Government

SEAL’s Tell-All Book Raises Questions About Bin Laden’s Death, Says Raid ‘Reported Like a Bad Action Movie’

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — A firsthand account of the Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden contradicts previous accounts by administration officials, raising questions as to whether the terror mastermind presented a clear threat when SEALs first fired upon him.

Bin Laden apparently was shot in the head when he looked out of his bedroom door into the top-floor hallway of his compound as SEALs rushed up a narrow stairwell in his direction, according to a former Navy SEAL, writing under the pseudonym Mark Owen in “No Easy Day.” The book is to be published next week by Penguin Group (USA)’s Dutton imprint.

No Easy Day Author Mark Owen Raises Questions About Bin Ladens Death

This book cover image released by Dutton shows "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden," by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer. (AP Photo/Dutton)

Owen writes that he was directly behind a point man going up the stairs in the pitch black hallway. Near the top, he said, he heard two shots, but the book doesn’t make it clear who fired them. He wrote that the point man had seen a man peeking out of a door on the right side of the hallway.

“We were less than five steps from getting to the top when I heard suppressed shots. BOP. BOP,” writes Owen. “I couldn’t tell from my position if the rounds hit the target or not. The man disappeared into the dark room.” Presumably, those are likely the shots that killed bin Laden.

The author writes that the man ducked back into his bedroom and the SEALs followed, only to find the man crumpled on the floor in a pool of blood with a hole visible on the right side of his head and two women wailing over his body.

“Blood and brains spilled out of the side of his skull” and he was still twitching and convulsing, Owen writes, according to Huffington Post.

Owen says the point man pulled the two women out of the way and shoved them into a corner. He and the other SEALs trained their guns‘ laser sights on bin Laden’s still-twitching body, shooting him several times until he lay motionless. Only when they wiped the blood off his face, were they certain it was bin Laden.

The SEALs later found two weapons stored by the doorway, untouched, the author said.

Administration officials briefing reporters in the days after the May 2011 raid in Pakistan said the SEALs shot bin Laden only after he ducked back into the bedroom because they assumed he might be reaching for a weapon.

Bin Laden Obama

Osama bin Laden (AP)

National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor would not comment on the apparent contradiction late Tuesday. But he said in an email Wednesday, “As President Obama said on the night that justice was brought to Osama bin Laden, `We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country.’”

“No Easy Day” was due out Sept. 11, but Dutton announced the book would be available a week early, Sept. 4, because of a surge of orders due to advance publicity that drove the book to the top of the Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com best-seller lists.

The Associated Press purchased a copy of the book Tuesday.

The account is sure to renew questions about whether the raid was intended to capture or simply to kill bin Laden. Owen writes that during a pre-raid briefing, an administration lawyer told them that they were not on an assassination mission. According to Owen, the lawyer said that if bin Laden was “naked with his hands up,” they should not engage him. If bin Laden did not pose a threat, they should detain him.

A former deputy judge advocate general for the Air Force said the shooting was understandable according to the orders the SEALS had.

“It wasn’t unreasonable for the SEALs to shoot the individual who stuck his head out,” said the former JAG, ret. Maj. Gen. Charlie Dunlap, who now teaches at Duke University law school.

“In a confined space like that where it is clear that there are hostiles, the SEALs need to take reasonable steps to ensure their safety and accomplish the mission,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap adds that shooting bin Laden’s fallen form was also reasonable in his legal opinion, to keep the terrorist from possibly blowing himself up or getting a weapon and shooting at the SEALs.

In another possibly uncomfortable revelation for U.S. officials who say bin Laden’s body was treated with dignity before being given a full Muslim burial at sea, the author reveals that in the cramped helicopter flight out of the compound, one of the SEALs was sitting on bin Laden‘s chest as the body lay at the author’s feet in the middle of the cabin, for the short flight to a refueling stop inside Pakistan where a third helicopter was waiting.

This is common practice, as U.S. troops sometimes must sit on their own war dead in packed helicopters. Space was cramped because one of the helicopters had crashed in the initial assault, leaving little space for the roughly two dozen commandos in the two aircraft that remained. When the commandos reached the third aircraft, bin Laden’s body was moved to it.

