It's amazing that none of the assault force was wounded in anyway, being on the ground as long as they were.
Quote:
Raiders knew mission a one-shot deal
WASHINGTON – Those who planned the secret mission to get Osama bin Laden in Pakistan knew it was a one-shot deal, and it nearly went terribly wrong.
The U.S. deliberately hid the operation from Pakistan, and predicted that national outrage over the breach of Pakistani sovereignty would make it impossible to try again if the raid on bin Laden's suspected redoubt came up dry.
Once the raiders reached their target, things started to go awry almost immediately, officials briefed on the operation said.
Adding exclusive new details to the account of the assault on bin Laden's hideout, officials described just how the SEAL raiders loudly ditched a foundering helicopter right outside bin Laden's door, ruining the plan for a surprise assault. That forced them to abandon plans to run a squeeze play on bin Laden — simultaneously entering the house stealthily from the roof and the ground floor.
Instead, they busted into the ground floor and began a floor-by-floor storming of the house, working up to the top level where they had assumed bin Laden — if he was in the house — would be.
They were right.
The raiders came face-to-face with bin Laden in a hallway outside his bedroom, and three of the Americans stormed in after him, U.S. officials briefed on the operation told The Associated Press. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a classified operation.
U.S. officials believe Pakistani intelligence continues to support militants who attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and actively undermine U.S. intelligence operations to go after al-Qaida inside Pakistan. The level of distrust is such that keeping Pakistan in the dark was a major factor in planning the raid, and led to using the high-tech but sometimes unpredictable helicopter technology that nearly unhinged the mission.
Pakistan's government has since condemned the action, and threatened to open fire if U.S. forces enter again.
On Monday, the two partners attempted to patch up relations, agreeing to pursue high-value targets jointly.
The decision to launch on that particular moonless night in May came largely because too many American officials had been briefed on the plan. U.S. officials feared if it leaked to the press, bin Laden would disappear for another decade.
U.S. special operations forces have made approximately four forays into Pakistani territory since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, though this one, some 90 miles inside Pakistan, was unlike any other, the officials say.
The job was given to a SEAL Team 6 unit, just back from Afghanistan, one official said. This elite branch of SEALs had been hunting bin Laden in eastern Afghanistan since 2001.
Five aircraft flew from Jalalabad, Afghanistan, with three school-bus-size Chinook helicopters landing in a deserted area roughly two-thirds of the way to bin Laden's compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, two of the officials explained.
Aboard two Black Hawk helicopters were 23 SEALs, an interpreter and a tracking dog named Cairo. Nineteen SEALs would enter the compound, and three of them would find bin Laden, one official said, providing the exact numbers for the first time.
Aboard the Chinooks were two dozen more SEALs, as backup.
The Black Hawks were specially engineered to muffle the tail rotor and engine sound, two officials said. The added weight of the stealth technology meant cargo was calculated to the ounce, with weather factored in. The night of the mission, it was hotter than expected.
The Black Hawks were to drop the SEALs and depart in less than two minutes, in hopes locals would assume they were Pakistani aircraft visiting the nearby military academy.
One Black Hawk was to hover above the compound, with SEALs sliding down ropes into the open courtyard.
The second was to hover above the roof to drop SEALs there, then land more SEALs outside — plus an interpreter and the dog, who would track anyone who tried to escape and to alert SEALs to any approaching Pakistani security forces.
If troops appeared, the plan was to hunker down in the compound, avoiding armed confrontation with the Pakistanis while officials in Washington negotiated their passage out.
The two SEAL teams inside would work toward each other, in a simultaneous attack from above and below, their weapons silenced, guaranteeing surprise, one of the officials said. They would have stormed the building in a matter of minutes, as they'd done time and again in two training models of the compound.
The plan unraveled as the first helicopter tried to hover over the compound. The Black Hawk skittered around uncontrollably in the heat-thinned air, forcing the pilot to land. As he did, the tail and rotor got caught on one of the compound's 12-foot walls. The pilot quickly buried the aircraft's nose in the dirt to keep it from tipping over, and the SEALs clambered out into an outer courtyard.
The other aircraft did not even attempt hovering, landing its SEALs outside the compound.
Now, the raiders were outside, and they'd lost the element of surprise.
They had trained for this, and started blowing their way in with explosives, through walls and doors, working their way up the three-level house from the bottom.
They had to blow their way through barriers at each stair landing, firing back, as one of the men in the house fired at them.
They shot three men as well as one woman, whom U.S. officials have said lunged at the SEALs.
Small knots of children were on every level, including the balcony of bin Laden's room.
