Long story short. Read the SOFREP.COM article Julie linked. It tells you all you need to know (aside from the lingering question about whether the shooter really is the shooter).

I’m basing “THAT” on the fact that the central crux of the Esquire article was that this poor SEAL was left high & dry, with no $ or health insurance, and was apparently blindsided by these circumstances.

LOL – how does that make the article rubbish you fool? I told you the article was ONE MAN’S story – they’ve got the legitimate shooter of Bin Laden here – and the SEAL admiral all but confirms it. Now … I’m not saying everything in this SEAL’s story or the article is absolutely true – but the premise is correct … in that this was a guy who, at the very least – was on the raid and is likely the guy, or one of the guys who made the fatal shots.

Multiple personal experiences with friends & family members who have served build my confidence that the central thrust of the Esquire article is false, and this general statement from the linked article is very convincing:

I don’t have such THIRD HAND experience. I was IN THE NAVY for 24 years active, participated in Iraq and Afghan wars and retired as an E9 Command Master Chief. Again – I never said everything this guy was saying was true – look up at my post – I actually say the SEAL shooter has character flaws.

As I noted earlier, the Esquire account is simply rubbish. With an angle that was seen, and shot down by informed readers quickly.

cs89 on February 15, 2013 at 5:51 PM

Yo dumbass … Esquire’s account? Esquire’s account? This is the SHOOTER’S account. What you’re really saying is … THE SHOOTER IS LYING TO ESQUIRE. Esquire doesn’t know whether things he tells them are true or false – they print them because they’ve verified this is the guy – anything the guy makes up in his mind that isn’t true is almost impossible for Esquire to verify.

Agreed. My ex got out with 15 1/2 years. Now, 30+ years later, he regrets it.

ladyingray on February 15, 2013 at 5:49 PM

With you or the service? Sorry, I couldn’t help but swing.

I find the entire story to be rubbish (to use another poster’s word). There is no way this man didn’t know he needed his 20 to get his bennies, and there is no way the Navy wouldn’t have kept such a hero for another 4 years in another capacity, requiring no deployment and providing easy duty.

I call BS on the entire story. I’m not convinced that the article is about the OBL shooter at all.

ladyingray on February 15, 2013 at 5:46 PM

And that’s ^^ about as realistic a take on this as can be. Well said.

Dunno the whole story here, but clearly the Esquire story is rubbish.

cs89 on February 15, 2013 at 4:20 PM

With this announcement in mind, it should be considered now as a possibility that the writer — who was it, Bernstein or thereabouts — and ESQUIRE made an overt attempt to discredit the military.

I dunno. But that possibility certainly should be considered.

What are you basing THAT on?
HondaV65 on February 15, 2013 at 4:50 PM

I’m basing “THAT” on the fact that the central crux of the Esquire article was that this poor SEAL was left high & dry, with no $ or health insurance, and was apparently blindsided by these circumstances.

Multiple personal experiences with friends & family members who have served build my confidence that the central thrust of the Esquire article is false, and this general statement from the linked article is very convincing:

“Naval Special Warfare has bright and motivated people engaged in difficult, but satisfying work. They are very familiar with their compensation and options,” he wrote.

Also, this specific statement of the active commander is a very effective torpedo to the “UBL shooter’s” version as reported:

“This former SEAL made a deliberate and informed decision to leave the Navy several years short of retirement status,” Rear Adm. Sean Pybus, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, wrote in a statement. “Months ahead of his separation, he was counseled on status and benefits, and provided with options to continue his career until retirement eligible. Claims to the contrary in these matters are false.”

As I noted earlier, the Esquire account is simply rubbish. With an angle that was seen, and shot down by informed readers quickly.

Having been a Navy Command Master Chief – I will tell you that ANY Sailor who chooses to leave with only a few years remaining until retirement is ALWAYS A BIG DEAL.

Agreed. My ex got out with 15 1/2 years. Now, 30+ years later, he regrets it.

I call BS on the entire story. I’m not convinced that the article is about the OBL shooter at all.

He thought he had a plan that would make his retirement pension unnecessary and it did not work out.

Yeah, that might explain a lot.