Seymour M-OBL Abbotabad

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SeymourM.HershTheKillingofOsamabinLadenLRB21May2015
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TheKillingofOsamabinLaden
SeymourM.Hersh
ItsbeenfouryearssinceagroupofUSNavySealsassassinatedOsamabinLadeninanight
raidonahighwalledcompoundinAbbottabad,Pakistan.Thekillingwasthehighpointof
Obamasfirstterm,andamajorfactorinhisreelection.TheWhiteHousestillmaintainsthat
themissionwasanallAmericanaffair,andthattheseniorgeneralsofPakistansarmyand
InterServicesIntelligenceagency(ISI)werenottoldoftheraidinadvance.Thisisfalse,as
aremanyotherelementsoftheObamaadministrationsaccount.TheWhiteHousesstory
mighthavebeenwrittenbyLewisCarroll:wouldbinLaden,targetofamassiveinternational
manhunt,reallydecidethataresorttownfortymilesfromIslamabadwouldbethesafest
placetoliveandcommandalQaidasoperations?Hewashidingintheopen.SoAmerica
said.
ThemostblatantliewasthatPakistanstwomostseniormilitaryleadersGeneralAshfaq
ParvezKayani,chiefofthearmystaff,andGeneralAhmedShujaPasha,directorgeneralof
theISIwereneverinformedoftheUSmission.ThisremainstheWhiteHouseposition
despiteanarrayofreportsthathaveraisedquestions,includingonebyCarlottaGallinthe
NewYorkTimesMagazineof19March2014.Gall,whospent12yearsastheTimes
correspondentinAfghanistan,wrotethatshedbeentoldbyaPakistaniofficialthatPasha
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v37/n10/seymourmhersh/thekillingofosamabinladen
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hadknownbeforetheraidthatbinLadenwasinAbbottabad.ThestorywasdeniedbyUS
andPakistaniofficials,andwentnofurther.InhisbookPakistan:BeforeandafterOsama
(2012),ImtiazGul,executivedirectoroftheCentreforResearchandSecurityStudies,athink
tankinIslamabad,wrotethathedspokentofourundercoverintelligenceofficerswho
reflectingawidelyheldlocalviewassertedthatthePakistanimilitarymusthavehad
knowledgeoftheoperation.TheissuewasraisedagaininFebruary,whenaretiredgeneral,
AsadDurrani,whowasheadoftheISIintheearly1990s,toldanalJazeerainterviewerthat
itwasquitepossiblethattheseniorofficersoftheISIdidnotknowwherebinLadenhad
beenhiding,butitwasmoreprobablethattheydid[know].Andtheideawasthat,atthe
righttime,hislocationwouldberevealed.Andtherighttimewouldhavebeenwhenyoucan
getthenecessaryquidproquoifyouhavesomeonelikeOsamabinLaden,youarenot
goingtosimplyhandhimovertotheUnitedStates.
ThisspringIcontactedDurraniandtoldhimindetailwhatIhadlearnedaboutthebin
LadenassaultfromAmericansources:thatbinLadenhadbeenaprisoneroftheISIatthe
Abbottabadcompoundsince2006thatKayaniandPashaknewoftheraidinadvanceand
hadmadesurethatthetwohelicoptersdeliveringtheSealstoAbbottabadcouldcross
PakistaniairspacewithouttriggeringanyalarmsthattheCIAdidnotlearnofbinLadens
whereaboutsbytrackinghiscouriers,astheWhiteHousehasclaimedsinceMay2011,but
fromaformerseniorPakistaniintelligenceofficerwhobetrayedthesecretinreturnformuch
ofthe$25millionrewardofferedbytheUS,andthat,whileObamadidordertheraidand
theSealteamdidcarryitout,manyotheraspectsoftheadministrationsaccountwerefalse.
WhenyourversioncomesoutifyoudoitpeopleinPakistanwillbetremendously
grateful,Durranitoldme.Foralongtimepeoplehavestoppedtrustingwhatcomesout
aboutbinLadenfromtheofficialmouths.Therewillbesomenegativepoliticalcommentand
someanger,butpeopleliketobetoldthetruth,andwhatyouvetoldmeisessentiallywhatI
haveheardfromformercolleagueswhohavebeenonafactfindingmissionsincethis
episode.AsaformerISIhead,hesaid,hehadbeentoldshortlyaftertheraidbypeoplein
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thestrategiccommunitywhowouldknowthattherehadbeenaninformantwhohad
alertedtheUStobinLadenspresenceinAbbottabad,andthatafterhiskillingtheUSs
betrayedpromisesleftKayaniandPashaexposed.
ThemajorUSsourcefortheaccountthatfollowsisaretiredseniorintelligenceofficialwho
wasknowledgeableabouttheinitialintelligenceaboutbinLadenspresenceinAbbottabad.
HealsowasprivytomanyaspectsoftheSealstrainingfortheraid,andtothevariousafter
actionreports.TwootherUSsources,whohadaccesstocorroboratinginformation,have
beenlongtimeconsultantstotheSpecialOperationsCommand.Ialsoreceivedinformation
frominsidePakistanaboutwidespreaddismayamongtheseniorISIandmilitaryleadership
echoedlaterbyDurranioverObamasdecisiontogopublicimmediatelywithnewsofbin
Ladensdeath.TheWhiteHousedidnotrespondtorequestsforcomment.
*
Itbeganwithawalkin.InAugust2010aformerseniorPakistaniintelligenceofficer
approachedJonathanBank,thentheCIAsstationchiefattheUSembassyinIslamabad.He
offeredtotelltheCIAwheretofindbinLadeninreturnfortherewardthatWashingtonhad
offeredin2001.WalkinsareassumedbytheCIAtobeunreliable,andtheresponsefromthe
agencysheadquarterswastoflyinapolygraphteam.Thewalkinpassedthetest.Sonow
wevegotaleadonbinLadenlivinginacompoundinAbbottabad,buthowdowereally
knowwhoitis?wastheCIAsworryatthetime,theretiredseniorUSintelligenceofficialtold
me.
TheUSinitiallykeptwhatitknewfromthePakistanis.Thefearwasthatiftheexistenceof
thesourcewasmadeknown,thePakistanisthemselveswouldmovebinLadentoanother
location.Soonlyaverysmallnumberofpeoplewerereadintothesourceandhisstory,the
retiredofficialsaid.TheCIAsfirstgoalwastocheckoutthequalityoftheinformants
information.Thecompoundwasputundersatellitesurveillance.TheCIArentedahousein
AbbottabadtouseasaforwardobservationbaseandstaffeditwithPakistaniemployeesand
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foreignnationals.Lateron,thebasewouldserveasacontactpointwiththeISIitattracted
littleattentionbecauseAbbottabadisaholidayspotfullofhousesrentedonshortleases.A
psychologicalprofileoftheinformantwasprepared.(Theinformantandhisfamilywere
smuggledoutofPakistanandrelocatedintheWashingtonarea.Heisnowaconsultantfor
theCIA.)
ByOctoberthemilitaryandintelligencecommunitywerediscussingthepossiblemilitary
options.Dowedropabunkerbusteronthecompoundortakehimoutwithadronestrike?
Perhapssendsomeonetokillhim,singleassassinstyle?Butthenwedhavenoproofofwho
hewas,theretiredofficialsaid.Wecouldseesomeguyiswalkingaroundatnight,butwe
havenointerceptsbecausetheresnocommocomingfromthecompound.
