Government

Did Obama Advisor Valerie Jarrett Delay the Bin Laden Raid 3 Times?

Richard Miniters Book Alleges Obama Postponed Osama bin Laden Raid Three Times at Advisor Valerie Jarrets Suggestion | Leading From Behind: The Reluctant President and the Advisors Who Decide for Him

Valerie Jarrett and President Obama (Photo: AP)

It’s no secret that President Obama considers Valerie Jarrett to be one of his most trusted advisors, but does she wield so much influence that, despite her limited national security background, she was actually able to convince the president to delay the Osama bin Laden raid three times?

According to a new book by Richard Miniter, “Leading From Behind: The Reluctant President and the Advisors Who Decide for Him,” she does.

The Daily Caller obtained a copy of the book, which is due to be released August 21, and summarized:

Richard Miniter writes that Obama canceled the “kill” mission in January 2011, again in February, and a third time in March.  Obama’s close adviser Valerie Jarrett persuaded him to hold off each time, according to the book.

Miniter, a two-time New York Times best-selling author, cites an unnamed source with Joint Special Operations Command who had direct knowledge of the operation and its planning.

Obama administration officials also said after the raid that the president had delayed giving the order to kill the arch-terrorist the day before the operation was carried out, in what turned out to be his fourth moment of indecision. At the time, the White House blamed the delay on unfavorable weather conditions near bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

But when Miniter obtained that day’s weather reports from the U.S. Air Force Combat Meteorological Center, he said, they showed ideal conditions for the SEALs to carry out their orders.

“President Obama’s greatest success was actually his greatest failure,” Miniter told The Daily Caller Friday. ”Leading From Behind,“ he said, traces the arc of six key Obama administration decisions, and shows how the president made them — and, often, failed to make them. [Emphasis added]

Now, everyone knows that book claims should be taken with a grain of salt, but the excerpt falls in line with a number of earlier reports that indicate Obama was hesitant to sign off on the raid, and it was Panetta’s strong stance that swung the opinion.

Back in January, Vice President Biden said: “Every single person in that room hedged their bet except Leon Panetta. Leon said go. Everyone else said, 49, 51.”

Miniter’s bestselling books are on related topics– the first was “Losing Bin Laden” and the second was “The Shadow War”– and he has reportedly written for, among other outlets, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Atlantic Monthly, and National Review.

Regardless, the administration has campaigned on bin Laden’s death (and how “gutsy” the president was to make the final decision), for months:

One campaign ad, in particular, directly contradicts Miniter’s book.

“The Commander-in-Chief gets one chance to make the right decision,” the ad dramatically begins.

Bill Clinton then appears to explain how Obama chose to take the “harder, and the more honorable path,” in okaying the raid.

“He had to decide, and that’s what you hire a president to do…You hire the president to make the calls when no one else can do it.”

The White House has not commented on the book, but one commenter wrote: “Obama‘s ’gutsy call‘ would seem to be limited to having finally found the ’guts’ to overrule Valerie Jarrett.”

(H/T: Daily Caller)

Comments (99)

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  • ashestoashes
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:25pm

    Yes it is sad isn’t it..but the thing is..why did they go ahead and kill him?.They had known of his location for 1-2 yrs or longer..What did it accomplish? It killed a lame duck and exacted revenge!! plus it got the whole of Seal Team Six killed..If memory serves correctly..32 soldiers on that copter..Well worth it right? Tell that to Seal Team Six’s sons, daughters, wives and parents.. I am sure they thought it a worthwhile endeavor..I bet that they got medals and everything..I am sure that makes up for daddy being dead..

    Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:50pm

      @ashestoashes

      You need to re-check your facts. No member of SEAL Team 6 was killed in the Bin Laden raid in Pakistan. However, 22 members of SEAL Team 6 were killed 3 months later when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.

      http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/06/world/la-fg-afghanistan-chopper-20110807

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • RGFROMTEXAS
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:56pm

      The Bottom Line is the mission was not only a large accomplishment for the Presient but also a large accomplishment for the United States of America. Why would anyone who cosiders him self a patriotic citizen try to undermine the operation. Those who want to give Bush credit are even worse. According to them it took 7 years to get this information and then it was in questionable ways that were against treaties we had signed and now puts our own soldiers in harms way.

      PS: None of our brave Navy Seals were killed in that mission.

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 5:49pm

      Who controls the teleprompter??

