SEALs slam Obama for using them in bid to take credit for bin Laden killing during election

[Common Sense Party]

Serving and former US Navy SEALs have slammed President Barack Obama for taking the credit for killing Osama bin Laden and accused him of using Special Forces operators as ‘ammunition’ for his re-election campaign...

Ryan Zinke, a former Commander in the US Navy who spent 23 years as a SEAL and led a SEAL Team 6 assault unit, said: ‘The decision was a no brainer. I applaud him for making it but I would not overly pat myself on the back for making the right call.

‘I think every president would have done the same. He is justified in saying it was his decision but the preparation, the sacrifice - it was a broader team effort.’ ...

(Arianna Huffington) told CBS: ‘We should celebrate the fact that they did such a great job. It's one thing to have an NBC special from the Situation Room... all that to me is perfectly legitimate, but to turn it into a campaign ad is one of the most despicable things you can do.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2137636/SEALs-slam-Obama-using-ammunition-bid-credit-bin-Laden-killing-election-campaign.html

Now Obama isn't supposed to acknowledge his successes?

[randome]

1. Thank you for your service, Mr. Zinke.

You're an asshole.

[GoCubsGo]

7. The article says Zinke is a rethug state politician.

[randome]

10. I didn't catch that but I can still thank him for having served.

And he's still an asshole.

[GoCubsGo]

22. Oh, those rolling eye weren't aimed at you.

They were for Zimke, the now-political hack.

[randome]

28. I knew that!

[newspeak]

47. well, that explains this arsehole

If any president would do it, then why didn't little boots pursue it? Maybe, just maybe, OBL was quite the political tool for little boots. I remember, as well as, you should remember arse when little boots publicly stated he wasn't concerned with OBL. I mean after all, he already got what he wanted and keeping OBL out there, especially during the 2004 elections seemed to be very useful for the repugs. Nothing like having your alleged enemy basically endorsing Kerry, oh no, doesn't want the all powerful little boots back in office. Maybe OBL knew little boots wouldn't pursue him, but kerry would have. Ever think of that, Zinke?

[nanabugg]

52. I believe that the President gives them all the credit for the action. He give himself credit for

decision to act. This is just an attempt to or a further attempt to have the forces disrespect their CIC. The ones who fall for this crap already don't like the fact the Obama is President...the military is full of them and they get support from FOX and friends in criticizing the President. A pox on their houses!

[sadbear]

2. I'm guessing we would have heard crickets from Zinke if

this had happened under bush.

[zbdent]

42. He would have been the first one to lead the parade of SEALs

to go to DC to shake Bush43's hand, making sure that Faux & all the other "liberally-biased media" had the cameras on, recording exactly why they were there.

Hey, Mr. Zinke ... we had a guy in the WH who had no brain, and he DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER ...

[hughee99]

46. Don't worry, the outrage from our side would drown out the crickets

if this had happened under *.

[sadbear]

54. When was the last time the outrage from our side drowned out anything?

[hughee99]

65. Sandra Fluke.

[marlakay]

3. Considering the source, military

no surprise there as most is republican...

[nadinbrzezinski]

75. Wrong but led seal team six that be a Navy Captain

an O-6, that is where they start to trend R in the officer ranks.

There have been plenty of studies on this and I know it contradicts world views, but lower ranks in both officer and enlisted tend to be more Democratic, while higher ranks trend Republican.

[Renew Deal]

4. Obama is never supposed to acknowledge his successes

It doesn't fit the narrative.

[GoCubsGo]

5. It's "Swiftboating 2012".

Same shit, different assholes.

[malaise]

15. 100% correct n/t

[SidDithers]

35. Yup. Expect a book from Jerome Corsi and Regnery Press anytime now...nt

Sid

[kiranon]

69. Agree completely.

[Greybnk48]

6. What a prick.

[TwilightGardener]

8. "The decision was a no-brainer"--seems to be the preprogrammed RNC talking point.

I would argue that the operation could have gone very wrong, and the SEALS' blood would have been on Obama's hands. He could have ordered them into a death trap.

[annabanana]

39. "I don't really think about him very much" - - GW Bush

THAT'S the no-brain in this discussion...

[LiberalFighter]

44. According to a congressman I heard Saturday

It was not a no brainer! The CIA's assessment had dropped from 60% success rate to 40% just before Obama made his decision but he had not received that last assessment. I think actually that 60% drop to 40% was whether Osama bin laden was at that location.

If I recall one of the factors that probably increased the success rate was Obama increasing operation support from the original plan. If he hadn't ordered additional support for the operation it could had very had failed.

Obama was getting mostly negative feedback for the operation. So if it was a no brainer then why so many within the administration's team against it?