InOctober,Obamawasbriefedontheintelligence.Hisresponsewascautious,theretired
officialsaid.ItjustmadenosensethatbinLadenwaslivinginAbbottabad.Itwasjusttoo
crazy.Thepresidentspositionwasemphatic:Donttalktomeaboutthisanymoreunless
youhaveproofthatitreallyisbinLaden.TheimmediategoaloftheCIAleadershipandthe
JointSpecialOperationsCommandwastogetObamassupport.Theybelievedtheywould
getthisiftheygotDNAevidence,andiftheycouldassurehimthatanightassaultofthe
compoundwouldcarrynorisk.Theonlywaytoaccomplishboththings,theretiredofficial
said,wastogetthePakistanisonboard.
Duringthelateautumnof2010,theUScontinuedtokeepquietaboutthewalkin,and
KayaniandPashacontinuedtoinsisttotheirAmericancounterpartsthattheyhadno
informationaboutbinLadenswhereabouts.Thenextstepwastofigureouthowtoease
KayaniandPashaintoittotellthemthatwevegotintelligenceshowingthatthereisa
highvaluetargetinthecompound,andtoaskthemwhattheyknowaboutthetarget,the
retiredofficialsaid.Thecompoundwasnotanarmedenclavenomachinegunsaround,
becauseitwasunderISIcontrol.ThewalkinhadtoldtheUSthatbinLadenhadlived
undetectedfrom2001to2006withsomeofhiswivesandchildrenintheHinduKush
mountains,andthattheISIgottohimbypayingsomeofthelocaltribalpeopletobetray
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him.(ReportsaftertheraidplacedhimelsewhereinPakistanduringthisperiod.)Bankwas
alsotoldbythewalkinthatbinLadenwasveryill,andthatearlyoninhisconfinementat
Abbottabad,theISIhadorderedAmirAziz,adoctorandamajorinthePakistaniarmy,to
movenearbytoprovidetreatment.ThetruthisthatbinLadenwasaninvalid,butwecannot
saythat,theretiredofficialsaid.Youmeanyouguysshotacripple?Whowasabouttograb
hisAK47?
Itdidnttakelongtogetthecooperationweneeded,becausethePakistaniswantedto
ensurethecontinuedreleaseofAmericanmilitaryaid,agoodpercentageofwhichwasanti
terrorismfundingthatfinancespersonalsecurity,suchasbulletprooflimousinesand
securityguardsandhousingfortheISIleadership,theretiredofficialsaid.Headdedthat
therewerealsounderthetablepersonalincentivesthatwerefinancedbyoffthebooks
Pentagoncontingencyfunds.TheintelligencecommunityknewwhatthePakistanisneeded
toagreetherewasthecarrot.Andtheychosethecarrot.Itwasawinwin.Wealsodida
littleblackmail.WetoldthemwewouldleakthefactthatyouvegotbinLadeninyour
backyard.WeknewtheirfriendsandenemiestheTalibanandjihadistgroupsinPakistan
andAfghanistanwouldnotlikeit.
Aworryingfactoratthisearlypoint,accordingtotheretiredofficial,wasSaudiArabia,which
hadbeenfinancingbinLadensupkeepsincehisseizurebythePakistanis.TheSaudisdidnt
wantbinLadenspresencerevealedtousbecausehewasaSaudi,andsotheytoldthe
Pakistanistokeephimoutofthepicture.TheSaudisfearedifweknewwewouldpressure
thePakistanistoletbinLadenstarttalkingtousaboutwhattheSaudishadbeendoingwith
alQaida.Andtheyweredroppingmoneylotsofit.ThePakistanis,inturn,wereconcerned
thattheSaudismightspillthebeansabouttheircontrolofbinLaden.Thefearwasthatifthe
USfoundoutaboutbinLadenfromRiyadh,allhellwouldbreakout.TheAmericanslearning
aboutbinLadensimprisonmentfromawalkinwasnottheworstthing.
Despitetheirconstantpublicfeuding,AmericanandPakistanimilitaryandintelligence
serviceshaveworkedtogethercloselyfordecadesoncounterterrorisminSouthAsia.Both
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servicesoftenfinditusefultoengageinpublicfeudstocovertheirasses,astheretired
officialputit,buttheycontinuallyshareintelligenceusedfordroneattacks,andcooperate
oncovertoperations.Atthesametime,itsunderstoodinWashingtonthatelementsofthe
ISIbelievethatmaintainingarelationshipwiththeTalibanleadershipinsideAfghanistanis
essentialtonationalsecurity.TheISIsstrategicaimistobalanceIndianinfluenceinKabul
theTalibanisalsoseeninPakistanasasourceofjihadistshocktroopswhowouldback
PakistanagainstIndiainaconfrontationoverKashmir.
AddingtothetensionwasthePakistaninucleararsenal,oftendepictedintheWesternpress
asanIslamicbombthatmightbetransferredbyPakistantoanembattlednationinthe
MiddleEastintheeventofacrisiswithIsrael.TheUSlookedtheotherwaywhenPakistan
beganbuildingitsweaponssysteminthe1970sanditswidelybelieveditnowhasmorethan
ahundrednuclearwarheads.ItsunderstoodinWashingtonthatUSsecuritydependsonthe
maintenanceofstrongmilitaryandintelligencetiestoPakistan.Thebeliefismirroredin
Pakistan.
ThePakistaniarmyseesitselfasfamily,theretiredofficialsaid.Officerscallsoldierstheir
sonsandallofficersarebrothers.TheattitudeisdifferentintheAmericanmilitary.The
seniorPakistaniofficersbelievetheyaretheeliteandhavegottolookoutforallofthepeople,
askeepersoftheflameagainstMuslimfundamentalism.ThePakistanisalsoknowthattheir
trumpcardagainstaggressionfromIndiaisastrongrelationshipwiththeUnitedStates.
Theywillnevercuttheirpersontopersontieswithus.
LikeallCIAstationchiefs,Bankwasworkingundercover,butthatendedinearlyDecember
2010whenhewaspubliclyaccusedofmurderinacriminalcomplaintfiledinIslamabadby
KarimKhan,aPakistanijournalistwhosesonandbrother,accordingtolocalnewsreports,
hadbeenkilledbyaUSdronestrike.AllowingBanktobenamedwasaviolationof
diplomaticprotocolonthepartofthePakistaniauthorities,anditbroughtawaveof
unwantedpublicity.BankwasorderedtoleavePakistanbytheCIA,whoseofficials
subsequentlytoldtheAssociatedPresshewastransferredbecauseofconcernsforhissafety.
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TheNewYorkTimesreportedthattherewasstrongsuspiciontheISIhadplayedarolein
leakingBanksnametoKhan.Therewasspeculationthathewasoutedaspaybackforthe
publicationinaNewYorklawsuitamonthearlierofthenamesofISIchiefsinconnection
withtheMumbaiterroristattacksof2008.Buttherewasacollateralreason,theretired
officialsaid,fortheCIAswillingnesstosendBankbacktoAmerica.ThePakistanisneeded
coverincasetheircooperationwiththeAmericansingettingridofbinLadenbecame
known.ThePakistaniscouldsay:Youretalkingaboutme?Wejustkickedoutyourstation
chief.
*
ThebinLadencompoundwaslessthantwomilesfromthePakistanMilitaryAcademy,anda
Pakistaniarmycombatbattalionheadquarterswasanothermileorsoaway.Abbottabadis
lessthan15minutesbyhelicopterfromTarbelaGhazi,animportantbaseforISIcovert
operationsandthefacilitywherethosewhoguardPakistansnuclearweaponsarsenalare
trained.GhaziiswhytheISIputbinLadeninAbbottabadinthefirstplace,theretired
officialsaid,tokeephimunderconstantsupervision.
TherisksforObamawerehighatthisearlystage,especiallybecausetherewasatroubling
precedent:thefailed1980attempttorescuetheAmericanhostagesinTehran.Thatfailure
wasafactorinJimmyCarterslosstoRonaldReagan.Obamasworrieswererealistic,the
retiredofficialsaid.WasbinLadeneverthere?WasthewholestoryaproductofPakistani
deception?Whataboutpoliticalblowbackincaseoffailure?Afterall,astheretiredofficial
said,Ifthemissionfails,ObamasjustablackJimmyCarteranditsalloverforreelection.
