Navy Seal that shot Bin Laden is out

Just came across this. I don't know if going public with an name is such a safe venture.

If the shooter is the one choosing to go public, do we care about his safety? If he was "outed" that would be something different.

This could get interesting and ugly. Suing, countersuing, government lawyers, book and movie rights, arguments over who really fired what shots.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/11...n-raid-accuses-lawyers-of-ruining-reputation/

http://www.businessinsider.com/it-was-inevitable-a-navy-seal-would-speak-on-bin-laden-2014-11

I plead guilty to the charge of being naïve, but I always believed that the identity of the shooter would remain a secret, which is a huge part of the allure of special operators. Yes. They are everything we know them to be in terms of brains, brawn, and training, but I always assumed that what truly differentiates them from the rest of us is that they neither seek nor accept individual accolades or rewards.

At least in one respect, he is like everybody else.

We can only hope that much of the proceeds from these commercial ventures ends up with the families of those nameless who didn't return.
 
I also don't assign a special value to the trigger man.

It's not as if he John Wayned the situation and took out OBL single-handedly.

I don't care for the folks going public with stuff like this. You're special, but you're not- if that makes sense.
 
I also don't assign a special value to the trigger man.

It's not as if he John Wayned the situation and took out OBL single-handedly.

I don't care for the folks going public with stuff like this. You're special, but you're not- if that makes sense.

Interesting you two say that. I've talked to a few people about this on the side and it's pretty much the same tone. And the conversation turns into the financial gain aspect of it.

When I originally posted this I didn't want to put my views on it and wanted to see what people said but now that's it's out there... yeah I think he did it for the payout but I don't know if this ones worth it; but then again I was just in Comms didn't do anything to the level of these guys.
 
I am very disappointed in this event. I think going public is dishonorable and disrespects the organization and those who serve in it. I have read the articles, justification given and seen the 60 minutes episodes. I just don't agree with the rationale given as justification for going public.

Heck, you can laugh at me (my spouse and others do!) but I have remained silent about things I swore to hold secret during my active duty years to this day. I am sure the statute of limitations, the US Privacy Act, the details are no longer relevant, the event is ancient history, etc ... but it doesn't matter to me. My choice, but I gave my word to hold it secret and will continue to do so. At most, I use the phrase we were authorized to use regarding some of these things: "I can neither confirm, nor deny..."

I believe secrecy, mystique, and lack of details makes these types of military units more effective in their missions.

On another point, these are team missions. TEAM. The shooter is no more important than the rear security, the helicopter pilot, the medic, or the ground crews who prepared the helicopters, the communications teams, the AWACS crew, or whomever.
 
98% of the Team guys I've met are fantastic guys who epitomize quiet professionalism and have great senses of humor and are really grounded. They are very frustrated by the 2% who are doing all this self-promoting. My own theory is that the SEALS have been high profile for long enough a time that they do draw a very small percentage of guys who want the limelight, and some of those guys are so good skill-wise that they make it through to the Teams and really excel there. Alternatively (or concurrently), the possibility of a life-changing payday when others before have cashed in just lowers the resistance enough that guys decide to grab the golden ticket by telling their story.

It doesn't change the fact that most of the SEALS are amazing guys doing the toughest jobs in places we're not hearing about.
 
GoSox, I disagree: I think it's more like 99.5%.

I started listening to an interview with him last night and I couldn't believe my ears. I had to shut it off after his third "I don't give a f***".
 
It's all about the Benjamins!

This guy is all about the money $$$$$. A disgrace to his team! He is trying to improve his speaking gigs and get more MONEY!
He should be made to give the $'s all to those who gave it all!
Now that would be a Hero! :thumb:
 
This guy is all about the money $$$$$. A disgrace to his team! He is trying to improve his speaking gigs and get more MONEY!
He should be made to give the $'s all to those who gave it all!
Now that would be a Hero! :thumb:

What evidence do you have that he is chasing money? He has no book out. I don't believe he does speaking gigs. He wasn't paid by Fox news. So what evidence do you have? I'm not saying there isn't any. I'm just not aware of any.
 
What evidence do you have that he is chasing money? He has no book out. I don't believe he does speaking gigs. He wasn't paid by Fox news. So what evidence do you have? I'm not saying there isn't any. I'm just not aware of any.

Kinnem, he has been on the lecture/motivational speech circuit for sometime now. As far I have read (spending more time than I should), there was nothing in those speeches which violated either the letter or the spirit of the "code". I have read he has contributed "something" to charities supporting families of the fallen.

It was his public bravado, loud mouth and self-proclamation of being "the shooter", which apparently cost him a promotion and the respect of other team members.

I would assume that his speaking fees as "the shooter" rather than "just another SEAL" would be considerably higher. However, there is no evidence nor do I believe that was his motivation. Some people simply have an insatiable need to "display".

I didn't watch the Fox special because I was so turned off by him to begin with, so I can't comment on what he said or how he said it. However, I did hear an audio tape of a previous interview in which he sounds like a cross between a spoiled child and a pro wrestler. I'd go look for it, but I've spent too much time already. I saw it on CNN.
 
It wasn't tongue in cheek, and a Master Chief/Commander letter doesn't make me change my mind. We've praised how many special operators here for their books and movies or interviews.

Just realized there's a big typo in that letter -- anybody want to take on the challenge of identifying it, if you're bored? Hint: Spellcheck would not have caught it. Grand Prize: On your deathbed you will attain total consciousness.
 
Just realized there's a big typo in that letter -- anybody want to take on the challenge of identifying it, if you're bored? Hint: Spellcheck would not have caught it. Grand Prize: On your deathbed you will attain total consciousness.

They used "tenant" instead of tenet.

(Now I will attain "self consciousness" for participating in a thread hijacking!)
 
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