Kind of like letting the street dealers deal so you can smoke out the kingpins (no pun).

First, I like Col. Hunt, we served together way back when. But I’m a little skeptical of this.

“Besides, these things are of little consequence when you realize how we missed, squandered, screwed up, made a mess of and were massively risk…

pic’s or it didnt happen.

trailortrash on October 25, 2007 at 5:38 PM

Or multiple confirming sources.

70%?? Did they take a poll of the SEAL team or something?

The implication is that it was a lawyer’s call, but it may not have been.

The rest of COL Hunt’s article is exceedingly thin on facts. And actually, the “70% certainty” bit is only mentioned in passing.

Odds are this was an offhand comment relayed to COL Hunt absent much in the way of evidence.

Remind me again why we elect so many lawyers to congress?

EricPWJohnson on October 25, 2007 at 5:29 PM
Because it keeps them out of polite society.

highhopes on October 25, 2007 at 7:30 PM

ROFLMAO. Now THAT is funny.

During WW2, we burned whole cities full of kids. From Hamburg and Dresden to Tokyo and Kobe. If it’s all about the kids, then let’s just end this matter and leave Bin Hidin’ alone. We’ll hear from him later – rest assured.

OhEssYouCowboys on October 25, 2007 at 6:16 PM

If he is hiding behind some kids, they are being told it is a great leader and they should be honored to be near him. And in a few years, they too will be jihadhis we have to fight.

And obl, like all the rest of his terrorist minions, show the world how really brave they are: hiding behind kids.

I’m capping the Pig. And, I’d proudly go to Fort Leavenworth for disobeying orders – if that’s what it came down to.

OhEssYouCowboys on October 25, 2007 at 5:44 PM

Twenty-five million buck reward would get you a decent lawyer. Providing the Feds paid up, of course.

I try to be a good soldier and support the GWoT, but sometimes our government – and it’s complete inability to act, when necessary – really pisses me off. And I’m not the only one. Take Col. Hunt, for example.We…

Are we overlawyering the war to the point that our troops won’t even kill bin Laden himself without worrying what the legal eagles may accuse them of after the fact?

Over-lawyering the war? Your enemies and I have in common that we have no respect for your laws of war.

And, yes, we in the military are increasing afraid of political “second guessing” than of the enemy. I don’t blame the military… I blame the US media (who are vultures who have shown they are more about $$$ and ratings than their country) and the democrats (who are more than willing to use the vultures stories… true or not, as a political club for those they do not agree with…) again at the expense of our country.

BadBrad on October 25, 2007 at 8:29 PM

Well said, politics/PC and war don’t mix at all! It’s time to take the gloves of already. I’m certain we wouldn’t get the same consideration from our enemy! It’s foolish and folly to give any quarter to your enemy during war, either you fight to win or you pack it up!

As for the innocent civilians that may be killed in the cross fire, while it’s sad and regretful it’s a part of war and the “innocent civilians” that are hanging out with ass-turbin Osama have to know he’s got a great big bullseye on him and you’re taking your life in your hands being within a one mile radious of him!

Bottom line is don’t lay with a murdering jihadist if you don’t want to get blowed up!

We need to win this war and it’s way past taking the gloves off, and it’s about damn time Bush and the administration back up his words right after 9-11, something about going after these animals and taking them out, dead or alive!

If It were me manning one of the drones or aircraft with that ass-turbin Osama in my sights it would have been BOMBS AWAY BABY…buh-bye scum bag, and I hope you rot in HELL!!

Even if it meant spending years in a military prison, I’d do it in a heart beat!!

Riehl World View

I don’t know what Col. David Hunt is up to I generally appreciate his stuff. Fox link here. Despite protestations to the contrary, he appears to be regurgitating old news for buzz without providing any new details.Those who were yell…

So do I believe the story is plausible? You betcha. I was getting excited about the results of the surge in Iraq. Now I am sliding back into the stance of “fight the damn war or bring them home”. Throughout these conflicts I am often reminded of Lincoln’s famous comment, “If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a time.” I believe the cause is just, however, I do not believe that leaving our soldiers in harms way and then hamstringing them so that they can neither win nor on some occasions even defend themselves without fearing legal charges, is remotely moral or fair to those who are willing to lay down their lives to defend us. If they will not be allowed to win, then bring them home immediately.

If this story is true I will be beyond angry at our gov’t.

Let’s not overdo “we know”.

Randy

That’s all I’m sayin’.

Hang with a bad guy & you might die suddenly.

shooter on October 25, 2007 at 7:29 PM

shooter, I don’t think that’s the point. I know some commenters are sharing that sentiment, but I don’t believe for a second that the military would hold their fire because of who Bin Laden is with. They will kill him and everyone who looks like him with great relish, but I suspect that they want to be sure it’s him.

Killing kids is a problem inexcusable if they’re innocent Afghanis and Bin Laden is nowhere in sight, right?

Let’s save the faux outrage for a good reason.

How many opportunities are we going to intentionally pass over? There is no excuse.

We know, with a 70 percent level of certainty — which is huge in the world of intelligence — that in August of 2007, bin Laden was in a convoy headed south from Tora Bora.
posted at 5:25 pm on October 25, 2007 by Bryan

Sorry Bryan but OBL is, or isn’t in this alleged convoy.
The 70% is a dynamic variable and this convoy takes time and terrain to get from A to B. I’m sure it was followed, … I mean with a 70% “level of certainty” :)
Let’s not overdo “we know”.
Randy

More likely 70% is as meaningless as it sounds, and the couldn’t justify the exposure of their intelligence for the distinct possibility that it was not him.

Jaibones on October 25, 2007 at 8:01 PM

I think you’re more probably right than the rest of us armchair generals. 70, 72, 75, even 85% is a long way from 95 or 98%. Better to be a little more sure of the target than to expose intelligence AND position.

And, yes, we in the military are increasing afraid of political “second guessing” than of the enemy. I don’t blame the military… I blame the US media (who are vultures who have shown they are more about $$$ and ratings than their country) and the democrats (who are more than willing to use the vultures stories… true or not, as a political club for those they do not agree with…) again at the expense of our country.

70%? What the hell does that mean? It’s either Osama or it’s not.

Saddam Hussein “employed” multiple doppelgangers to throw assassins off his scent.

And as the first boss of SEAL Team 6 taught; “It is easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission.” So I doubt that a ST6 team shooter would hesitate if he had a clear shot at that particular target.

I like Hunt OK, but he has been badly wrong several times, and downright stupidly wrong a couple of times that I have seen.

He’s not quite the authority that Fox News think he is.

nailinmyeye on October 25, 2007 at 5:53 PM

Bing. If this is true, it will be impossible to explain, and the administration and military hierarchy will have Nowhere to Hide. More likely 70% is as meaningless as it sounds, and the couldn’t justify the exposure of their intelligence for the distinct possibility that it was not him.