ObamawasanxiousforreassurancethattheUSwasgoingtogettherightman.Theproof
wastocomeintheformofbinLadensDNA.TheplannersturnedforhelptoKayaniand
Pasha,whoaskedAziztoobtainthespecimens.Soonaftertheraidthepressfoundoutthat
AzizhadbeenlivinginahousenearthebinLadencompound:localreportersdiscoveredhis
nameinUrduonaplateonthedoor.PakistaniofficialsdeniedthatAzizhadanyconnection
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tobinLaden,buttheretiredofficialtoldmethatAzizhadbeenrewardedwithashareofthe
$25millionrewardtheUShadputupbecausetheDNAsamplehadshowedconclusivelythat
itwasbinLadeninAbbottabad.(InhissubsequenttestimonytoaPakistanicommission
investigatingthebinLadenraid,AzizsaidthathehadwitnessedtheattackonAbbottabad,
buthadnoknowledgeofwhowaslivinginthecompoundandhadbeenorderedbya
superiorofficertostayawayfromthescene.)
Bargainingcontinuedoverthewaythemissionwouldbeexecuted.Kayanieventuallytellsus
yes,buthesaysyoucanthaveabigstrikeforce.Youhavetocomeinleanandmean.And
youhavetokillhim,orthereisnodeal,theretiredofficialsaid.Theagreementwasstruckby
theendofJanuary2011,andJointSpecialOperationsCommandpreparedalistofquestions
tobeansweredbythePakistanis:Howcanwebeassuredofnooutsideintervention?What
arethedefencesinsidethecompoundanditsexactdimensions?WherearebinLadens
roomsandexactlyhowbigarethey?Howmanystepsinthestairway?Wherearethedoorsto
hisrooms,andaretheyreinforcedwithsteel?Howthick?ThePakistanisagreedtopermita
fourmanAmericancellaNavySeal,aCIAcaseofficerandtwocommunicationsspecialists
tosetupaliaisonofficeatTarbelaGhaziforthecomingassault.Bythen,themilitaryhad
constructedamockupofthecompoundinAbbottabadatasecretformernucleartestsitein
Nevada,andaneliteSealteamhadbegunrehearsingfortheattack.
TheUShadbeguntocutbackonaidtoPakistantoturnoffthespigot,intheretired
officialswords.Theprovisionof18newF16fighteraircraftwasdelayed,andunderthe
tablecashpaymentstotheseniorleadersweresuspended.InApril2011PashamettheCIA
director,LeonPanetta,atagencyheadquarters.PashagotacommitmentthattheUnited
Stateswouldturnthemoneybackon,andwegotaguaranteethattherewouldbeno
Pakistanioppositionduringthemission,theretiredofficialsaid.Pashaalsoinsistedthat
WashingtonstopcomplainingaboutPakistanslackofcooperationwiththeAmericanwar
onterrorism.Atonepointthatspring,PashaofferedtheAmericansabluntexplanationof
thereasonPakistankeptbinLadenscaptureasecret,andwhyitwasimperativefortheISI
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roletoremainsecret:WeneededahostagetokeeptabsonalQaidaandtheTaliban,Pasha
said,accordingtotheretiredofficial.TheISIwasusingbinLadenasleverageagainst
TalibanandalQaidaactivitiesinsideAfghanistanandPakistan.TheylettheTalibanandal
QaidaleadershipknowthatiftheyranoperationsthatclashedwiththeinterestsoftheISI,
theywouldturnbinLadenovertous.SoifitbecameknownthatthePakistanishadworked
withustogetbinLadenatAbbottabad,therewouldbehelltopay.
AtoneofhismeetingswithPanetta,accordingtotheretiredofficialandasourcewithinthe
CIA,PashawasaskedbyaseniorCIAofficialwhetherhesawhimselfasactinginessenceas
anagentforalQaidaandtheTaliban.Heansweredno,butsaidtheISIneededtohave
somecontrol.Themessage,astheCIAsawit,accordingtotheretiredofficial,wasthat
KayaniandPashaviewedbinLadenasaresource,andtheyweremoreinterestedintheir
[own]survivalthantheywereintheUnitedStates.
APakistaniwithclosetiestotheseniorleadershipoftheISItoldmethattherewasadeal
withyourtopguys.Wewereveryreluctant,butithadtobedonenotbecauseofpersonal
enrichment,butbecausealloftheAmericanaidprogrammeswouldbecutoff.Yourguys
saidwewillstarveyououtifyoudontdoit,andtheokaywasgivenwhilePashawasin
Washington.Thedealwasnotonlytokeepthetapsopen,butPashawastoldtherewouldbe
moregoodiesforus.ThePakistanisaidthatPashasvisitalsoresultedinacommitmentfrom
theUStogivePakistanafreerhandinAfghanistanasitbeganitsmilitarydrawdownthere.
Andsoourtopdogsjustifiedthedealbysayingthisisforourcountry.
*
PashaandKayaniwereresponsibleforensuringthatPakistansarmyandairdefence
commandwouldnottrackorengagewiththeUShelicoptersusedonthemission.The
AmericancellatTarbelaGhaziwaschargedwithcoordinatingcommunicationsbetweenthe
ISI,theseniorUSofficersattheircommandpostinAfghanistan,andthetwoBlackHawk
helicoptersthegoalwastoensurethatnostrayPakistanifighterplaneonborderpatrol
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spottedtheintrudersandtookactiontostopthem.Theinitialplansaidthatnewsoftheraid
shouldntbeannouncedstraightaway.AllunitsintheJointSpecialOperationsCommand
operateunderstringentsecrecyandtheJSOCleadershipbelieved,asdidKayaniandPasha,
thatthekillingofbinLadenwouldnotbemadepublicforaslongassevendays,maybe
longer.Thenacarefullyconstructedcoverstorywouldbeissued:Obamawouldannounce
thatDNAanalysisconfirmedthatbinLadenhadbeenkilledinadroneraidintheHindu
Kush,onAfghanistanssideoftheborder.TheAmericanswhoplannedthemissionassured
KayaniandPashathattheircooperationwouldneverbemadepublic.Itwasunderstoodby
allthatifthePakistanirolebecameknown,therewouldbeviolentprotestsbinLadenwas
consideredaherobymanyPakistanisandPashaandKayaniandtheirfamilieswouldbein
danger,andthePakistaniarmypubliclydisgraced.
Itwascleartoallbythispoint,theretiredofficialsaid,thatbinLadenwouldnotsurvive:
PashatoldusatameetinginAprilthathecouldnotriskleavingbinLadeninthecompound
nowthatweknowhesthere.ToomanypeopleinthePakistanichainofcommandknow
aboutthemission.HeandKayanihadtotellthewholestorytothedirectorsoftheair
defencecommandandtoafewlocalcommanders.
OfcoursetheguysknewthetargetwasbinLadenandhewasthereunderPakistanicontrol,
theretiredofficialsaid.Otherwise,theywouldnothavedonethemissionwithoutaircover.It
wasclearlyandabsolutelyapremeditatedmurder.AformerSealcommander,whohasled
andparticipatedindozensofsimilarmissionsoverthepastdecade,assuredmethatwewere
notgoingtokeepbinLadenalivetoallowtheterroristtolive.Bylaw,weknowwhatwere
doinginsidePakistanisahomicide.Wevecometogripswiththat.Eachoneofus,whenwe
dothesemissions,saytoourselves,Letsfaceit.Weregoingtocommitamurder.The
WhiteHousesinitialaccountclaimedthatbinLadenhadbeenbrandishingaweaponthe
storywasaimedatdeflectingthosewhoquestionedthelegalityoftheUSadministrations
targetedassassinationprogramme.TheUShasconsistentlymaintained,despitewidely
reportedremarksbypeopleinvolvedwiththemission,thatbinLadenwouldhavebeentaken
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aliveifhehadimmediatelysurrendered.