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 7:06pm

      .
      Obama killed Osama.
      “Wait, you didn’t do that!”
      Somebody else built the helicopter,
      somebody else armed the Seals.
      You gave the order? Lots of folks give orders.
      “You didn’t do that”

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • twowarvet
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 7:08pm

      I am truly amazed at how often everyone, to include the President’s critics say how bold the decision was to strike. Tell me agian what sort of strength it takes to say, “Yes, kill our enemies while we are at war”? Are you people really that politicized that you would rather not kill out enemies as we wage war. With that sort of thinking, we should have sent in the police department!! You groupthink is the exact reason we have never once tried to truly win a war since World War II. It time and again only proves my point that we are wasting mine and every fellow service members’ blood, sweat and tears as we wage waste and not war. Darn-it! either we fight to win or we fight to kill our own!

      Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 7:50pm

      Got to hand it to Obama, he did go after one of his own. That was Sarcasm.

      Report Post » db321  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 9:43pm

      Nearly Clintonesque, in almost gripping defeat from the jaws of victory. Who the F is the president. Does he have someone perform toiletry duties?

      Report Post » dmerwin  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 9:44pm

      Ashes
      Where the hell do you get your info?

      Report Post » dmerwin  
    • WAKEUPUSA2012
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:01pm

      Yes she more than likely did. Because they knew he was already DEAD! They knew they could come out with it anytime, and she wanted to wait cause she wanted it to make the best impact on how the president is viewed! Umm and Monk mr deepest darkest corner of the pentagon, those 22 seals who were killed in the “helicopter crash” were actually killed by forces within our government cause they didnt want them telling people the whole Bin Laden thing was BULL. He was dead 10 years ag, most likely from liver failure. Did you hear that the war ship that put bin laden deep in the ocean(with no photos) all most all the saliors on board were kicked out of the navy for smoking fake weed. It was the bigest mass boot in the navys history. The seals didnt kill bin laden he had already been dead. The seals were pissed and then a whole bunch of them got killed. So no one is speaking out. But people like Wayne Madson have heard about it.

      http://www.infowars.com/deaths-of-seal-team-6-exposed/

      Why are we in afghanstain?

      http://www.naturalnews.com/034289_Afghanistan_opium_trade.html

      http://reinep.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/before-the-us-invaded-afghanistan/

      http://www.nowpublic.com/world/after-us-invasion-afghanistan-now-produces-93-worlds-opium

      http://www.infowars.com/fox-news-makes-excuse-for-cias-afghan-opium-cultivation/

      Report Post » WAKEUPUSA2012  
    • RGFROMTEXAS
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:32am

      WAKEUPUSA

      Are You Kidding Me ??? I try not to be too judgmental of others who post but, my goodness,
      this is crazy !!! Everything from his Borth Certificate, his school records, his law license and now THIS is a conspiracy !! If all these things are “faked” there must be hundreds of people involved and
      they all make MILLIONS of dollars if they came forward. No wonder no-one takes this board seriously. Maybe Osama Bin Laden is still alive and hiding behind a grassy knoll.

      Report Post »  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 2:05am

      Well I’m no foreign intelligence expert…but since Obama’s been “ helping out ” the middle east…the Muslim Brotherhood is in power now more than ever…and really… isn’t this Valerie Jarrett the slum lord from Chicago….jeez.

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • WAKEUPUSA2012
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:02pm

      RGFROMTEXAS

      Lol I know how crazy I sound to someone who has been brainwashed by the MSM. And I mean that in the best way possible, much of my family is like that, so I have no attitude with you.

      As far as 100s of people involved, yes. But I have one word for you, compartmentalization. You see the war on terror is a hoax 911 was a inside job and the NWO wants us dead. Conservatives are the new terrorsit. The Jogn Warren Defense act says returning vets are more of a danger than al qeade. If you are a conservative, then your government has labeled you a terrorist. Again I know how crazy I sound, but you should wien yourself of the MSM and open your 3rd eye.

      Report Post » WAKEUPUSA2012  
    • altops
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 2:32pm

      OBL was reported dead 10 years ago by the AP, a 4 time White House staffer Stephen Pechenik, why do we swallow the propaganda? Osama Bin Laden died in 2001. In April, 2002 Bin Laden was already dead for several months, and that the US government was waiting for the most politically expedient moment to present its corpse. He died of a syndrome of Marfana – an almost incurable genetic disease. Wake up you dumb sheeple!