The author, a 36-year-old ex Navy SEAL who also was involved in a previous 2007 attempt to capture Bin Laden and the 2009 operation to rescue Captain Richard Phillips from pirates off the coast of Somalia, slams President Obama in the book for using the raid for political gain.

“We had seen it before when he took credit for the Captain Phillips rescue. Although we applauded the decision-making in this case, there was no doubt in anybody’s mind that he would take all the political credit for this too,” Owen writes.

“None of us were huge fans of Obama. We respected him as the commander in chief of the military and for giving us the green light on the mission,” he continues. But even so, Owen asks, “Well, would you rather not have done this?”

Owens also writes: “We all knew the deal. We were tools in the toolbox, and when things go well they promote it. They inflate their roles. But we should have done it. It was the right call to make. Regardless of the politics that would come along with it, the end result was what we all wanted.”

Owens also reveals that he was hesitant to sign the American flag presented to President Obama when the SEALs met him at the White House because he was worried it would reveal his identity, according to HuffPo. Also, he says his pocketknife set off the metal detector alarm at the presidential mansion.

Following Obama’s speech and suffering through Biden’s “lame jokes that no one got (He seemed like a nice guy, but he reminded me of someone’s drunken uncle at Christmas dinner)” the president invited the team to return to the White House for a beer some other time.

However, Owen writes: “We never got the call to have a beer at the White House.” Joking with a fellow SEAL, “Hey, did you ever hear anything about that beer?” Walt shoots back: “ You believed that shit. I bet you voted for change too, sucker.”

Beyond such embarrassing observations, U.S. officials fear the book may include classified information, as it did not undergo the formal review required by the Pentagon for works published by former or current Defense Department employees.

Officials from the Pentagon and the CIA, which commanded the mission, are examining the manuscript for possible disclosure of classified information and could take legal action against the author.

In a statement provided to the AP, the author says he did “not disclose confidential or sensitive information that would compromise national security in any way.”

Owen’s real name was first revealed by Fox News and confirmed to the AP.

Jihadists on al-Qaida websites have posted purported photos of the author, calling for his murder.

 

Related:

Comments (63)

1 2
  • schroeder123
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:24am

    Sick of this guy yet ?? I feel we should take all the communist out of office. !

    Report Post » schroeder123  
  • Baja
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:45am

    “The higher up the food chain the individual is, the bigger a ***** he is.”
    Certainly appropriate as applied to the current commander in chief.

    Report Post » Baja  
    • korbin
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:18am

      Good call….

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:27am

      Actually, this is a great example of dishonor to the service and the country. Beyond the cheap attempt to make money off a Seal mission which this individual was only one of many participants. This is the world we live in… Sarah Palin would rather make money feeding the angry mob than actually doing something or even pretending to be the leader everyone knows she isn’t.

      Report Post »  
    • 00100111
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 12:49pm

      Awww, JROOK, was your golden boy insulted? Did it twist your panties to see someone not genuflect at the mere mention of his name? Silly child.

      Report Post »  
    • PA2AK
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:40pm

      I happen to agree with JROOK in this case, though not likely for the same reasons. This author does take a steamer on the tradition of the SEALs (my only knowledge on their tradition is from what I read directly from other SEALs…I am in no way claiming to be related to that under-appreciated group of true patriots). Additionally, though I don’t know how it is relevant here, Palin is a terrible leader. She speaks of one end of the spectrum and her record is detailed with some of the most liberal legislation to come through her former state. She exemplifies what is wrong with politics…all talk, no adherence to values unless it comes with $/power. However, if you use Palin as an example of a failure in leadership, she still can’t compete with the utter incompetence & arrogance spewing from every orifice of B.O. And there seems to be no angrier, more hypocritical mob than the members of the liberal left who accuse EVERY conservative of out and out racism, bigotry, sexism, & hate for anything other than the white male while bashing any conservative minority or woman with the exact bigotry they claim to be harbingers of.