*
AttheAbbottabadcompoundISIguardswerepostedaroundtheclocktokeepwatchover
binLadenandhiswivesandchildren.Theywereunderorderstoleaveassoonastheyheard
therotorsoftheUShelicopters.Thetownwasdark:theelectricitysupplyhadbeencutoffon
theordersoftheISIhoursbeforetheraidbegan.OneoftheBlackHawkscrashedinsidethe
wallsofthecompound,injuringmanyonboard.TheguysknewtheTOT[timeontarget]
hadtobetightbecausetheywouldwakeupthewholetowngoingin,theretiredofficialsaid.
ThecockpitofthecrashedBlackHawk,withitscommunicationandnavigationalgear,had
tobedestroyedbyconcussiongrenades,andthiswouldcreateaseriesofexplosionsanda
firevisibleformiles.TwoChinookhelicoptershadflownfromAfghanistantoanearby
Pakistaniintelligencebasetoprovidelogisticalsupport,andoneofthemwasimmediately
dispatchedtoAbbottabad.Butbecausethehelicopterhadbeenequippedwithabladder
loadedwithextrafuelforthetwoBlackHawks,itfirsthadtobereconfiguredasatroop
carrier.ThecrashoftheBlackHawkandtheneedtoflyinareplacementwerenerve
wrackingandtimeconsumingsetbacks,buttheSealscontinuedwiththeirmission.There
wasnofirefightastheymovedintothecompoundtheISIguardshadgone.Everyonein
Pakistanhasagunandhighprofile,wealthyfolkslikethosewholiveinAbbottabadhave
armedbodyguards,andyettherewerenoweaponsinthecompound,theretiredofficial
pointedout.Hadtherebeenanyopposition,theteamwouldhavebeenhighlyvulnerable.
Instead,theretiredofficialsaid,anISIliaisonofficerflyingwiththeSealsguidedtheminto
thedarkenedhouseandupastaircasetobinLadensquarters.TheSealshadbeenwarnedby
thePakistanisthatheavysteeldoorsblockedthestairwellonthefirstandsecondfloor
landingsbinLadensroomswereonthethirdfloor.TheSealsquadusedexplosivestoblow
thedoorsopen,withoutinjuringanyone.OneofbinLadenswiveswasscreaminghysterically
andabulletperhapsastrayroundstruckherknee.AsidefromthosethathitbinLaden,
noothershotswerefired.(TheObamaadministrationsaccountwouldholdotherwise.)
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Theyknewwherethetargetwasthirdfloor,seconddoorontheright,theretiredofficial
said.Gostraightthere.Osamawascoweringandretreatedintothebedroom.Twoshooters
followedhimandopenedup.Verysimple,verystraightforward,veryprofessionalhit.Some
oftheSealswereappalledlaterattheWhiteHousesinitialinsistencethattheyhadshotbin
Ladeninselfdefence,theretiredofficialsaid.SixoftheSealsfinest,mostexperienced
NCOs,facedwithanunarmedelderlycivilian,hadtokillhiminselfdefence?Thehousewas
shabbyandbinLadenwaslivinginacellwithbarsonthewindowandbarbedwireonthe
roof.TherulesofengagementwerethatifbinLadenputupanyoppositiontheywere
authorisedtotakelethalaction.Butiftheysuspectedhemighthavesomemeansof
opposition,likeanexplosivevestunderhisrobe,theycouldalsokillhim.Soheresthisguyin
amysteryrobeandtheyshothim.Itsnotbecausehewasreachingforaweapon.Therules
gavethemabsoluteauthoritytokilltheguy.ThelaterWhiteHouseclaimthatonlyoneor
twobulletswerefiredintohisheadwasbullshit,theretiredofficialsaid.Thesquadcame
throughthedoorandobliteratedhim.AstheSealssay,Wekickedhisassandtookhisgas.
AftertheykilledbinLaden,theSealswerejustthere,somewithphysicalinjuriesfromthe
crash,waitingforthereliefchopper,theretiredofficialsaid.Twentytenseminutes.The
BlackHawkisstillburning.Therearenocitylights.Noelectricity.Nopolice.Nofiretrucks.
Theyhavenoprisoners.BinLadenswivesandchildrenwereleftfortheISItointerrogate
andrelocate.Despiteallthetalk,theretiredofficialcontinued,therewerenogarbagebags
fullofcomputersandstoragedevices.Theguysjuststuffedsomebooksandpapersthey
foundinhisroomintheirbackpacks.TheSealswerenttherebecausetheythoughtbinLaden
wasrunningacommandcentreforalQaidaoperations,astheWhiteHousewouldlatertell
themedia.Andtheywerenotintelligenceexpertsgatheringinformationinsidethathouse.
Onanormalassaultmission,theretiredofficialsaid,therewouldbenowaitingaroundifa
chopperwentdown.TheSealswouldhavefinishedthemission,thrownofftheirgunsand
gear,andjammedintotheremainingBlackHawkanddidimauedVietnameseslangfor
leavinginarushoutofthere,withguyshangingoutofthedoors.Theywouldnothave
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blownthechoppernocommogearisworthadozenlivesunlesstheyknewtheywere
safe.Insteadtheystoodaroundoutsidethecompound,waitingforthebustoarrive.Pasha
andKayanihaddeliveredonalltheirpromises.
*
ThebackroomargumentinsidetheWhiteHousebeganassoonasitwasclearthatthe
missionhadsucceeded.BinLadensbodywaspresumedtobeonitswaytoAfghanistan.
ShouldObamastandbytheagreementwithKayaniandPashaandpretendaweekorsolater
thatbinLadenhadbeenkilledinadroneattackinthemountains,orshouldhegopublic
immediately?ThedownedhelicoptermadeiteasyforObamaspoliticaladviserstourgethe
latterplan.Theexplosionandfireballwouldbeimpossibletohide,andwordofwhathad
happenedwasboundtoleak.Obamahadtogetoutinfrontofthestorybeforesomeonein
thePentagondid:waitingwoulddiminishthepoliticalimpact.
Noteveryoneagreed.RobertGates,thesecretaryofdefence,wasthemostoutspokenofthose
whoinsistedthattheagreementswithPakistanhadtobehonoured.Inhismemoir,Duty,
Gatesdidnotmaskhisanger:
BeforewebrokeupandthepresidentheadedupstairstotelltheAmerican
peoplewhathadjusthappened,Iremindedeveryonethatthetechniques,tactics
andprocedurestheSealshadusedinthebinLadenoperationwereusedevery
nightinAfghanistanitwasthereforeessentialthatweagreenottoreleaseany
operationaldetailsoftheraid.Thatwekilledhim,Isaid,isallweneededtosay.
Everybodyinthatroomagreedtokeepmumondetails.Thatcommitmentlasted
aboutfivehours.TheinitialleakscamefromtheWhiteHouseandCIA.Theyjust
couldntwaittobragandtoclaimcredit.Thefactswereoftenwrong
Nonethelesstheinformationjustkeptpouringout.Iwasoutragedandatone
point,told[thenationalsecurityadviser,Tom]Donilon,Whydoesnteverybody
justshutthefuckup?Tonoavail.