      Report Post » altops  
    • Gumbercules
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 10:16pm

      It was delayed for political reasons. Obama is now regretting not holding off killing Bin Laden – it would have helped his re-election chances.

      Report Post » Gumbercules  
    • EstherBarns
      Posted on August 11, 2012 at 11:41pm

      I agree with ashestoashes 100%. Bin Laden assassination isn’t a fabrication. Its a fact. He was originally meant to be brought to US for a trial. Then Dept of State changed this mission to a kill mission. Bin Laden knew a government secret . he was planning a financial attack against the US on a ten years anniversary of 9/11. He was killed on spot for this reason. He knew too much. It’s a fact. Read Katz’s book Living with Bin Ladens at http://livingwithbinladens.com !

      Report Post »  
  • needmoinfo
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:20pm

    Gets his advice from Michelle, Valerie and his czars. Over the Pentagon and vetted seasoned politicians. If he had not been so rigid and surrounded himself with the wrong people, he might have wised up and change and hope would have actually had a chance. Still waiting for him to have an epiphany and throw a Hail Mary pass at anything to show his heart is in the right place before the election. Too late. Dumb and misquided to the bitter end.

    Report Post »  
  • Canada_Goose
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:17pm

    It would be so easy to shoot this one down however it’s actually very educational from right wind media analysis perspective.

    Behold the genesis of a right wing echo chamber lie and its propagation through the right wing blogoshpere and news outlets.

    First the leak to a right-wing wing web site, then the cross post to the Blaze which as usual doesn’t do any analysis to square the allegation with exiting investigations and already established timelines.

    Then on to FNC where no doubt it will become part of Bret Baier’s “Grapevine” segment. I am certain Mr. Hannity will host Mr. Minitir for a classic “Hannity job” interview where this little tidbit from an unnamed source will be treated as gospel truth.

    This will inevitably be debunked by exiting detailed reports, but by then who cares since a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.

    Report Post » Canada_Goose  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:23pm

      If it’s so easy, shoot it down. You have the format within this “right wind” website to do so. Go for it.

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • Canada_Goose
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:53pm

      I know you can spell but can you Google?
      I am not going to do your fact checking for you.

      Here’s a hint….

      There have been a number of in depth newspaper pieces as well as a 60 Minutes story already published establishing a timeline of when the mission plan was requested and delivered for review by the POTUS.

      Mr. Miniter claims the mission was cancelled three times first in Jan then in Feb and finally in Mar 2010. So Mr. Miniter has to explain how the published timelines of people actually going on record are wrong.

      Report Post » Canada_Goose  
    • Devildog0166
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 1:11am

      Well, if anyone knows lying it would be the left. Obama’s entire life has been a lie.
      Liberals think it was such a heroic deed dear Barack did when actually it was common sense or to write it in crayon so the glue sniffing left can understand, his JOB!
      This was about the only thing Obonehead has done in his life that wasn’t drilled into his head since he was a youth by socialists and communists.
      Even Jimmy Carter whom Barack has modeled his failure administration after would have given the go ahead. But then again Jimmy Carter back in the late seventies was the one that said aircraft carriers were obsolete.
      I wonder how the Seals would have been able to pull this mission off without a floating flight deck.
      Semper Fi

      Report Post »  
  • john vincent
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:03pm

    Does the current admin. do ANYTHING that does not advance an agenda from hell?
    Signing basketballs at the White house…Meeting w/ Jerry Springer??? Counsel from Jarrett?? Endless photo-ops with the Hollywood miscreants??

    Doesnt a spokesman like Carney just about sum it up?? Will this nightmare ever end?

    Report Post » john vincent  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:02pm

    No doubt that she did. She is one of those supporters who got a job in the White House but in reality should be out selling towels from house-to-house. That is all she is qualified to do. The only real thing she does in the White House is make mooooshelll look better than she is.

    Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

    Report Post »  
  • PAK83
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:58pm

    This was leaked along time ago. Look up DW Ulsterman and his “White House Insider”.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 6:03pm

      I fail to see how ordering Bin Laden’s death is a hard decision for anyone. Although capturing the bastard and seeing how long he could hold his breath for a few years would have been even better.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • DenisWTexas
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:08pm

      In bacon grease, not water. Don’t forget that part…

      Report Post »  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:52pm

    In my opinion, Valerie and her father are too close to their fellow travelers and to far from America. I’m sure they would have sat around cheering, if Usama had been given a pass.