You are so right that it could had gone wrong. They didn't know what type of consequences there might be going into an ally's territory without their permission. An ally that for all intents and purpose been harboring bin Laden. They didn't know 100% what there might be waiting for them.

I hope that worthless Seal candidate for office has his butt handed to him in his election.

[TwilightGardener]

79. Interesting, did not know that about the mission's chances of success.

[cali]

9. this was predictable.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

30. Yep. Attack his strengths.

Karl Rove 101.

Have a war hero ruining against a draft dodger? Attack the war hero's record. It works.

[leftynyc]

11. Is there one name of a SERVING SEAL?

As this hatchet job claims in the very first sentence posted. Or just ones trying to make hay using their past glory? Both he and Arianna can go fuck themselves.

[julian09]

24. He certainly gave the seals credit for their success.

They would never have had the chance under Romney, because he wouldn't pursue Osama in Pakistan. He stated as much in a 07 debate. He plays everything too safe and both ways, to be decisive, he would have probably taken the bomb route and destroyed a lot of intelligence at the site and the certainty of the fact the US got Bin Ladin.
One of the first things he did when taking office, he instructed his defense chief and cia director to
give the elimination of Osama top priority.
Obama deserves the right to point out that he accomplished his goal of getting Osama, because he made it a priority. Romney or Bush made it a back burner issue, you will not hit the target if you aim in an other direction. Ask the seals who were greeted at the white house, if they were not rewarded for their heroic actions.

[Common Sense Party]

27. They "quote" one in the article--anonymously.

A serving SEAL Team member said: ‘Obama wasn’t in the field, at risk, carrying a gun. As president, at every turn he should be thanking the guys who put their lives on the line to do this. He does so in his official speeches because he speechwriters are smart.
‘But the more he tries to take the credit for it, the more the ground operators are saying, “Come on, man!” It really didn’t matter who was president. At the end of the day, they were going to go.’


Of course, that could be pure fiction.

[ieoeja]

51. Not if most people making the call had their way.

Biden, Clinton, the Joint Chiefs were pretty much all in favor of using a drone or cruise missile. Obama made the call to send in the SEALs so they would have 100% verification.

So, no, at the end of the day they were not "going to go" had Obama not sent them. And, of course, they would have had one hell of a time returning had Obama not overruled the military's original plan to not send extra helicopters.

[leftynyc]

62. Until that person comes forward,

it is fiction - nothing pure about it. No professional SEAL would talk to the press about anything.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. This is going to backfire. n/t

[Fresh_Start]

13. Zinke so why didn't Bushco send troops to Tora Bora

while the injured Osama was there and the local commander was asking for troops?
Could have saved ourselves 8+ years looking for him if we had got him in 2002?

[EFerrari]

14. This is the Daily Mail. Their audience is Britsh wingnuts. n/t

[vaberella]

48. Not to mention they don't have a stellar reputation for being truthful.

Heavy embellishment is their jive.

[deutsey]

16. Now, if Obama had landed a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier

that would've been just fine.

[julian09]

34. The mission accomplished was

Bush not crash landing on the carrier. McCain the hero, sprouting brainwashed Gop propaganda.

[Plucketeer]

17. Wonder if Zinke would protest

if Obama accepted responsibility had the raid gone askew??? Maybe Zinke didn't get a big enough medal.

[DCBob]

18. I would hope some other SEALs will speak up and denounce these comments.

I suspect they will.

[mulsh]

19. Why didn't Mr. Zinke & his Seal team capture & killl OBL?

I usually avoid reading the crap the Daily Mail spews & the above person quoted is a good example of why.

Another cowardly "conservative" at work. the people of Montana must feel fortunate to have someone like him in their Senate. I know we Californians are thankful there are relatively few like him in our Senate

[madokie]

20. Another teabagger shows his true colors

is all this is.

[quinnox]

21. this sounds like BS, any currently serving SEAL wouldn't say shit

for one thing, because there is a military ethical formal code where they can't take sides in politics or malign the commander in chief. They could be kicked out of the military for violating it.

So maybe one former SEAL republican who is now in politics is saying this, but I don't believe there is a group of them.

[riderinthestorm]

23. A more accurate headline: One Republican EX-Seal, now retired and running for office, slams Obama nt

[Robb]

32. Key point: running for *higher office* in Montana.

http://ryanzinkeformontana.com/

He and Livingstone were down 33 points to the front-runners in this race back in February. Maybe they think this will help.

[Skidmore]

25. Perhaps those vaunted SEALs need to be reminded that

they have a CiC. Did they question the great Texas asshole for the way they were misused in the wars he lied us into as well as the fact that he CALLED OFF the hunt for OBL to hunt oil in Iraq?

And Huffington can bite me.

[Poll_Blind]

26. I'm no fan of the President but that article was a particularly poisonous...

...piece of garbage.

