Navy Seal who killed Osama Bin Laden

2014-11-06T07:18:43-05:00

He was identified today. Do you think he's a marked man? Does he have a target on his back? Should he be concerned?

http://www.navytimes.com/article/20141105/NEWS/311050066/Report-Navy-SEAL-who-shot-bin-Laden-revealed

"The former Navy SEAL who claims to have shot and killed Osama bin Laden has been identified ahead of a highly anticipated Fox News interview in which he is expected to discuss his role in the historic raid, according to multiple news sources.

Robert O’Neill, a SEAL turned public speaker, has been named by the UK’s Daily Mail and the special operations community blog SOFrep.com as the member of SEAL Team 6 who fired the shots that killed bin Laden in a May 2011 raid on his compound in Abottabad, Pakistan."

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 7:28 AM

2014-11-06T07:28:50-05:00

Yes/No. I think that the Special Operations community and his former superiors will be upset and push him out of their close knit circle as it USED to be frowned upon to talk about any missions. However, there have been a book published by another SEAL who as far as I know has not been targeted at this point.....though I do not believe he was a public speaker going around talking about it. So it is a toss up.

I wish this country could keep secrets for a change.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 7:51 AM

2014-11-06T07:51:48-05:00

LTC Private RallyPoint Member Your comment on the country keeping secrets would / should be a whole entire different conversation.

As for the SEAL being ID'd ... eventually there will most likely be a fatwa issued on him and his entire team. I suspect the issuance of the fatwa is expected by the team. As for the SEAL community turning their backs on him - I would say it's already done.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Nov 6 at 2014 8:42 AM

2014-11-06T08:42:17-05:00

I don't think there is any doubt that he will be a marked man and should be very concerned about his safety and the safety of his family.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Nov 6 at 2014 11:01 AM

2014-11-06T11:01:26-05:00

When your ego and the possibility of some money being made motivates you do something stupid like this, you deserve everything that happens to you. It's unfortunate that his whole family is brought into it. It also shows that he didn't really think this out.

I have some friends that were on the Son Tay Raid. Their story wasn't told and they weren't identified for years after the raid ("The Raid", Benjamin F. Schemmer). I understand having this story come out years later when all the principles have been notified and there is no longer any reason to maintain secrecy. What he did was expose the SMU's to more pressure that they don't need. Their Ops Tempo provides enough pressure already.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 2:01 PM

2014-11-06T14:01:28-05:00

I wonder when the quiet professionals stopped being so quiet? My morbid curiosity is always happy to find out new information about things like this but I can't help but think it were better left as "need to know" info.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 6 at 2014 3:22 PM

2014-11-06T15:22:53-05:00

He left the service with 16 years in? I wonder why? I think Batman said it best. "I wear a mask to keep those I love safe" I couldn't do that to my family. Of course, the closest I came to being a SEAL was me going to Sea World. I could never make it past the "T-shirt job application" (aka: "Here, fill this out").

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 6 at 2014 4:49 PM

2014-11-06T16:49:21-05:00

Not sure why someone would expose themselves and family to so much risk. I like his father's attitude but reckless abandon often leads to less than desired results. As I can not say for sure what motivated this I would not be surprised to see movie, book rights, and public speaking in his near future as well as years of sprinkling colored sand around his vehicle.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 7:00 PM

2014-11-06T19:00:29-05:00

I think everyone here can agree that identifying him was a very bad idea. He now has a huge target on his back and both he and his family are in danger. Some things are better kept secret.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 1:25 AM

2014-11-07T01:25:36-05:00

Sir he's a trained Navy Seal. He doesn't have nothing to worry about. It takes a lot to catch a Navy Seal off guard.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Nov 14 at 2014 1:24 PM

2014-11-14T13:24:56-05:00

Read this article this evening CW5 Private RallyPoint Member. Thought I would share with the forum...

http://taskandpurpose.com/unsung-heroes-77-people-bin-laden-raid-staying-quiet/?utm_source=TP-Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=unsung-heroes-77-people-bin-laden-raid-staying-quiet

UNSUNG HEROES: The 77 People On The Bin Laden Raid Who Are Staying Quiet

79 men launched the raid to kill bin Laden. 79 of thousands who worked for more than a decade to find him. Two have stepped forward.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 1:31 PM

2014-11-15T13:31:17-05:00

Marked is not dead, but we can be certain that someone wants a word with him about his "no easy day." I am curious to his reasoning for 'outing' himself - according to Fox, has stated reasons are to aid veterans and 9/11 families. Does it bring closure to know who killed UBL? Not for me. Anyone else?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 8:44 AM

2015-01-04T08:44:30-05:00

I guess the assumption of "Quiet Professional" goes out the window with every book sale or memoir that a member of any elite force writes nowadays.

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Oct 12 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-10-12T11:23:53-04:00

I hope that his family's safety is worth the book deal.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-10-12T11:29:16-04:00

Why would anyone with an iota of sanity own up to this? Has to be out of pure narcissistic reasoning. Marked man, yeah I would say so.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made May 1 at 2019 2:42 PM

2019-05-01T14:42:13-04:00

Unverified claim. And I doubt we will know the real shooter for sure in our lifetime. In any case, I will wait for the movie or book he helps make. Because it seems that is what all former SEALs do these days.

Response by SSG Robert "Rob" Wentworth made Jan 17 at 2020 6:48 PM

2020-01-17T18:48:06-05:00

I’m not sure I would go public....
Just Saying....

Response by PO1 Steven Kuhn made Jan 23 at 2020 4:51 PM

2020-01-23T16:51:07-05:00

I think it is reprehensible for this patriot’s identity to be leaked so that whacko radical Muslims can seek revenge on this hero and/or his family. I feel whomever leaked his identity should be held accountable!