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AndyC wrote:

WildBill wrote:The Navy SEALS did make the final call. They are the ones who finally pulled the trigger.

Yup - the mission itself is approved and given to them by the higher-ups. The guys who are going to be on the ground are the ones who plan it out - nobody else, so there's no external "Rambo Factor" from some weenie who won't even be there - and then execute it as they see fit in order to accomplish the mission they were given.

Me, I'm pleased that Obama gave the go even without knowing for sure that Bin Laden was definitely in there; that's a brave thing for a politician to do.

and what does it matter?

There are a jillion more of 'em shooting their rifles in the air screaming,"Allahu Akbar, me, me, me, I want to be next to lead the killing of infidels (me and you) and their innocent non-combatant families".

It ain't over until they are all gone.

...sadly true...

If you read the article, it sounds possible. Obama did look angry (as well as incidntal/off to the side) in that picture. We all know that Obama can't make decisions. Hillary has always been more of a hawk than Obama, and there are rumors that she has been very unhappy with the indecision of the president, making her job more difficult. Panetta seems to be giving us much more straight info than the white house. If there is truth in it, will find out more in the future

Things may have changed in 30 years but Spec Ops since the Iran Hostage Debacle have gone like this. Joint Chiefs come up with a goal, POTUS approves. The mission is then handed to whichever group is deemed appropriate. Their commanders devise the op, coordinate with support (transport, intel on ground, etc.). The plan is then briefed, including ROE and benchmarks, to the team and they head that direction.

When they get to a point of commit or abort, they are given the greenlight or turned around (happened a couple of times to my team). Once on the ground, the team leader has the final say so on execution the team and can alter as they see fit.

Folks I stay in contact with have shared that the POTUS (as did his predecessor) had a standing order to greenlight any such operation when it became viable. If they had blown it, they all would have died in a horrible training accident. A good friend of mine was the only survivor of a training exercise.

AndyC wrote:True, but I believe that Bin Laden was an inspiration and had the personal charisma to attract followers; those who are left aren't causing quite the same level of adoration.

Think about what could have happened if the little German guy with the sugar bowl haircut and funny mustache was taken out in 1939.

AndyC wrote:True, but I believe that Bin Laden was an inspiration and had the personal charisma to attract followers; those who are left aren't causing quite the same level of adoration.

Perhaps it was his charisma fortified with loads of money from his oil rich Saudi family?

Why are the so-called moderate muslims around the world not denouncing these cries for revenge from those who are left if the so-called moderate muslims think that murdering innocent non-combatants is contrary to the Quran?

It ain't over...far from it.

Oldgringo wrote:

AndyC wrote:True, but I believe that Bin Laden was an inspiration and had the personal charisma to attract followers; those who are left aren't causing quite the same level of adoration.

Perhaps it was his charisma fortified with loads of money from his oil rich Saudi family?

I am sure that family money and connections added to his "charisma" and his ability to attract followers. It is no different than many other wealthy "celebrities" in politics and entertainment.

WildBill wrote:

AndyC wrote:True, but I believe that Bin Laden was an inspiration and had the personal charisma to attract followers; those who are left aren't causing quite the same level of adoration.

Think about what could have happened if the little German guy with the sugar bowl haircut and funny mustache was taken out in 1939.

In today's political climate we would still have been there by the time Korea started and probably would have been entangled in the Middle east to boot.