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An undated image of Osama bin Laden AP Photo/Courtesy of Al-Jazeera via APTN, File
bin Laden raid
New book offers more details on Navy SEALs' bin Laden raid
Former Navy SEAL commander Chuck Pfarrer sheds some light on the May raid at Osama bin Laden’s Abbottabad compound.
3.01pm, 7 Nov 2011
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In his recently released book, former Navy SEAL commander Chuck Pfarrer sheds some light on the May 2 raid at Osama bin Laden’s Abbottabad compound.
Speaking to SEAL Team 6 members, Pfarrer clears up a few misconceptions (via The Daily Mail):
Up until 20 minutes before the raid President Obama was playing golf. Pfarrer says this was for the president to distance himself if the mission went bad.
The helicopter that went down in the compound crashed due to an electrical failure, not thin desert air as previously reported.
None of the SEALs ever said “For God and country” when they burst into bin Laden’s room. Bin Laden’s wife only screamed “No, no, don’t do this…it’s not him.”
Bin Laden was also referred to as Bert, not just Geronimo, and Ayman al-Zawahiri was called Ernie, a reference to the Sesame Street characters.
SEAL Team 6 members say they absolutely would have captured bin Laden if he’d given himself up, but he pushed his wife at them and went for a weapon next to his bed. It was not a “kill mission.”
Twelve shots were fired during the entire mission. Four in bin Laden’s bedroom. The first round just missed bin Laden’s face. The second hit his wife’s calf. Two 5.56mm rounds then hit the man, one in his chest, the second in the head 90 seconds after the raid began.
Each SEAL was carrying sawn-off M4 rifles.
Obama did ask who “took out Osama” and the team answered “We all did, sir. It was all of us.”
The SEALs chose to speak out after being labeled murderers that engaged in a ‘kill mission’. The men were also disappointed that bin Laden’s death was announced so quickly, giving other al Qaeda leaders time to scramble.
Mr Pfarrer also said the President’s announcement of the ‘intentional’ killing was understandable but nonetheless disappointing. Mr Pfarrer told the Sunday Times: ‘There isn’t a politician in the world who could resist trying to take credit for getting Bin Laden but it devalued the ”intel” and gave time for every other Al-Qaeda leader to scurry to another bolthole.
‘The men who did this and their valorous act deserve better. It’s a pretty shabby way to treat these guys,’ Pfarrer said.
The original mission was planned for April 30. Called Neptune’s Spear that date was scratched due to bad weather.
The rifle bin Laden reached for in his bedroom is now mounted on the wall of the Seal team room in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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Better than them thick necnominations fair play to everyone who donated as quite a few cancer charities benefited… I support aoibhenns pink tie a cancer charity for children who do great work with the children and their family
Well done to all who supported this novelty idea. We will always have a few begrudgers and negative people but this is so POSITIVE and fun and supporting CANCER AWARENESS and a €4 donation to a wonderful charity
Yes, my five sisters and I did the ‘no make up selfie’ last night and it was interesting to see them on Facebook with no makeup! Needless to say, they all looked great!! It’s for a great cause!! Go girls!! ;)
Why is it such a big deal that women are showing what they actually look like??? Surely this should be expected as normal instead of the way things are were women hide behind make-up and fake tan while hypocritically judging others for how they look when they themselves conceal their own appearance.
The reason it is such a big deal is because some women wouldn’t step outside their front door with out some foundation on or mascara to conceal their blemishes . It’s a self conscious thing , and it’s fantastic that these women are willing to bare all and have their insecurites brought out into the huge wide world of face book and all of their friends can see their blemishes . It’s a big thing for some women and I applaude every single woman that has done it .
John it’s an article about making money for cancer charities, it’s a feel good thing but you want to turn it into a woman bashing exercise, just because mummy didn’t show you enough love growing up doesn’t mean we want to listen to your clap trap so please cop on to yourself and do cock in a sock for testicular cancer and smile buddy ok
All told, an estimated $6 billion is raised every year in the name of breast cancer research but the cases of breast cancer have risen dramatically worldwide , cancer is a terrible disease , but marketing disease as a fund raising stunt for over-paid administrators mid-term bonuses is a bit sick …these no-make up “selfies’ wont cure one kid with leukemia nor offer much to the palliative care of a cancer patient , it’s just all part of the marketing , this is an industry built on very few cures and where 8/10 chemo patients die from radiation ….don’t be a sucker for the Bernays type propaganda…even when it pulls at your heart strings.
When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance…
Deasun – and what would you suggest??? Cancer Awareness is important. Nurses funded by the ICS are important. Helplines and support for patients and families is important.
Research is important. There are many variants of cancers both in adulthood and childhood, with different prognosis.
One has to remain positive and hopeful- that one day
Darren you shouldn’t try your hand at smart alec responses because you’re not really good at it. I’m just saying that something better or more creative should have been done for cancer awareness than shining a light on how sad society is, were women showing their faces without make-up is seen as some sort of achievement or commendable act.
A well intentioned but truly bizarre social media craze. I can’t but feel sorry for these women who feel that appearing on social medial without makeup is an achievement worthy of monetary donation. It opens up another debate as to why women feel that they have to wear make-up in the first place.
Have long been saying this country needs a telethon to lift the national mood. Re-ignite the appreciation of what we’ve got because many organisations who provide amazing life changing services countrywide have seen their fundraising sources disappear. Its sole purpose wouldn’t be to raise millions even 250000 would go a long way towards some group it would raise the spirits of the country and that could be priceless. Look at sport relief. Think it would be all the better now after all the rehab and charities scandals. Here is an example of the people of Ireland taking control and providing a major adrenalin shot to one of the countries most worthy charities.
Its for a great cause and a charity close to my heart having lost an aunt to skin cancer and having had three brain tumors removed thankfully benign. As a result I suffer with Epilepsy, on the 26th of March is World Epilepsy Day, purple is the colour to symbolise Epilepsy. It would be great if the people of Ireland could wear a little purple on the 26th to let us know they are thinking of the 36,000 people approx in ireland who suffer with epilepsy and donate no matter how big or small to Epilepsy Ireland. Text the word Roses to 50300. Remember not every seizure involves a violent convulsion. There are over 40 different types of seizures. It is the most common neurological condition and yet the most misunderstood.
For US charities, we offer a similar text-and-pledge service. Many of our nonprofit clients have achieved tremendous success with our platform: http://s.gnoss.us/TextToPledge
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