      Report Post »  
  • ricckky
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:33am

    One very important question—Who do you believe—The Navy Seal’s or THE LIAR-N-CHIEF?–No contest!!! The liar hasn’t said one truthful thing in four years!!!! Dear Lord–Please help us get rid of this evil, very evil man in Nov.–!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • DeOppressoLiber
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:46am

    Thank you for the Truth.

    The Truth will cut through the Darkness even at Zero Dark Thirty.

    A masterful stroke of timing.

    You gotta love the Frogs. Rum tonight for the Pirates

    You guys are good.

    Report Post »  
  • eyesopened
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:30am

    I call BS also…..the no body thing stinks, and I’m not buying it
    did the Seals go on a mission …yeah, probably…but I have become suspicious of the Govt and the MSM telling me the sun comes up in the east.

    notice I didn’t say “my” Govt….My Govt would NOT allow an ineligible POS to reside in our White House.

    Report Post »  
  • Radpat12
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 7:03am

    I have no doubt in the integrity of the Seal team. I have every doubt in the honesty of Obama and believe he would go to any length to deceive us for political gain. The BBC reported that according to a close neighbor it was NOT Bin Laden. There are many other questions about this to include the burial at sea which is not in accordance with Islamic tradition when it is possible to buried in the ground within 24 hours. Could it be possible that given the injuries described the Seals did not get the person they intended?

    Report Post »  
    • BeachCoaster
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:42am

      I don‘t think this brave man would risk everything in his life to put out a book if they didn’t get the right guy. Use a little common sense. They buried at sea so no can find his body and make a worshiping spot for and cause more trouble. They weren’t going to take a chance and bury him somewhere and some goat herder saw them from afar the spot where they put him down.

      Report Post »  
  • ChevalierdeJohnstone
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:23am

    I need to buy this book.

    Report Post »  
  • DeVain
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:23am

    “He asked his followers for decades to wear suicide vests or fly planes into buildings, but didn’t even pick up his weapon. In all of my deployments, we routinely saw this phenomenon. The higher up the food chain the targeted individual was, the bigger a ***** he was.”

    I am not surprised at all.

    Report Post » DeVain  
  • RougeFastFingers
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:02am

    Barry responds:

    “That mission to kill Bin laden, you didn’t do that. Somebody else (ME!) did that.”

    Report Post » RougeFastFingers  
    • A.D.Hominem
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:13am

      Yeah. Yeah. As he moved his hand up and down. That‘s Barry for ya’.

      Report Post »  
  • A.D.Hominem
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:49am

    Honesty. It ain‘t just a refreshing drink in the mornin’. Good on certain people, and a well brought bad upon others.

    Report Post »  
  • v15
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:14am

    Personally, I wish they could have captured Bin Laden alive then water boarded him with pig’s blood on TV for the entire world to see. The world could watch him scream while being slowly tortured to the brink of death. Then hang a sign around his neck that says “praise to Allah” before pushing him feet first into a wood chipper.

    I like that he had his brains shot out and that they unloaded on his twitching corpse but he got off easy because he probably never felt it….

    Report Post » v15  
    • Ruckus_Tom
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 4:27am

      I like the way you think.

      In my opinion if this had happened under Bush we wouldn’t even know about it (in order to gather as much intel as possible). Under Obama? Well, we all know, he killed Bin Laden with his own bare hands.

      Report Post »  
    • The_Bird_is_the_Word
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:12am

      Are you freaking serious or are you kidding about the point you try to make saying if this happend during the Bush presidency we wouldnt even know about it! HAHA I guess thats because George Bush was so modest. Like the time he landed on an aircraft carrier dressed in military uniform with a large banner behind him proclaiming “Mission Accomplished”. Yes, that is one modest man who didn’t take credit of anything, HA! Even though the mission accomplished was extremely premature as the fighting intensified much after his proclamation and scores more US soldiers died afterwards.