    Vote these people out!

    Report Post »  
  • marcus_arealius
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:48pm

    “Leading UP his behind” – the corrected book title. There is not one (1) attribute of this man-boy putz that is respectable. Not one.

    Report Post »  
  • copatriots
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:44pm

    Hey Newsweek……0′s your WIMP.

    Report Post »  
  • Chet Hempstead
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:38pm

    Who cares? Who cares why he didn’t order a raid when he didn’t order a raid? When he did order it, it worked, and that’s all that matters. He didn’t wait too long and end up raiding an empty house. The place he raided was the right place, not the home of some innocent army officer that he just thought might be the right place. The mission didn’t fall apart as soon as one thing went wrong because it hadn’t been planned carefully. If any of those things had happened, you would all rightly be merciless in you condemnation and care as little about excuses as to why and how it failed as the rest of us care about petty quibbles like whether it might have been possible to do it a couple of weeks earlier.

    Report Post »  
    • Devildog0166
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:57pm

      Obviously you haven’t had to deal with military intel, oxy-moron, before.
      Yes it worked and none of our guys got killed but the longer you dangle a operation you have the chance of it being foiled.
      It isn‘t a big deal because it worked but remember Carter’s attempted rescue of the hostages in Iran in 1979/80? That was Delta Force and they go hand in hand with the CIA.
      Obama is still a spineless puck no matter which way you cut it. He takes the word of a so called “advisor” that couldn’t find her ***** with a funnel over his Sec of Defense that HE appointed? Pathetic!
      The main reason Ike went on June 6th 1944 instead of waiting for the correct tides and moon in July was because of his fear of a leak. Most people don‘t know that Overlord was originally scheduled for June 5th but the weather was bad and as my Great Uncle told be the weather wasn’t much better on the 6th.
      Semper Fi

      Report Post »  
    • ClunkerT
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 4:42pm

      If he is making claims that he ordered the raid despite being submissive to Valerie Jarrett than he must take responsibility for the 21 Navy Seals who were ambushed less than two weeks later when their helicopter was blown out of the sky. Navy Seals ONE and bin Laden 21, so much for a great job. Do you know how much that hurt the entire Navy Seal program. It devastated the program and NO ONE has reported on that disaster. The WORSE disaster in the history of the Navy Seals. I guess the White House doesn’t want that reported on.

      When is he going to order the firing squad to load their weapons to take out the mass murdering Muslim terrorist who killed 14 at Fort Hood? They are fighting over his damn beard, how pathetic has our military become.

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 5:16pm

      ClunkerT
      Did the President personally order the raid in which those Seals died? Was the plan of battle drafted at the White House level? Then he’s not responsible. They’re just casualties of war. These things happen.

      The Fort Hood shooter will be shot after he has been tried and found guilty. This is America, and he is a citizen. The President cannot “order the firing squad” to take him out before he has been tried, and I would not want him to be able to.

      Report Post »  
  • Impenitent
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:37pm

    he didn’t give the order until he was given permission to give the order…

    given permission…

    Report Post »  
    • highcarry
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 5:22pm

      no, he didn’t give the order until valerie came up with what she thought was a good enough story to hood wink the american people into believing this actually happened.

      Report Post » highcarry  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:32pm

    Comrades this is because Dear Leader‘s custom made Seal Team 6 uniform wasn’t finished yet! As soon as he was properly outfitted he flew through the air like superman and terminated the bad guys with monumental dispatch.
    Or was he quivering in fear, inside the White House’s situation room. I can’t remember which version of the story is correct.

    Report Post » historyguy48  
  • kbstreet1
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:32pm

    The Obama Campaign wanted to sell the ”Osama for Obama” T-shirts before they killed him.

    Report Post » kbstreet1  
  • Glock31
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:26pm

    obama is such a wimp. i have zero respect for him as a person OR a president. his campaign spends MILLIONS on polling in order to figure out what he has to say to get re-elected. obama needs to be a MAN and stop all the lying and BS. i would at least have some respect for him if he would just be honest and explain what he wants to do with america. of course he would lose in a massive landslide if he did spout his marxist ideology, but i would at least have some respect for the fact that he told the truth for once in his life

    Report Post » Glock31  
  • Frodo RinosBane
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:23pm

    Couldn’t let it disturb those tee times.