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Obamasspeechwasputtogetherinarush,theretiredofficialsaid,andwasviewedbyhis
advisersasapoliticaldocument,notamessagethatneededtobesubmittedforclearanceto
thenationalsecuritybureaucracy.Thisseriesofselfservingandinaccuratestatementswould
createchaosintheweeksfollowing.Obamasaidthathisadministrationhaddiscoveredthat
binLadenwasinPakistanthroughapossibleleadthepreviousAugusttomanyintheCIA
thestatementsuggestedaspecificevent,suchasawalkin.Theremarkledtoanewcover
storyclaimingthattheCIAsbrilliantanalystshadunmaskedacouriernetworkhandlingbin
LadenscontinuingflowofoperationalorderstoalQaida.Obamaalsopraisedasmallteam
ofAmericansfortheircareinavoidingciviliandeathsandsaid:Afterafirefight,theykilled
OsamabinLadenandtookcustodyofhisbody.Twomoredetailsnowhadtobesuppliedfor
thecoverstory:adescriptionofthefirefightthatneverhappened,andastoryaboutwhat
happenedtothecorpse.ObamawentontopraisethePakistanis:Itsimportanttonotethat
ourcounterterrorismcooperationwithPakistanhelpedleadustobinLadenandthe
compoundwherehewashiding.ThatstatementriskedexposingKayaniandPasha.The
WhiteHousessolutionwastoignorewhatObamahadsaidandorderanyonetalkingtothe
presstoinsistthatthePakistanishadplayednoroleinkillingbinLaden.Obamalefttheclear
impressionthatheandhisadvisershadntknownforsurethatbinLadenwasinAbbottabad,
butonlyhadinformationaboutthepossibility.ThisledfirsttothestorythattheSealshad
determinedtheydkilledtherightmanbyhavingasixfoottallSeallienexttothecorpsefor
comparison(binLadenwasknowntobesixfootfour)andthentotheclaimthataDNAtest
hadbeenperformedonthecorpseanddemonstratedconclusivelythattheSealshadkilled
binLaden.But,accordingtotheretiredofficial,itwasntclearfromtheSealsearlyreports
whetherallofbinLadensbody,oranyofit,madeitbacktoAfghanistan.
GateswasnttheonlyofficialwhowasdistressedbyObamasdecisiontospeakwithout
clearinghisremarksinadvance,theretiredofficialsaid,buthewastheonlyoneprotesting.
ObamadidntjustdoublecrossGates,hedoublecrossedeveryone.Thiswasnotthefogof
war.ThefactthattherewasanagreementwiththePakistanisandnocontingencyanalysisof
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whatwastobedisclosedifsomethingwentwrongthatwasntevendiscussed.Andonceit
wentwrong,theyhadtomakeupanewcoverstoryonthefly.Therewasalegitimatereason
forsomedeception:theroleofthePakistaniwalkinhadtobeprotected.
TheWhiteHousepresscorpswastoldinabriefingshortlyafterObamasannouncementthat
thedeathofbinLadenwastheculminationofyearsofcarefulandhighlyadvanced
intelligenceworkthatfocusedontrackingagroupofcouriers,includingonewhowasknown
tobeclosetobinLaden.ReportersweretoldthatateamofspeciallyassembledCIAand
NationalSecurityAgencyanalystshadtracedthecouriertoahighlysecuremilliondollar
compoundinAbbottabad.Aftermonthsofobservation,theAmericanintelligencecommunity
hadhighconfidencethatahighvaluetargetwaslivinginthecompound,anditwas
assessedthattherewasastrongprobabilitythat[it]wasOsamabinLaden.TheUSassault
teamranintoafirefightonenteringthecompoundandthreeadultmalestwoofthem
believedtobethecourierswereslain,alongwithbinLaden.AskedifbinLadenhad
defendedhimself,oneofthebrieferssaidyes:Hedidresisttheassaultforce.Andhewas
killedinafirefight.
ThenextdayJohnBrennan,thenObamassenioradviserforcounterterrorism,hadthetask
oftalkingupObamasvalourwhiletryingtosmoothoverthemisstatementsinhisspeech.He
providedamoredetailedbutequallymisleadingaccountoftheraidanditsplanning.
Speakingontherecord,whichherarelydoes,Brennansaidthatthemissionwascarriedout
byagroupofNavySealswhohadbeeninstructedtotakebinLadenalive,ifpossible.Hesaid
theUShadnoinformationsuggestingthatanyoneinthePakistanigovernmentormilitary
knewbinLadenswhereabouts:WedidntcontactthePakistanisuntilafterallofourpeople,
allofouraircraftwereoutofPakistaniairspace.HeemphasisedthecourageofObamas
decisiontoorderthestrike,andsaidthattheWhiteHousehadnoinformationthat
confirmedthatbinLadenwasatthecompoundbeforetheraidbegan.Obama,hesaid,
madewhatIbelievewasoneofthegutsiestcallsofanypresidentinrecentmemory.
BrennanincreasedthenumberkilledbytheSealsinsidethecompoundtofive:binLaden,a
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courier,hisbrother,abinLadenson,andoneofthewomensaidtobeshieldingbinLaden.
AskedwhetherbinLadenhadfiredontheSeals,assomereportershadbeentold,Brennan
repeatedwhatwouldbecomeaWhiteHousemantra:Hewasengagedinafirefightwith
thosethatenteredtheareaofthehousehewasin.Andwhetherornothegotoffanyrounds,
IquitefranklydontknowHereisbinLaden,whohasbeencallingfortheseattacks
livinginanareathatisfarremovedfromthefront,hidingbehindwomenwhowereputin
frontofhimasashield[It]justspeakstoIthinkthenatureoftheindividualhewas.
Gatesalsoobjectedtotheidea,pushedbyBrennanandLeonPanetta,thatUSintelligence
hadlearnedofbinLadenswhereaboutsfrominformationacquiredbywaterboardingand
otherformsoftorture.AllofthisisgoingonastheSealsareflyinghomefromtheirmission.
Theagencyguysknowthewholestory,theretiredofficialsaid.Itwasagroupofannuitants
whodidit.(AnnuitantsareretiredCIAofficerswhoremainactiveoncontract.)Theyhad
beencalledinbysomeofthemissionplannersintheagencytohelpwiththecoverstory.So
theoldtimerscomeinandsaywhynotadmitthatwegotsomeoftheinformationaboutbin
Ladenfromenhancedinterrogation?Atthetime,therewasstilltalkinWashingtonabout
thepossibleprosecutionofCIAagentswhohadconductedtorture.
Gatestoldthemthiswasnotgoingtowork,theretiredofficialsaid.Hewasneveronthe
team.Heknewattheeleventhhourofhiscareernottobeapartytothisnonsense.ButState,
theagencyandthePentagonhadboughtinonthecoverstory.NoneoftheSealsthought
thatObamawasgoingtogetonnationalTVandannouncetheraid.TheSpecialForces
commandwasapoplectic.Theypridedthemselvesonkeepingoperationalsecurity.There
wasfearinSpecialOperations,theretiredofficialsaid,thatifthetruestoryofthemissions
leakedout,theWhiteHousebureaucracywasgoingtoblameitontheSeals.
TheWhiteHousessolutionwastosilencetheSeals.On5May,everymemberoftheSealhit
teamtheyhadreturnedtotheirbaseinsouthernVirginiaandsomemembersoftheJoint
SpecialOperationsCommandleadershipwerepresentedwithanondisclosureformdrafted
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bytheWhiteHouseslegalofficeitpromisedcivilpenaltiesandalawsuitforanyonewho
discussedthemission,inpublicorprivate.TheSealswerenothappy,theretiredofficialsaid.
Butmostofthemkeptquiet,asdidAdmiralWilliamMcRaven,whowastheninchargeof
JSOC.McRavenwasapoplectic.HeknewhewasfuckedbytheWhiteHouse,buthesa
dyedinthewoolSeal,andnotthenapoliticaloperator,andheknewtheresnogloryin
blowingthewhistleonthepresident.WhenObamawentpublicwithbinLadensdeath,
everyonehadtoscramblearoundforanewstorythatmadesense,andtheplannerswere
stuckholdingthebag.