Geeze.

I have no idea how many people here will actually go to the link and read the full article, as I have, but that thing is an amazing construct of...well, bullshit.

And it looks like most of that bullshit is coming from these (ex) SEALS.

Admiral William McRaven "made the call" as opposed to the President, as former SEAL Chris Kyle alleges?

Bullshit. Bullshit. Bulllllll-shit.

There are quite a few things tucked away in the article like that, that are just bullshit.

And I think anyone who is reasonably aware of the situation in Pakistan would find it hard to believe that "any President" would have made the same call. That's bullshit, too. In fact, it's funny because the single biggest gamble in the Obama presidency was to carry out that raid. Remember, Pakistan had no idea we were there. They could have shot down our aircraft, killed our troops. Did I mention Pakistan has nuclear weapons? I mean, come on. If that raid had gone bad it would have been EPIC bad.

There's no president who's just going to reflexively say "Oh, yeah, go for it. Use the bat copters."

Not in that situation.

PB

[Iggo]

29. Why, that's the stupidest thing I've read all morning.

People voted for this guy?

[SidDithers]

31. Daily Mail. 'nuff said...nt

Sid

[erpowers]

33. Not Just About Making the Final Decision

I think many of the people who are saying "any president would have done the same thing" in regard to giving the Seal Team the go ahead to invade Bin Laden's compound. It is not just a matter of whether anyone would have given the final order; it is a matter if anyone, specifically Mitt Romney would have supported and pushed the effort to find Bin Laden. Romney is quoted as saying that he would not have made a big effort to find Bin Laden. That is the real point.

[Mass]

36. Consider the source.

[jenmito]

37. Romney would've taken Gates' advice and bombed the compound. Obama went AGAINST the

advice of the majority of his advisors. They thought it was too risky to send in Seal Team 6. Obama made the decision that was high risk, high reward. Romney doesn't have the spine to take that route.

[FSogol]

38. Anti-Obama drivel from dailymail and Arianna Huffington? I'm shocked!

[Common Sense Party]

40. They're nothing if not consistent. nt

[bluestate10]

57. There are two people in particular,

who post nothing but anti-Obama and anti-democrat drivel right here on DU. Yet they claim they are progressives. What do they expect? That Romney and a republican Congress would govern the way they want government to work? A famous PT Barnum phrase comes to mind when I think of those two.

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. 'but to turn it into a campaign ad is one of the most despicable things you can do.’

Yes, Obama should follow Bush's example. I mean we wouldn't have caught Bush and the Pubbies using 9/11 for political gain.

[bullwinkle428]

43. I sure hope this Zinke character is a genuine SEAL with documentation to back that up,

given the number of phony-ass clowns out there claiming to be former SEALS who weren't any part of them at all.

[bluestate10]

59. Given that he is a republican.

His Seal claims may be another lying fascade that party is becoming known for.

[Aviation Pro]

60. Commander Zinke is a real deal SEAL...

...here's his official Navy photograph.



He is free to say what he wants and as wrong as it may be his service to the country cannot not be impeached.

[bullwinkle428]

70. I'll admit to using a little bit of "performance art", by employing "birtherism"

against the very type of people that really have yet to stop questioning Barack Obama's legitimacy as President.

[nadinbrzezinski]

76. Then I will question the fact that he led Seal Team 6

that be a CAPTAIN, not a COMMANDER.

He might have served as Executive Officer of the unit though, or XO.

He might have led them in the FIELD as well as an operational officer, but led... that implies in command... that is an O-6 billet, not O-5

I know, I know way too much inside baseball.

That said, thank you for putting ass on line Commander...

[Aviation Pro]

78. He was probably a squadron commander....

....remembering that SEAL teams are broken down into platoons.

That being said, I've exhausted my knowledge of the Teams and there are plenty of military sites that can answer these questions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

86. Yeah but as I said way too much inside baseball

led, to most civies without any knowledge of this, is the whole team.

That is my objection to this... "led Team Six" language.

[MagickMuffin]

45. Bush “I truly am not that concerned about him.” Him referring to bin Laden

Perhaps Zinke needs a refresher course in which President was willing to do what it took to "get" bin Laden. It certainly wasn't Bush!

So, no Zinke you are wrong. every president was not interested in doing the same.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

49. Didn't Bush take credit for overthrowing (and later capturing) Saddam Hussein?

There was also something about a flight suit, aircraft carrier, and "mission accomplished" banner too..................

