sanger.2012.binladenraid

Part III: Drones and Cyber

Introduction

• Focus on the use of drones in military operations, especially in the context of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Key Locations

• Drone Bases and Operations: Map of significant airfields and drone strike operations including:

  • Kabul

  • Bagram Airfield

  • Khost Airfield (Afghanistan)

  • Shamsi Airbase (closed December 2011)

  • Multiple drone bases indicated in Pakistan, notably near Quetta and Peshawar.

Intelligence and Decision-Making

Obama Administration’s Considerations

• Intelligence Confirmation: Discussion on the hunt for Osama bin Laden with differing opinions on the need for confirmation of his presence in Abbottabad before taking action.

  • Leon Panetta emphasized the need for more intelligence before acting.

  • Joe Biden expressed caution, many officials in the room were hesitant, stating, "forty-nine, fifty-one" in favor of waiting.

Presidential Decision

• After thorough discussions, Obama indicated he was ready to act by ordering the mission:

  • Meeting in the White House: Obama decides at 8:20 a.m. to launch the operation.

  • Preparation for the mission included assessing potential risks and possible diplomatic fallout with Pakistan.

  • Contingency planning was discussed in light of a potential backlash from Pakistan, including risks to the American embassy in Islamabad.

Execution of the Operation

Launch of SEAL Team

• Involvement of Special Operations: Special Ops were heavily involved:

  • Departure from Jalalabad Airfield included members of SEAL Team Six and specialized personnel.

  • Equipment included stealth-modified helicopters to reduce detection risk.

Arrival and Immediate Challenges

• Unexpected Complications: The first helicopter experienced technical difficulties during the landing sequence, resulting in a crash into the compound's animal pen, jeopardizing the element of surprise.

• Command Decisions: Initial moments of uncertainty as the operation faced unexpected hurdles; key personnel remained silent, focusing on securing updates from the raiding team.

Encounter with Bin Laden

Discovery of Bin Laden

• Inside the compound, SEALs faced minimal resistance:

  • Rapid elimination of household members armed at the time of entry.

  • Immediate confrontation with Osama bin Laden occurred, who was initially unarmed when he was found.

Bin Laden’s Death

• SEALs reported his demise quickly:

  • First shots were fired, hitting bin Laden fatally – the combined operational success occurred within approximately eighteen minutes of entering the compound.

• The associated chaos surrounding the event illustrated the urgency and tension present during the op.

Aftermath of the Operation

Extraction and Disposal

• Post-mission activities included:

  • Recovering of critical intelligence material from bin Laden's possessions to understand al-Qaeda's operational architecture and leadership concerns.

  • Immediate destruction of the downed helicopter to prevent its technology from being compromised.

• Body Disposal: The decision was made for a Muslim burial at sea to avoid creating a shrine or site of admiration.

Broader Implications

• Political Ramifications: The operation had significant implications for U.S.-Pakistan relations, with the U.S. initially underestimating the reaction from Pakistani leadership regarding sovereignty violations.

  • Though initial reactions from Pakistani leaders were congratulatory, they faced domestic backlash, leading to a sharp decline in U.S.-Pakistan relations following the negative publicity and narrative control post-operation.

Summary of Consequences

• The administration faced backlash due to premature disclosures that did not align with the actual events unfolding.

• Miscommunication led to mixed messages about the operational details, complicating diplomatic efforts with Pakistan and generating intense scrutiny domestically.