Withindays,someoftheearlyexaggerationsanddistortionshadbecomeobviousandthe
Pentagonissuedaseriesofclarifyingstatements.No,binLadenwasnotarmedwhenhewas
shotandkilled.Andno,binLadendidnotuseoneofhiswivesasashield.Thepressbyand
largeacceptedtheexplanationthattheerrorsweretheinevitablebyproductoftheWhite
Housesdesiretoaccommodatereportersfranticfordetailsofthemission.
OneliethathasenduredisthattheSealshadtofighttheirwaytotheirtarget.OnlytwoSeals
havemadeanypublicstatement:NoEasyDay,afirsthandaccountoftheraidbyMatt
Bissonnette,waspublishedinSeptember2012andtwoyearslaterRobONeillwas
interviewedbyFoxNews.BothmenhadresignedfromthenavybothhadfiredatbinLaden.
Theiraccountscontradictedeachotheronmanydetails,buttheirstoriesgenerallysupported
theWhiteHouseversion,especiallywhenitcametotheneedtokillorbekilledastheSeals
foughttheirwaytobinLaden.ONeilleventoldFoxNewsthatheandhisfellowSeals
thoughtWeweregoingtodie.Themorewetrainedonit,themorewerealisedthisis
goingtobeaonewaymission.
ButtheretiredofficialtoldmethatintheirinitialdebriefingstheSealsmadenomentionofa
firefight,orindeedofanyopposition.ThedramaanddangerportrayedbyBissonnetteand
ONeillmetadeepseatedneed,theretiredofficialsaid:Sealscannotlivewiththefactthat
theykilledbinLadentotallyunopposed,andsotherehastobeanaccountoftheircouragein
thefaceofdanger.Theguysaregoingtositaroundthebarandsayitwasaneasyday?
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Thatsnotgoingtohappen.
Therewasanotherreasontoclaimtherehadbeenafirefightinsidethecompound,the
retiredofficialsaid:toavoidtheinevitablequestionthatwouldarisefromanuncontested
assault.WherewerebinLadensguards?Surely,themostsoughtafterterroristintheworld
wouldhavearoundtheclockprotection.Andoneofthosekilledhadtobethecourier,
becausehedidntexistandwecouldntproducehim.ThePakistanishadnochoicebutto
playalongwithit.(Twodaysaftertheraid,Reuterspublishedphotographsofthreedead
menthatitsaidithadpurchasedfromanISIofficial.Twoofthemenwerelateridentifiedby
anISIspokesmanasbeingtheallegedcourierandhisbrother.)
*
FivedaysaftertheraidthePentagonpresscorpswasprovidedwithaseriesofvideotapes
thatweresaidbyUSofficialstohavebeentakenfromalargecollectiontheSealshad
removedfromthecompound,alongwithasmanyas15computers.Snippetsfromoneofthe
videosshowedasolitarybinLadenlookingwanandwrappedinablanket,watchingwhat
appearedtobeavideoofhimselfontelevision.Anunnamedofficialtoldreportersthatthe
raidproducedatreasuretrovethesinglelargestcollectionofseniorterroristmaterials
ever,whichwouldprovidevitalinsightsintoalQaidasplans.Theofficialsaidthematerial
showedthatbinLadenremainedanactiveleaderinalQaida,providingstrategic,
operationalandtacticalinstructionstothegroupHewasfarfromafigurehead[and]
continuedtodirecteventacticaldetailsofthegroupsmanagementandtoencourage
plottingfromwhatwasdescribedasacommandandcontrolcentreinAbbottabad.Hewas
anactiveplayer,makingtherecentoperationevenmoreessentialforournationssecurity,
theofficialsaid.Theinformationwassovital,headded,thattheadministrationwassetting
upaninteragencytaskforcetoprocessit:Hewasnotsimplysomeonewhowaspenningal
Qaidastrategy.Hewasthrowingoperationalideasoutthereandhewasalsospecifically
directingotheralQaidamembers.
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Theseclaimswerefabrications:therewasntmuchactivityforbinLadentoexercise
commandandcontrolover.TheretiredintelligenceofficialsaidthattheCIAsinternal
reportingshowsthatsincebinLadenmovedtoAbbottabadin2006onlyahandfulof
terroristattackscouldbelinkedtotheremnantsofbinLadensalQaida.Weweretoldat
first,theretiredofficialsaid,thattheSealsproducedgarbagebagsofstuffandthatthe
communityisgeneratingdailyintelligencereportsoutofthisstuff.Andthenweweretold
thatthecommunityisgatheringeverythingtogetherandneedstotranslateit.Butnothing
hascomeofit.Everysinglethingtheyhavecreatedturnsoutnottobetrue.Itsagreathoax
likethePiltdownman.TheretiredofficialsaidthatmostofthematerialsfromAbbottabad
wereturnedovertotheUSbythePakistanis,wholaterrazedthebuilding.TheISItook
responsibilityforthewivesandchildrenofbinLaden,noneofwhomwasmadeavailableto
theUSforquestioning.
Whycreatethetreasuretrovestory?theretiredofficialsaid.TheWhiteHousehadtogive
theimpressionthatbinLadenwasstilloperationallyimportant.Otherwise,whykillhim?A
coverstorywascreatedthattherewasanetworkofcourierscomingandgoingwith
memorysticksandinstructions.AlltoshowthatbinLadenremainedimportant.
InJuly2011,theWashingtonPostpublishedwhatpurportedtobeasummaryofsomeof
thesematerials.Thestoryscontradictionswereglaring.Itsaidthedocumentshadresultedin
morethanfourhundredintelligencereportswithinsixweeksitwarnedofunspecifiedal
Qaidaplotsanditmentionedarrestsofsuspectswhoarenamedordescribedinemailsthat
binLadenreceived.ThePostdidntidentifythesuspectsorreconcilethatdetailwiththe
administrationspreviousassertionsthattheAbbottabadcompoundhadnointernet
connection.Despitetheirclaimsthatthedocumentshadproducedhundredsofreports,the
Postalsoquotedofficialssayingthattheirmainvaluewasnttheactionableintelligencethey
contained,butthattheyenabledanalyststoconstructamorecomprehensiveportraitofal
Qaida.
InMay2012,theCombatingTerrorismCentreatWestPoint,aprivateresearchgroup,
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releasedtranslationsithadmadeunderafederalgovernmentcontractof175pagesofbin
Ladendocuments.Reportersfoundnoneofthedramathathadbeentoutedinthedaysafter
theraid.PatrickCockburnwroteaboutthecontrastbetweentheadministrationsinitial
claimsthatbinLadenwasthespideratthecentreofaconspiratorialwebandwhatthe
translationsactuallyshowed:thatbinLadenwasdelusionalandhadlimitedcontactwith
theoutsideworldoutsidehiscompound.
TheretiredofficialdisputedtheauthenticityoftheWestPointmaterials:Thereisnolinkage
betweenthesedocumentsandthecounterterrorismcentreattheagency.Nointelligence
communityanalysis.WhenwasthelasttimetheCIA:1)announcedithadasignificant
intelligencefind2)revealedthesource3)describedthemethodforprocessingthe
materials4)revealedthetimelineforproduction5)describedbywhomandwherethe
analysiswastakingplace,and6)publishedthesensitiveresultsbeforetheinformationhad
beenactedon?Noagencyprofessionalwouldsupportthisfairytale.
*
InJune2011,itwasreportedintheNewYorkTimes,theWashingtonPostandalloverthe
PakistanipressthatAmirAzizhadbeenheldforquestioninginPakistanhewas,itwassaid,
aCIAinformantwhohadbeenspyingonthecomingsandgoingsatthebinLaden
compound.Azizwasreleased,buttheretiredofficialsaidthatUSintelligencewasunableto
learnwholeakedthehighlyclassifiedinformationabouthisinvolvementwiththemission.