[Vattel]

50. It was a no-brainer to try to kill or capture OBL, given the intelligence that was available.

It was NOT a no-brainer to send the Navy seals in instead of bombing the compound. Obama risked his presidency by going against the advice of Gates and the Pentagon and sending the seals in. By doing so, he SAVED CIVILIAN LIVES, got confirmation of OBL's death, and enabled intelligence gathering in the compound. If the operation had failed, with seals dying, he would have become an object of ridicule with no chance at winning a second term. It was a brave decision and I highly doubt that McCain or Romney would have made it.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

53. I don't understand this. Obama has done nothing BUT assert that it was a team effort

and that he just gave the order. He absolutely DID give all the credit to the Navy Seals. In fact, he has been far TOO humble!!!

If it were George "Dumbya" Bush, we would be reminded each and every day with banners and parades and "News Alerts" crawls on all news stations.

I don't care what anyone says. This has every bit to do with race and how no matter what this man does, he will NEVER be good enough as a black man!!

[nanabugg]

55. +1,000,000, Sir!! nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

63. I'm very much a girl, but thank you! ;)

[sadbear]

58. Of course.

This is how republicans are framing it. President Obama hasn't said half the stuff republicans give him credit for.

[GoCubsGo]

67. What's to not understand?

Taking one's strengths and accomplishments, and turning them into faults using lies, distortions, and smears is one of the GOP's favorite tactics for smearing their opponents. Just ask John Kerry and Al Gore.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

72. That what a figure of speech, but yes, you are 100% correct! :)

[AtomicKitten]

56. "Mr Zinke, who is now a Republican state senator in Montana ..."

Nuff said.

[LynneSin]

61. I think that should be SEAL since only one, who wasn't a part of the raid, is complaining

just saying

[may day 2012]

64. What's really rich

is it NEVER HAPPENED. Bin Laden was dead long ago (or in Tahiti sipping a Mai Tai). The situation room pic is a fucking joke.

[Iggo]

68. Me fink you freaky and I like you a lot.

[Capt. Obvious]

66. This piece is hysterical on so many fronts

but this one may be my favorite: "Arianna Huffington, an outspoken liberal who runs the left-leaning Huffington Post website, roundly condemned it."

[Rex]

71. What's that? You are a bitter shitstain

that voted for GWB and feel embaressed that your CoC was a major fuckup? Fuck off, but thank you for your service...if that is even true.

[Bake]

73. NO! Obama put his presidency ON THE LINE with that decision.

It was risky. The odds of gettin gbin Laden were 50-50 or worse. Had the mission failed, Obama would have been a lame duck and his presidency effectively OVER.

His decision took major-league, big-time cojones!

So screw you, Mr. Seal. Thank you for USING YOUR SERVICE for political gain, you ass-wipe.

Bake

[jwirr]

74. He took credit for approving the mission. only a fool would believe that he was saying he did a

hands-on rescue himself. FDR announced the beginning of WWII but he did not say he was going to fight in the war. Only another spin from the rethugs.

[mfcorey1]

77. He is lying. Say anything and get everyone to believe it.

[kentuck]

80. I have never heard Obama speak without giving credit to the Navy Seals...

What is this guy talking about? Is he being paid by the GOP??

It was not a "no brainer". With all due respect, he is lying his ass off.

[LASlibinSC]

81. Sorry, I just don't believe this

Color me naive, stupid whatever. I don't know a lot about military culture or Special Forces mentality. I have been around men all my life 4 older brothers. This did not sound like any man I know. Isn't there plenty of serving or ex-military at DU that can speak to this ? Dems serve too! I still reject this story, it doesn't ring true.

[Major Hogwash]

82. It's just more FUD.

It's horsehockey intended to spread FUD.
Fear
Uncertainty
Doubt

[JI7]

83. how does one guy who is now a REpublican running for office and Arianna Huffington make "SEALs" ?

they quote one guy. and the other person is Arianna Huffington and refer to it as SEALs criticizing OBama ?

[Bolo Boffin]

84. Every president DIDN'T do the same.

Bush didn't.

Romney wouldn't have had to make that decision, because he's on record saying he wouldn't spend the money to find bin Laden, i.e., develop the actionable intelligence necessary for the decision.

Obama made it a priority and then made the call.

[Sheepshank]

85. Zinke is currently a RW politician and that is left out of the article...convenient. n/t

[spanone]

89. it's mentioned, in passing...

Mr Zinke, who is now a Republican state senator in Montana, added that MR Obama was exploiting bin Laden’s death for his re-election bid. ‘The President and his administration are positioning him as a war president using the SEALs as ammunition. It was predictable.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2137636/Osama-bin-Laden-death-SEALs-slam-Obama-using-ammunition-bid-credit.html#ixzz1tg3OCK7U

[nadinbrzezinski]

87. As long as they are retired

have at it boys

[spanone]

88. what horseshit.....

[varelse]

90. Was he on the team that took down Bin Laden?

Then I guess he has a right to express his opinion. Ms Huffington, on the other hand, isn't worth the air she used to pronounce her judgement on this matter (IMO).