      Also, did not George Bush also proclaim that he wasn‘t interested in getting bin Laden anymore as it was not on his ’list’. You pinhead blaze fanatics are so closeminded and ignorant that you wouldn’t know or see the truth even if it bit you hard in the azz! I am certain that most of todays republicans especially the lunatic fringe that only gets their news from fox are so dimwitted that the facts and the truth are meaningless unless they fit into your neat little box of ‘things you believe’.

      Report Post »  
    • Max jones
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:26am

      Bush did this…Obama did that ….all the world is as crazy as the hatter. If Obama is breaking us down, he’s just wrapping up what 4 generations of progressive thinking has put in motion. Globalist agenda, to the core. The only difference to me is the revelation that the whole push toward the NWO is now exposed as a Luciferian (satanist) construct.
      I don’t believe that any of our influential leaders have the capacity or resolve to stand up to the globalist elite, with which our president is tightly allied. Can you not see that every move he makes and every word he says is against the grain of nearly 300 years of American policy?

      Report Post » Max jones  
    • republitarian
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:37am

      ” I am certain that most of today’s Democrats, especially the lunatic fringe, that only gets their news from MSNBC are so dimwitted that the facts and the truth are meaningless unless they fit into your neat little box of ‘things you believe’.

      Right back atcha. I had to correct the punctuation. Sorry.

      Report Post » republitarian  
  • Watermain
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:08am

    I would rather believe my own version of this than the White House version and I wasn’t there nor did I have live video feed of the events. I just don’t trust the official version.

    Report Post » Watermain  
  • ellietoo
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:06am

    From the time the death of Bin Laden was announced almost every sentence that came out of Obama’s mouth started with, “I” “I” “I”. You would have thought he had planned and carried out the whole operation himself. He sickens me. “I approved the plans,“ ”I chose the time of execution“ ”I gave the go command.” It was all about little bitty man Obama not the people who have given their whole lives to defending worms like him, as well as the rest of the country. He has got to be related to the Anti-Christ. He and his people are about the most evil people on earth.

    Report Post » ellietoo  
    • v15
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:19am

      Obama used this to feed his narcissistic insatiable ego. The White House’s version is BS

      Report Post » v15  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 4:09am

      Yup, Ellietoo: SEALs say “Aye, aye!“ and Der Obamasar says ”I, I”

      Report Post »  
  • Watermain
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:06am

    I’ve thought about this more and I think I would trust my own version of what happened than the White House version, and, of course, I wasn‘t there and I didn’t have live video of the ongoing events.

    Report Post » Watermain  
  • JohnLarson
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:58am

    Don‘t you guys understand that this guy isn’t being a honorable seal by publishing this book? Other seals are outraged this guy is pushing a book about their covert mission.

    Report Post »  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:41am

      Yeah the foxhole culture.You see our military and even private individuals can’t allow this[and many other things to go unchallenged].Don’t you realize ,the enemy within, uses revisionist history as part of their scams and indoctrination?If it isn’t challenged now, by exposing the truth, it becomes fodder for the enemy at a later date.Provided he didn’t reveal ops methods or anything truly classified, then there is no reason for anyones opposition to this.In fact just the opposite you should celebrate it.

      Report Post »  
    • Liberty Over Democracy
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:36am

      Honor, is found in truth, and having the wisdom to know when “false” secrets bear no necessity, comes from a virtuous heart that knows only the truth, and not false allegiances. There are times that secrets are necessary to protect the lives of others. I don’t believe that this applies at this time.

      If he speaks the truth, and the result of the information presents no danger to others, then his teammates should re-think their positions, as blind allegiance is a danger to US all.

      VIRTVS SOLA NOBILITAS

      English: VIRTUE ALONE IS NOBLE

      Report Post » Liberty Over Democracy  
    • Liberty Over Democracy
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:54am

      My guess is, at this time, he is the only one in danger (physically), as his true identity has been revealed.

      I would recommend that JOHNLARSON come to the table to learn. Bring your knowledge, that you know to be true, so others may learn from you. But leave the “tags”, the “name-calling”, and open your mind to sincerely seek the common ground that binds US together. When you know the truth, you will find no shelter in the government machine that has been created. WE are the government, and WE must root out the corruption, the lazy dependence, and the apathetic “sheep”, by educating ourselves and others/ We must form pillars at the lowest level and build on those strengths to put virtue and honor back in our government leadership and the laws and regulations that have gone amuck to a point that the average citizen feels “controlled” rather than being in control.