OfficialsinWashingtondecidedtheycouldnottakeachancethatAzizsroleinobtainingbin
LadensDNAalsowouldbecomeknown.Asacrificiallambwasneeded,andtheonechosen
wasShakilAfridi,a48yearoldPakistanidoctorandsometimeCIAasset,whohadbeen
arrestedbythePakistanisinlateMayandaccusedofassistingtheagency.Wewenttothe
PakistanisandsaidgoafterAfridi,theretiredofficialsaid.Wehadtocoverthewholeissue
ofhowwegottheDNA.ItwassoonreportedthattheCIAhadorganisedafakevaccination
programmeinAbbottabadwithAfridishelpinafailedattempttoobtainbinLadensDNA.
Afridislegitimatemedicaloperationwasrunindependentlyoflocalhealthauthorities,was
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wellfinancedandofferedfreevaccinationsagainsthepatitisB.Postersadvertisingthe
programmeweredisplayedthroughoutthearea.Afridiwaslateraccusedoftreasonand
sentencedto33yearsinprisonbecauseofhistiestoanextremist.NewsoftheCIAsponsored
programmecreatedwidespreadangerinPakistan,andledtothecancellationofother
internationalvaccinationprogrammesthatwerenowseenascoverforAmericanspying.
TheretiredofficialsaidthatAfridihadbeenrecruitedlongbeforethebinLadenmissionas
partofaseparateintelligenceefforttogetinformationaboutsuspectedterroristsin
Abbottabadandthesurroundingarea.Theplanwastousevaccinationsasawaytogetthe
bloodofterrorismsuspectsinthevillages.AfridimadenoattempttoobtainDNAfromthe
residentsofthebinLadencompound.Thereportthathedidsowasahurriedlyputtogether
CIAcoverstorycreatingfactsinaclumsyattempttoprotectAzizandhisrealmission.
Nowwehavetheconsequences,theretiredofficialsaid.Agreathumanitarianprojecttodo
somethingmeaningfulforthepeasantshasbeencompromisedasacynicalhoax.Afridis
convictionwasoverturned,butheremainsinprisononamurdercharge.
*
Inhisaddressannouncingtheraid,ObamasaidthatafterkillingbinLadentheSealstook
custodyofhisbody.Thestatementcreatedaproblem.Intheinitialplanitwastobe
announcedaweekorsoafterthefactthatbinLadenwaskilledinadronestrikesomewhere
inthemountainsonthePakistan/Afghanistanborderandthathisremainshadbeen
identifiedbyDNAtesting.ButwithObamasannouncementofhiskillingbytheSeals
everyonenowexpectedabodytobeproduced.Instead,reportersweretoldthatbinLadens
bodyhadbeenflownbytheSealstoanAmericanmilitaryairfieldinJalalabad,Afghanistan,
andthenstraighttotheUSSCarlVinson,asupercarrieronroutinepatrolintheNorth
ArabianSea.BinLadenhadthenbeenburiedatsea,justhoursafterhisdeath.Thepress
corpssonlyscepticalmomentsatJohnBrennansbriefingon2Mayweretodowiththe
burial.Thequestionswereshort,tothepoint,andrarelyanswered.Whenwasthedecision
madethathewouldbeburiedatseaifkilled?Wasthispartoftheplanallalong?Canyou
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justtelluswhythatwasagoodidea?John,didyouconsultaMuslimexpertonthat?Is
thereavisualrecordingofthisburial?Whenthislastquestionwasasked,JayCarney,
Obamaspresssecretary,cametoBrennansrescue:Wevegottogiveotherpeopleachance
here.
WethoughtthebestwaytoensurethathisbodywasgivenanappropriateIslamicburial,
Brennansaid,wastotakethoseactionsthatwouldallowustodothatburialatsea.Hesaid
appropriatespecialistsandexpertswereconsulted,andthattheUSmilitarywasfully
capableofcarryingouttheburialconsistentwithIslamiclaw.Brennandidntmentionthat
Muslimlawcallsfortheburialservicetobeconductedinthepresenceofanimam,andthere
wasnosuggestionthatonehappenedtobeonboardtheCarlVinson.
InareconstructionofthebinLadenoperationforVanityFair,MarkBowden,whospoketo
manysenioradministrationofficials,wrotethatbinLadensbodywascleanedand
photographedatJalalabad.FurtherproceduresnecessaryforaMuslimburialwere
performedonthecarrier,hewrote,withbinLadensbodybeingwashedagainandwrapped
inawhiteshroud.Anavyphotographerrecordedtheburialinfullsunlight,Monday
morning,May2.Bowdendescribedthephotos:
Oneframeshowsthebodywrappedinaweightedshroud.Thenextshowsit
lyingdiagonallyonachute,feetoverboard.Inthenextframethebodyishitting
thewater.Inthenextitisvisiblejustbelowthesurface,ripplesspreading
outward.Inthelastframethereareonlycircularripplesonthesurface.The
mortalremainsofOsamabinLadenweregoneforgood.
Bowdenwascarefulnottoclaimthathehadactuallyseenthephotographshedescribed,
andherecentlytoldmehehadntseenthem:ImalwaysdisappointedwhenIcantlookat
somethingmyself,butIspokewithsomeoneItrustedwhosaidhehadseenthemhimselfand
describedthemindetail.Bowdensstatementaddstothequestionsabouttheallegedburial
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atsea,whichhasprovokedafloodofFreedomofInformationActrequests,mostofwhich
producednoinformation.Oneofthemsoughtaccesstothephotographs.ThePentagon
respondedthatasearchofallavailablerecordshadfoundnoevidencethatanyphotographs
hadbeentakenoftheburial.Requestsonotherissuesrelatedtotheraidwereequally
unproductive.ThereasonforthelackofresponsebecameclearafterthePentagonheldan
inquiryintoallegationsthattheObamaadministrationhadprovidedaccesstoclassified
materialstothemakersofthefilmZeroDarkThirty.ThePentagonreport,whichwasput
onlineinJune2013,notedthatAdmiralMcRavenhadorderedthefilesontheraidtobe
deletedfromallmilitarycomputersandmovedtotheCIA,wheretheywouldbeshielded
fromFOIArequestsbytheagencysoperationalexemption.
McRavensactionmeantthatoutsiderscouldnotgetaccesstotheCarlVinsonsunclassified
logs.Logsaresacrosanctinthenavy,andseparateonesarekeptforairoperations,thedeck,
theengineeringdepartment,themedicaloffice,andforcommandinformationandcontrol.
Theyshowthesequenceofeventsdaybydayaboardtheshipiftherehasbeenaburialatsea
aboardtheCarlVinson,itwouldhavebeenrecorded.
TherewasntanygossipaboutaburialamongtheCarlVinsonssailors.Thecarrier
concludeditssixmonthdeploymentinJune2011.Whentheshipdockedatitshomebasein
Coronado,California,RearAdmiralSamuelPerez,commanderoftheCarlVinsoncarrier
strikegroup,toldreportersthatthecrewhadbeenorderednottotalkabouttheburial.
CaptainBruceLindsey,skipperoftheCarlVinson,toldreportershewasunabletodiscussit.
CameronShort,oneofthecrewoftheCarlVinson,toldtheCommercialNewsofDanville,
Illinois,thatthecrewhadnotbeentoldanythingabouttheburial.Allheknowsiswhathes
seenonthenews,thenewspaperreported.
ThePentagondidreleaseaseriesofemailstotheAssociatedPress.Inoneofthem,Rear
AdmiralCharlesGaouettereportedthattheservicefollowedtraditionalproceduresfor
Islamicburial,andsaidnoneofthesailorsonboardhadbeenpermittedtoobservethe
proceedings.Buttherewasnoindicationofwhowashedandwrappedthebody,orofwhich
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Arabicspeakerconductedtheservice.
