a lengthy selection of a new book has been copied on line.
I expected to read up to some crucial point, and then have to buy the book for the denouement.
The middle segment, after the raid, gets pretty complicated.

But I usually am quite willing to believe the reporting of Seymour Hersh.
Although when the narrative gets along in time to weeks after the raid,
I tend to discount a lot of the self-aggrandizement of some of the players.

It seems quite believable to me that those involved with the torture at Gitmo would try
to say they learned something important about bin Laden from their "enhanced interrogation"

Likewise, the assault team's description of cutting bin Ladin in half with gunfire,
and gathering up his head and body parts sounds like "bar talk" to me.
Also there have been 2 books written by team members that are in conflict with one another.

So, all in all, I can accept the whole of Hersh's report as being the US government's
way of protecting the involvements of Pakistani's and others. Certainly what any other
President or government might say to protect the workings of secret agencies or agents.

But the last paragraph in this Review sounds to me as though it was written by
the book's Editor or Director of Marketing to increase publicity and make more sales.

[Griff]

Yeah, nothing too surprising here. The helicopter crash ruined the cover story so they spun out something self-serving on the fly.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Did you know "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" is complete bullshit.
Does it matter?
Did you know the stories I heard from WW II vets didn't jibe with my school text books?
Does it matter?
Did you know we never lost a major battle in Vietnam?
Does it matter?

As far as I'm concerned the White House should have made a press release that read, We killed Osama bid Laden.
That's it. No more.
The world already knows why and the how is nobody's business.
It's sufficient for them to know the US has the power. Who do? We do?

Digging into the details has but one purpose, define individuals who were part of the operation to credit. Every time some credit is given to a group(Army chopper, Navy Seals) or an individual(2 guys each claiming the kill) it takes some credit away from the White House, some credit away from the nation. There are medals and unit citations for that.

After Hiroshima the White House said, big badaboom. That's enough.

You think the American people deserve to know the truth? What makes you think the American people want to know the whole story. We killed Osama? Cool, now get back to wheel of fortune. Everyone digging into this is trying to make a buck or grinding an axe, usually both.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by Griff

Yeah, nothing too surprising here. The helicopter crash ruined the cover story so they spun out something self-serving on the fly.

Brian Williams survived the helicopter crash AND killed Osama bin Laden.

[infinite monkey]

We weren't nice enough killing bin Laden. Gee, I'm so sorry to kill.you, Mr asshole. Cheers and all. Enjoy your virgins you don't actually get. ..lol.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by sexobon

Brian Williams survived the helicopter crash AND killed Osama bin Laden.

Brian's got a strong case of the awesomes.

[infinite monkey]

I'm lying again
just like Brian Williams did...