Obama and the bin Laden Bragging Rights

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Apr 30, 2012 | Michael Mukasey

[KeyLargo]

OPINION Updated April 30, 2012, 7:43 p.m. ET

Michael Mukasey:

Obama and the bin Laden Bragging Rights

It's hard to imagine Lincoln or Eisenhower claiming such credit for the heroic actions of others.

By MICHAEL B. MUKASEY

The first anniversary of the SEAL Team 6 operation that killed Osama bin Laden brings the news that President Obama plans during the coming campaign to exploit the bragging rights to the achievement. That plan invites scrutiny that is unlikely to benefit him.

Consider the events surrounding the operation. A recently disclosed memorandum from then-CIA Director Leon Panetta shows that the president's celebrated derring-do in authorizing the operation included a responsibility-escape clause: "The timing, operational decision making and control are in Admiral McRaven's hands. The approval is provided on the risk profile presented to the President. Any additional risks are to be brought back to the President for his consideration. The direction is to go in and get bin Laden and if he is not there, to get out."

Which is to say, if the mission went wrong, the fault would be Adm. McRaven's, not the president's. Moreover, the president does not seem to have addressed at all the possibility of seizing material with intelligence value—which may explain his disclosure immediately following the event not only that bin Laden was killed, but also that a valuable trove of intelligence had been seized, including even the location of al Qaeda safe-houses. That disclosure infuriated the intelligence community because it squandered the opportunity to exploit the intelligence that was the subject of the boast.

[Larry381]

The man from whom President Obama has sought incessantly to distance himself, George W. Bush, also had occasion during his presidency to announce to the nation a triumph of intelligence: the capture of Saddam Hussein. He called that success "a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq."

He attributed it to "the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers. . . . Their work continues, and so do the risks."

He did mention himself at the end: "Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate them."

[Rappini]

I was going to read that until I saw NBC, not a chance.

[Hardraade]

Stupid stuff. Osama died years earlier after being wounded in an internal squabble.

The W admin knew this (the admiral in charge of DIA was directly updated), but had some snags proving it. So did Obama. And the Seal team could never talk, of course. And now they’re all dead, to boot.

[wtd]

I felt the same way . . . I posted it to illustrtate how far the msm will go to engender this poser and his narrative.

[BuffaloJack]

> This morning, Sen. John McCain said on Fox News (I’m paraphrasing), “I have had the privilege of working with heroes. Heroes don’t brag.”

Amen to that.
Obama is a blabbermouth opportunist who lacks the honor and courage that is inherent in true heroes.

[ETL]

IMO, Obama had Osama killed only as ‘payback’ for his going against the Soviets in the 80s. He obviously has no problem with terrorists who’ve attacked the Pentagon and various other military and gov facilities. He launched his political career in the living room of two communist terrorists, Bill Ayers and wife, Bernardine Dohrn. They bombed the Pentagon, Capital, numerous military facilities and police stations.

[ETL]

"God D*** America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11"
--Rev Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor/"spiritual adviser" for TWENTY plus years!

"America’s chickens... are coming home... to ROOST!"

[ETL]

BOTH OBAMA AND OSAMA HAVE
FRIENDS WHO BOMBED THE PENTAGON
_________________________________________________________

From HumanEvents.com, April 29, 2008:
"By all accounts, he [Obama friend and associate, Bill Ayers] was a ferocious, violent, revolutionary Marxist in his halcyon days as a Weatherman leader. He and his Weatherman bombers were enamored of Ho Chi Minh, Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Mao Tse-tung -- indeed, all the murderous heroes on the Left. Referring to the Weatherman members in August 1969, he said (according to the FBI): 'We’re revolutionary Communists.'

He got off on the group’s multiple explosions, too, and discusses them rather lovingly in his memoir.

Ideal Bombing Weather:
'Everything was absolutely ideal on the day I bombed the Pentagon,' he writes (although he concedes it was really a group effort). 'The sky was blue. The birds were singing. And the bastards were finally going to get what was coming to them.' (p. 256 in the 2003 edition.)