Withinweeksoftheraid,IhadbeentoldbytwolongtimeconsultantstoSpecialOperations
Command,whohaveaccesstocurrentintelligence,thatthefuneralaboardtheCarlVinson
didnttakeplace.OneconsultanttoldmethatbinLadensremainswerephotographedand
identifiedafterbeingflownbacktoAfghanistan.Theconsultantadded:Atthatpoint,the
CIAtookcontrolofthebody.ThecoverstorywasthatithadbeenflowntotheCarlVinson.
Thesecondconsultantagreedthattherehadbeennoburialatsea.Headdedthatthe
killingofbinLadenwaspoliticaltheatredesignedtoburnishObamasmilitarycredentials
TheSealsshouldhaveexpectedthepoliticalgrandstanding.Itsirresistibletoapolitician.Bin
Ladenbecameaworkingasset.Earlythisyear,speakingagaintothesecondconsultant,I
returnedtotheburialatsea.Theconsultantlaughedandsaid:Youmean,hedidntmakeit
tothewater?
Theretiredofficialsaidtherehadbeenanothercomplication:somemembersoftheSealteam
hadbraggedtocolleaguesandothersthattheyhadtornbinLadensbodytopieceswithrifle
fire.Theremains,includinghishead,whichhadonlyafewbulletholesinit,werethrown
intoabodybagand,duringthehelicopterflightbacktoJalalabad,somebodypartswere
tossedoutovertheHinduKushmountainsorsotheSealsclaimed.Atthetime,theretired
officialsaid,theSealsdidnotthinktheirmissionwouldbemadepublicbyObamawithina
fewhours:Ifthepresidenthadgoneaheadwiththecoverstory,therewouldhavebeenno
needtohaveafuneralwithinhoursofthekilling.Oncethecoverstorywasblown,andthe
deathwasmadepublic,theWhiteHousehadaseriousWheresthebody?problem.The
worldknewUSforceshadkilledbinLadeninAbbottabad.Paniccity.Whattodo?Weneeda
functionalbodybecausewehavetobeabletosayweidentifiedbinLadenviaaDNA
analysis.Itwouldbenavyofficerswhocameupwiththeburialatseaidea.Perfect.No
body.Honourableburialfollowingsharialaw.Burialismadepublicingreatdetail,but
FreedomofInformationdocumentsconfirmingtheburialaredeniedforreasonsofnational
security.Itstheclassicunravellingofapoorlyconstructedcoverstoryitsolvesan
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immediateproblembut,giventheslightestinspection,thereisnobackupsupport.There
neverwasaplan,initially,totakethebodytosea,andnoburialofbinLadenatseatook
place.TheretiredofficialsaidthatiftheSealsfirstaccountsaretobebelieved,there
wouldnthavebeenmuchleftofbinLadentoputintotheseainanycase.
*
ItwasinevitablethattheObamaadministrationslies,misstatementsandbetrayalswould
createabacklash.Wevehadafouryearlapseincooperation,theretiredofficialsaid.Its
takenthatlongforthePakistanistotrustusagaininthemilitarytomilitary
counterterrorismrelationshipwhileterrorismwasrisingallovertheworldTheyfelt
Obamasoldthemdowntheriver.TheyrejustnowcomingbackbecausethethreatfromIsis,
whichisnowshowingupthere,isalotgreaterandthebinLadeneventisfarenoughawayto
enablesomeonelikeGeneralDurranitocomeoutandtalkaboutit.GeneralsPashaand
Kayanihaveretiredandbotharereportedtobeunderinvestigationforcorruptionduring
theirtimeinoffice.
TheSenateIntelligenceCommitteeslongdelayedreportonCIAtorture,releasedlast
December,documentedrepeatedinstancesofofficiallying,andsuggestedthattheCIAs
knowledgeofbinLadenscourierwassketchyatbestandpredateditsuseofwaterboarding
andotherformsoftorture.Thereportledtointernationalheadlinesaboutbrutalityand
waterboarding,alongwithgruesomedetailsaboutrectalfeedingtubes,icebathsandthreats
torapeormurderfamilymembersofdetaineeswhowerebelievedtobewithholding
information.Despitethebadpublicity,thereportwasavictoryfortheCIA.Itsmajorfinding
thattheuseoftorturedidntleadtodiscoveringthetruthhadalreadybeenthesubjectof
publicdebateformorethanadecade.Anotherkeyfindingthatthetortureconductedwas
morebrutalthanCongresshadbeentoldwasrisible,giventheextentofpublicreporting
andpublishedexpossbyformerinterrogatorsandretiredCIAofficers.Thereportdepicted
torturesthatwereobviouslycontrarytointernationallawasviolationsofrulesor
inappropriateactivitiesor,insomecases,managementfailures.Whethertheactions
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describedconstitutewarcrimeswasnotdiscussed,andthereportdidnotsuggestthatanyof
theCIAinterrogatorsortheirsuperiorsshouldbeinvestigatedforcriminalactivity.The
agencyfacednomeaningfulconsequencesasaresultofthereport.
TheretiredofficialtoldmethattheCIAleadershiphadbecomeexpertsinderailingserious
threatsfromCongress:Theycreatesomethingthatishorriblebutnotthatbad.Givethem
somethingthatsoundsterrible.OhmyGod,wewereshovingfoodupaprisonersass!
Meanwhile,theyrenottellingthecommitteeaboutmurders,otherwarcrimes,andsecret
prisonslikewestillhaveinDiegoGarcia.Thegoalalsowastostallitaslongaspossible,
whichtheydid.
Themainthemeofthecommittees499pageexecutivesummaryisthattheCIAlied
systematicallyabouttheeffectivenessofitstortureprogrammeingainingintelligencethat
wouldstopfutureterroristattacksintheUS.Theliesincludedsomevitaldetailsaboutthe
uncoveringofanalQaidaoperativecalledAbuAhmedalKuwaiti,whowassaidtobethe
keyalQaidacourier,andthesubsequenttrackingofhimtoAbbottabadinearly2011.The
agencysallegedintelligence,patienceandskillinfindingalKuwaitibecamelegendafterit
wasdramatisedinZeroDarkThirty.
TheSenatereportrepeatedlyraisedquestionsaboutthequalityandreliabilityoftheCIAs
intelligenceaboutalKuwaiti.In2005aninternalCIAreportonthehuntforbinLaden
notedthatdetaineesprovidefewactionableleads,andwehavetoconsiderthepossibility
thattheyarecreatingfictitiouscharacterstodistractusortoabsolvethemselvesofdirect
knowledgeaboutbinLadin[sic].ACIAcableayearlaterstatedthatwehavehadnosuccess
inelicitingactionableintelligenceonbinLadenslocationfromanydetainees.Thereportalso
highlightedseveralinstancesofCIAofficers,includingPanetta,makingfalsestatementsto
Congressandthepublicaboutthevalueofenhancedinterrogationtechniquesinthesearch
forbinLadenscouriers.
Obamatodayisnotfacingreelectionashewasinthespringof2011.Hisprincipledstandon
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behalfoftheproposednuclearagreementwithIransaysmuch,asdoeshisdecisionto
operatewithoutthesupportoftheconservativeRepublicansinCongress.Highlevellying
neverthelessremainsthemodusoperandiofUSpolicy,alongwithsecretprisons,drone
attacks,SpecialForcesnightraids,bypassingthechainofcommand,andcuttingoutthose
whomightsayno.
Vol.37No.1021May2015SeymourM.HershTheKillingofOsamabinLaden
pages312|10356words
ISSN02609592CopyrightLRBLimited2015
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5/14/2015

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