      Speak your heart – but from a position of truth, not perception. Throw no stones; but place them in a foundation that will build on the liberty that is ours to protect from those that would steal it away.

      SVOS CVLTORES SCIENTIA CORONAT
      · English: KNOWLEDGE CROWNS THOSE WHO SEEK HER

      Report Post » Liberty Over Democracy  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:46am

    Who do I TRUST for the TRUTH, bho or A NAVY SEAL??? The SEAL any day of the WEEK!!!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • EODdevon
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:31am

    I believe him and he is right about the higher ups being *******, I knew Big Al and he was just as forthright. I also know that the military has been used for political purposes too much over the years.

    Report Post » EODdevon  
  • rtaylor174
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:23am

    Sure they whacked that S.O.B. Good! And, he would have had a round in the chamber of one of those weapons if he had been allowed to duck back into that room. The government is not going to admit that they wanted Bin Ladin whacked, you don’t talk like that in front of the children. (Liberals and other clueless people)

    Report Post »  
  • nocomment
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:14am

    That one line:

    ‘BLOOD AND BRAINS SPILLED OUT OF THE SIDE OF HIS SKULL’

    Made me feel good all over… sent a tingle up my leg actually.

    Report Post »  
    • v15
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:24am

      Right on! I just wish the SEALs wore GoPros so that the video of the spillage could be viewed in 1080p.

      Report Post » v15  
  • SIXFRIGATES
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:03am

    I was skeptical for this SEAL’s reasons for writing this, but now it’s clear. Mr. Muslim President wanted to protray Bin Laden as fighting until the end, which would only give jihadists more ammunition and honor. If the truth had come out that he was unarmed with to hos by his side it probably would have dissuaded many Islamists from continuing the fight.

    The truth must be told. I stand with this guy and his book. I’m sick of lies. I will not tolerate them.

    Report Post » SIXFRIGATES  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:56am

    Something very fishy going on here. Could this Seal be another prop to further divide the country for a much wanted revolution for Obama’s political gain. Hopefully not…maybe I am just reading into it too deep. I question if Osama was even alive when they found him myself and maybe they shot a dead man in the head. Whatever happened I thank the Navy Seals for all they go through for our country and I am sure their lives have been much tougher than ever the past four years with no real leadership and respect from our commander in chief.

    Report Post »  
    • Radpat12
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 7:07am

      Obama would do ANYTHING for political gain so what you are saying is NOT off the wall.

      Report Post »  
  • Watermain
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:56am

    i would rather believe the version provided by an American hero than the one provided by an American embarrassment and his cronies. Navy seals, this Vietnam veteran salutes each and every one of you.

    Report Post » Watermain  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:51am

    Go back to the top of the page and read the first paragraph again. Now, read it again, and think. Just which account makes more sense? Not the officially released excuse.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • DEFCON4
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:30am

      RJJ, That account does clearify a more realistic “Sight Picture”

      Report Post » DEFCON4  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 4:39am

      @ RJ

      You’re right.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:05am

      Absolutely, there is more going on here than is meeting the eye; I cannot place my finger on it yet, but it just feels wrong, and big time wrong.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:46am

    I have a question; does this SEAL team member begin to sound more and more like a shill plant set up by the administration to counter the SEALs who are denouncing Obama? I’ve got a weird feeling about this guy.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • pwatkins
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:00am

      I think we may be seeing eye to eye here.

      Report Post »  
    • SIXFRIGATES
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:00am

      If you didn’t catch the drift, he was denouncing Obama himself.

      Report Post » SIXFRIGATES  
  • Obamujahadeen
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:45am

    ” The higher up the food chain the targeted individual was, the bigger a ***** he was.””

    Just like political and much of corporate America right now, particularly in the media.

    Report Post » Obamujahadeen  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love