As three of the SEALs reached the top of the steps on the third floor, they saw bin Laden standing at the end of the hall. The Americans recognized him instantly, the officials said.
Bin Laden also saw them, dimly outlined in the dark house, and ducked into his room.
The three SEALs assumed he was going for a weapon, and one by one they rushed after him through the door, one official described.
Two women were in front of bin Laden, yelling and trying to protect him, two officials said. The first SEAL grabbed the two women and shoved them away, fearing they might be wearing suicide bomb vests, they said.
The SEAL behind him opened fire at bin Laden, putting one bullet in his chest, and one in his head.
It was over in a matter of seconds.
Back at the White House Situation Room, word was relayed that bin Laden had been found, signaled by the code word "Geronimo." That was not bin Laden's code name, but rather a representation of the letter "G." Each step of the mission was labeled alphabetically, and "Geronimo" meant that the raiders had reached step "G," the killing or capture of bin Laden, two officials said.
As the SEALs began photographing the body for identification, the raiders found an AK-47 rifle and a Russian-made Makarov pistol on a shelf by the door they'd just run through. Bin Laden hadn't touched them.
They were among a handful of weapons that were removed to be inventoried.
It took approximately 15 minutes to reach bin Laden, one official said. The next 23 or so were spent blowing up the broken chopper, after rounding up nine women and 18 children to get them out of range of the blast.
One of the waiting Chinooks flew in to pick up bin Laden's body, the raiders from the broken aircraft and the weapons, documents and other materials seized at the site.
The helicopters flew back to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, and the body was flown to a waiting U.S. Navy ship for bin Laden's burial at sea, ensuring no shrine would spring up around his grave.
When the SEAL team met President Barack Obama, he did not ask who shot bin Laden. He simply thanked each member of the team, two officials said.
In a few weeks, the team that killed bin Laden will go back to training, and in a couple months, back to work overseas.
__________________ "And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom?"- Braveheart
The decision to launch on that particular moonless night in May came largely because too many American officials had been briefed on the plan. U.S. officials feared if it leaked to the press, bin Laden would disappear for another decade.
Why would that happen..?
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Quote:
The raiders came face-to-face with bin Laden in a hallway outside his bedroom, and three of the Americans stormed in after him, U.S. officials briefed on the operation told The Associated Press. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a classified operation.
They would only they can't show his pic,someone may recognize his face..........
Big Teddy
__________________ I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not.... Zonie Diver
SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand...... Jack Moroney
Honestly, with as much BS that gets leaked out about these SMUs, I have always held the opinion that - in a real practical sense - our CIFs (not the Central Issuing Facility ) are far more of a secret unit. Seriously.
__________________
- Retired Special Forces Officer -
Special Forces Association Lifetime Member
I don't think this is the right place for this discussion.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
The Gun That Killed Osama bin Laden Revealed
SEALS reportedly used an HK416 in bin Laden assault
By Paul Bedard
Posted: May 11, 2011
Sources say the HK416 rifle was used to kill bin Laden.
The biggest secret in the special operations community—what gun did SEALs from "DevGru" kill Osama bin Laden with—has been revealed. Two military gear blogs, citing multiple insider sources, credit the highly reliable HK416 rifle, an M-16 type weapon, with the "double tap" of 5.56 mm bullets to bin Laden's head.
Click here to find out more!
While the military isn't talking about what SEALs from United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, formerly SEAL Team Six, carried in, two sites—Military Times Gear Scout and Soldier Systems—said the gun used was the German made, Delta Force designed Heckler & Koch rifle used by several militaries.
"I've just heard from a SOCOM vet," says Military Times "He tells me the stack of SEAL assaulters from Red team that went through Osama bin Laden's bedroom door were running HK416s."
Soldier Systems adds that bin Laden "was gunned down using German engineering – the HK416 which was my gut feeling from the very beginning."
A Whispers source close to the SEAL community said that the reports are "kosher for sure." He adds that it's likely the commandos had a collection of different weapons and might have also been carrying a rifle with a shorter barrel.
HK, which didn't have any immediate comment, describes the gun on its website as the perfect SEAL weapon: it shoots an effective 5.56 mm round, has a gas system that doesn't foul the weapon like some other rifles, can shoot 20,000 rounds with "minimal degradation of accuracy," and fires just fine after being submerged in water and not completely drained.
If troops appeared, the plan was to hunker down in the compound, avoiding armed confrontation with the Pakistanis while officials in Washington negotiated their passage out.
What happened to all the bravado in the news reports that they were "prepared to fight their way out"?