Article: Obama and His Weatherman Friends
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26243
_________________________________________________________

Pentagon attack, Sept 11, 2001

BOTH OBAMA AND OSAMA HAVE
FRIENDS WHO BOMBED THE PENTAGON
_________________________________________________________

From HumanEvents.com, April 29, 2008:
"By all accounts, he [Obama friend and associate, Bill Ayers] was a ferocious, violent, revolutionary Marxist in his halcyon days as a Weatherman leader. He and his Weatherman bombers were enamored of Ho Chi Minh, Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Mao Tse-tung -- indeed, all the murderous heroes on the Left. Referring to the Weatherman members in August 1969, he said (according to the FBI): 'We’re revolutionary Communists.'

He got off on the group’s multiple explosions, too, and discusses them rather lovingly in his memoir.

Ideal Bombing Weather:
'Everything was absolutely ideal on the day I bombed the Pentagon,' he writes (although he concedes it was really a group effort). 'The sky was blue. The birds were singing. And the bastards were finally going to get what was coming to them.' (p. 256 in the 2003 edition.)

Article: Obama and His Weatherman Friends
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26243
_________________________________________________________

Pentagon attack, Sept 11, 2001

[ETL]

BOTH OBAMA AND OSAMA HAVE
FRIENDS WHO WANTED TO BOMB FORT DIX

From David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetworks.org:
March 6, 1970: "three members of the Weather Underground accidentally killed themselves in a Manhattan townhouse while attempting to build a powerful bomb they had intended to plant at a social dance in Fort Dix, New Jersey -- an event that was to be attended by U.S. Army soldiers. Hundreds of lives could have been lost had the plot been successfully executed."
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6808

"The bomb was intended to be planted at a non-commissioned officer's dance at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
The bomb was packed with nails to inflict maximum casualties upon detonation."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatherman_(organization)#Chronology_of_events
__________________________________________________

2007 Fort Dix attack plot

A group of six radical Islamist[1] men, allegedly plotting to stage an attack on the Fort Dix military base in New Jersey, United States, were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on May 7, 2007. They were subsequently charged with planning an attack against U.S. soldiers. The alleged aim of the six men was said to be to "kill as many soldiers as possible".[2] Their trial began on October 20, 2008. [3]

Opening arguments were presented on October 20, 2008.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick said the defendants were inspired by jihad saying "Their motive was to defend Islam. Their inspiration was Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Dix_plot

BOTH OBAMA AND OSAMA HAVE
FRIENDS WHO WANTED TO BOMB FORT DIX

From David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetworks.org:
March 6, 1970: "three members of the Weather Underground accidentally killed themselves in a Manhattan townhouse while attempting to build a powerful bomb they had intended to plant at a social dance in Fort Dix, New Jersey -- an event that was to be attended by U.S. Army soldiers. Hundreds of lives could have been lost had the plot been successfully executed."
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6808

"The bomb was intended to be planted at a non-commissioned officer's dance at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
The bomb was packed with nails to inflict maximum casualties upon detonation."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatherman_(organization)#Chronology_of_events
__________________________________________________

2007 Fort Dix attack plot

A group of six radical Islamist[1] men, allegedly plotting to stage an attack on the Fort Dix military base in New Jersey, United States, were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on May 7, 2007. They were subsequently charged with planning an attack against U.S. soldiers. The alleged aim of the six men was said to be to "kill as many soldiers as possible".[2] Their trial began on October 20, 2008. [3]

Opening arguments were presented on October 20, 2008.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick said the defendants were inspired by jihad saying "Their motive was to defend Islam. Their inspiration was Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Dix_plot

[ETL]

Open Mic Catches Obama Asking Medvedev for Space on Missile Defense
March 26, 2012

"In a private conversation about the planned U.S.-led NATO missile defense system in Europe, President Barack Obama asked outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for space on the issue.

“This is my last election,” Obama told Medvedev. “After my election I have more flexibility.”

“I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir,” Medvedev said, referring to incoming President Vladimir Putin."

http://fox8.com/2012/03/26/open-mic-catches-obama-asking-medvedev-for-space-on-missile-defense/
__________________________________________________

Obama was talking with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev when neither of them realized that their conversation was being picked up by microphones. Here is what they said:

Obama: “On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved, but it’s important for him to give me space.”

Medvedev: “Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you ...”

Obama: “This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility.”

Medvedev: “I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir.”

“This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.” That statement tells us much about the president’s mindset.