    Report Post » Frodo RinosBane  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:21pm

    Obama only authorized the attack with the SEAL’s when it became politically expedient for him and his campaign; the evidence of this is shown in the note he had prepared in the event of failure of the raid that placed sole blame on the Admiral in charge.

    Do not forget too, that just days after the raid, many SEAL’s were killed in an ambush in Afghanistan, and I have to ask is who gave out the informaiton on that helicoptor having so many SEAL’s in it?

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Ducky 1
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 5:32pm

      You are right snow and this will never get investigated. We have the worst president ever in my life time. He scares me!! This is not the country that I grew up in…..that one has all but disappeared!!

      Report Post » Ducky 1  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:19pm

    Of course the coward was hesitant to give the green light,if it goes bad who to blame? If it works out well we had our answer,Barry practically took the kill shot himself. Our megalomaniac Marxist POS president would sell his soul wait would do anything to increase his vote total because that‘s what it’s all about,getting and maintaining power and control.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:25pm

      Both you and Erica are neophytes. So we infer, and obviously as negatively as possible rather than cover the discussions that occurred at the time. So I case we should assume that it was positive that Bush didn’t think or consider the situation when he decided to lie to Congress and the UN about WMDs and Iraq.

      Report Post »  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:41pm

      You wrongly assume I’m a fan of Busch,I‘ve told you before I am NOT a fan of Busch since he’s a big government progressive who expanded the federal government and ballooned our debt.He gave us medicare part D,the patriot act and many other unconstitutional laws.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • doomytram
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:47pm

      JROOK, If you are calling a blog poster a neophyte and defending Obama then you are too stupid to argue with anyway. So Blame Bush, but Blame OBlamer to a multiple of 10. Oblamer’s greatest accomplishment is Cops acted stupidly, You didn’t bulid that, and Hiring Kumar of Harold and Kumar’s big adventure movies.

      Oblamer has been the worst President ever…and never did anything for the poor or middle class. In fact he decimated them…. Rook your a rookie… How does that make you feel? Right… me calling you a green horn does do anything to affect your security, because you are secure in you ridiculous lefty ways.

      Report Post » doomytram  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 5:02pm

      Yeah..again nice try JROOK…Ignore the fact that Obama followed Valerie Jarrett’s advice to delay the operation at least 4 times and try to deflect it to Bush instead.
      When did Valerie Jarrett become commander in chief JROOK?

      Report Post »  
    • happ77
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 5:13pm

      Progressiveslayer, you don’t need to explain anything
      to rook. His only comeback is Bush, Bush, Bush. Same
      old tired song. The discussion is about the current
      defector in the White House and all he can do is yell
      Bush. Not worth responding to.

      Report Post »  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:18pm

    Dah……………….

    Report Post »  
  • DetritusScreener
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:18pm

    Obama only made the call whenhe did to take the steam out of Cori’s book “Where’s the Birth Certificate” that was about to be released. He had to find some cover fast.

    Report Post » DetritusScreener  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:17pm

    At those other times the poll numbers were good, so no need to take him out. They just wait for the numbers to dip and BOOM, send in the seals, we need a few more positives in the numbers.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • HKS
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:13pm

    I think Valerie Jarrett is actually Obama’s handler. It would be interesting to find out who she actually reports to.

    Report Post » HKS  
    • doomytram
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:23pm

      She is beholden to evil… Soros, Global Leftism, and Global Communism.

      Report Post » doomytram  
  • Mikev5
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:10pm

    A Dumber president we have never had than Obummer he will go down in history as the Idiot that almost destroyed the USA from within.

    Report Post » Mikev5  
    • HKS
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:27pm

      He’s sure giving black folks a bad name. Shame, there’s a lot of good black potential leaders that will pay for it.

      Report Post » HKS  
  • glennisright.com
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:09pm

    Another example of Obama NOT being a leader.

    Report Post » glennisright.com  
  • doomytram
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:09pm

    Adviser Jarrett is one of the Canary Singing National Security Leakers. She want’s Denzel to Play Obama in his movie about killing Bin Laden, but the leftist director just can’t finish the movie in time for the election, unless she puts our troops lives at risk filming the rancid movie.

    Report Post » doomytram  
  • Mikev5
    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:07pm

    I belive this 100% this man is no man at all just the lefts puppet at best

    Report Post » Mikev5  
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