* Chinese PM says no country has right to violate another country’s sovereignty
* Both countries agree to work together to enhance peace, security in region
Thursday, May 19, 2011
By Ishrat Saleem
Beijing: China supports Pakistan’s stance and strategy to fight terror in the post-bin Laden scenario. This was intimated by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao during his talks with his Pakistani counterpart Prime Minster Yousaf Raza Gilani, who is on a four-day visit to China, which is being viewed with great anticipation in the context of the unilateral operation conducted by the US forces on Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden, given China’s long-standing friendship with Pakistan.
Importantly, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao informed Pakistan’s prime minister that during the recently held third-round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington, China had conveyed to the US that no country has the right to violate another country’s sovereignty, thereby making clear China’s stance on the US’s violation of Pakistan’s airspace to attack Osama bin Laden. China also asked the US to recognise the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war on terror, understand its problems and address its concerns. The US authorities assured the Chinese that they acknowledged Pakistan’s contribution in the war on terror and will take necessary steps to improve the situation. Both the Pakistani and Chinese leaders agreed to work together to enhance peace and security in the region. They believe that Afghanistan is a sensitive issue and there should be no external interference there. Pakistan and China have agreed to enhance defence cooperation and China will help to build Pakistan’s capacity in all three services.
Briefing the media representatives, Prime Minister Gilani said that he had assured the Chinese prime minister of Pakistan’s support of its policy of One China and its stance on Taiwan and Tibet. Pakistan’s ambassador Masood Ali Khan, who was also present on the occasion, said China’s premier had appreciated Pakistan’s decision to accept India’s invitation to watch the semi-final cricket match at Mohali, a step that will help improve relations between the two neighbours.
After one-to-one talks, the Pakistani and Chinese prime ministers were joined by their respective delegations, including legislators, businessmen and government officials. After the talks, Pakistan and China signed three agreements: between the State Bank of Pakistan and China’s Banking Regulatory Authority; for the extension of lease of Saindak Gold and Copper Mining for another five years till 2017 (the previous 10-year lease is due to expire in 2012); and for economic and technical cooperation.
In the context of economic cooperation, the prime minister informed the media that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) will open two branches in Pakistan. Subsequently, Pakistan might follow it up with the National Bank of Pakistan opening its branch in China. China will also send free trade purchase commissions to Pakistan to help Pakistan reduce its trade deficit. In addition to economic cooperation, China will offer scholarships to 500 Pakistani students for studies in Chinese educational institutions. Moreover, both countries will set up cultural centres in each other’s countries. China will also help treat 1,000 cataract patients from Pakistan, half of them within this year.
Islamabad: In the wake of the US raid in Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden, China has "warned in unequivocal terms that any attack on Pakistan would be construed as an attack on China", a media report claimed today. The warning was formally conveyed by the Chinese foreign minister at last week's China-US strategic dialogue and economic talks in Washington, The News daily quoted diplomatic sources as saying.
China also advised the US to "respect Pakistan's sovereignty and solidarity", the report said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao informed his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani about the matters taken up with the US during their formal talks at the Great Hall of the People yesterday.
The report said China "warned in unequivocal terms that any attack on Pakistan would be construed as an attack on China".
By: Salim Bokhari
Published: May 19, 2011
BEIJING - Telling America to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty, China Wednesday offered Islamabad ‘anything’ it needs to make defence impregnable and revive economy.
This fresh approach would add new dimensions to the already time-tested brotherly bonds between the two brotherly countries in this region. This determination of Chinese leadership was fully demonstrated at the Great Hall of the People where Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was received by his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao. Following the reception ceremonies, they rushed for formal talks....
(16 hours ago) Today
BEIJING: China will immediately provide 50 JF-17 Thunder aircraft to Pakistan, an official said here on Wednesday.
“We will get these planes in weeks,” he said, adding that a formal agreement to that effect was likely to be signed on Thursday.
The official said Pakistan and China were already jointly producing the JF-17 aircraft, but these 50 planes would be equipped with more sophisticated avionics. He said the war planes to be fully funded by China would help bolster Pakistan’s defence and add to tactical capability of its air force.
APP adds: Ambassador to China Masood Ahmed Khan said China would provide over $400 million to Pakistan, including $100 million in soft credit and a grant of 70 million RMB, for the post-flood reconstruction and development projects.—Staff Reporter
__________________
“This kind of war, however necessary, is dirty business, first to last.” —T.R. Fehrenbach
“We can trust our doctors to be professional, to minister equally to their patients without regard to their political or religious beliefs. But we can no longer trust our professors to do the same." --David Horowitz