The specific mention of missile defense is worrisome enough. Mr. Obama has retreated from the missile defense plan that was negotiated with European allies during the George W. Bush administration. Apparently, he is signaling Moscow that he intends to retreat further. The clear implication from the president’s comments is that he cannot tell the American people before the election what he plans to do after the election.

In addition, there is the phrase “on all these issues,” implying more is at stake than just missile defense.”

Article: Obama plans double cross on missile defense
When it comes to keeping America safe, we shouldn’t be too flexible:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/29/obama-plans-double-cross-on-missile-defense/print/

[ETL]

IMO, Obama had Osama killed only as ‘payback’ for his going against the Soviets in the 80s.

[Vaquero]

Nixon did scrap it after Apollo 17...he came in in January and let it coast through the July launch, which was already scheduled when he came into office....he used up the stuff that was already built.

He did NOTHING for the space program...

he wasnt even a conservative...he was a statist, and elitist and a crony capitalist who implimented wage and price freezes.

[gandalftb]

Some explanation on special operations is needed to sort out the “he said, she said” cacophony going on.

There are many intel pursuits going on all the time on many HVT’s in safe houses all over AfPak. The HVT’s are almost always on the move between safe houses, very difficult to know when to pull the trigger.

After Tora Bora, UBL had three distinct safe havens, localized areas where a number of safe houses existed, fully stocked by some local and available 24/7.

UBL’s entire problem was the wives and kids, very easy to spot their movement. We knew the wives would constantly demand more comfort and stability. His youngest wife refused to live in caves and underground and actually left UBL and went back to Yemen until he agreed to leave Tora Bora at about the same time as our attack.

When UBL left Tora Bora because of the family’s complaints we knew he would be heading for a more urban area as soon as a big enough safe house could be built.

That took years for us to figure out because we needed a network of locals all over Pakistan, that were reliable, like doctors and lawyers, and well paid.

We found UBL not because intel pointed out where he was, but where he wasn’t...... That’s the kicker, it takes years to sort out.

I think UBL would have been safer in Quetta, hiding among the Baloch as they are hard to bribe, but they constantly bicker and quarrel, loose lips.

No brainer that UBL avoided Pakhtun areas as they are very gossipy and easy to bribe.

We knew UBL was somewhere in NE Pakistan as his videos to Al Jazeera came out of N India on virtually the same pathway and couriers.

When a target gets paranoid they cut back on the familiars around them. Familiars find safe pathways and tend to stick with them. If there are only 2-3 handoffs and you find a courier it is fairly easy to track back.

We knew UBL wasn’t going anywhere from Abottabad with all that family to move, so no hurry, let’s see who the visitors are..... We want Z badly, more than UBL.

When we realized there were no visitors to harvest, the raid was on.

On chain of command: McRaven makes the call if the HVT decides to move. If no urgency, Panetta makes the call. Obama is only informed of the decision after assets are in place, but has only a veto regarding the “go”.

If the POTUS says nothing, the raid is on. Obama’s posturing about saying “go” is not true as that is an operational command not available to him, he can only say “no”.

The POTUS has already signed off on the HVT kill or capture list by a secret Presidential Memo.

Very unlikely that any WH staffers like Jarrett had any knowledge of the raid.

[KeyLargo]

Newsmax

SEALs: Obama Taking Credit for bin Laden ‘Cheap Shot’

Monday, April 30, 2012 10:31 PM

By: Martin Gould

Current and former US Navy SEALs have joined the attacks on President Barack Obama for attempting to take credit for killing Osama bin Laden and using them and Special Forces members as ‘ammunition’ for his campaign.

Author and former SEAL Brandon Webb told Newsmax that Obama’s White House predecessor, George W. Bush, deserves much of the praise for taking out the world’s most wanted man.

And other SEALs bashed the president to Britain’s MailOnline after Obama released a campaign ad called “One Chance,” to coincide with this week’s first anniversary of the raid that killed the al-Qaida figurehead....

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/SEALs-Obama-binLaden-/2012/04/30/id/437580

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks gandalftb.

[KeyLargo]

This is a couple of years old, but what a difference.

George & Laura Bush at Dallas Ft Worth Airport

http://guntrucks.multiply.com/photos/album/1232/George_Laura_Bush_at_Dallas_Ft_Worth_Airport