Osama bin Laden dead: Yes, SEALs were in on the raid, but aides hail Obama's office bravery

According to another one of those White House briefings of reporters designed to suck up all available credit for good news, President Obama's homeland security advisor reveals that it was a really tense time in the air-conditioned White House as unidentified U.S. Navy SEALs closed in on the world's most wanted man after midnight a half a world away.

"Minutes passed like days," says John Brennan, who bravely stood with press secretary Jay Carney before reporters and TV cameras today chronicling his boss' weekend heroics.

The heavily-armed commandos flying in a quartet of darkened Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters more than 100 miles into Pakistan were probably listening to their iPods and discussing the NFL draft.

"The concern was that bin Laden would oppose any type of capture operation," said Obama's Sherlock Holmes. So U.S. troops were prepared "for all contingencies."

In fact, this weekend was such a tense time in the White House that Obama only got in nine holes of golf. But he still managed to deliver his joke script to the White House Correspondents Assn. dinner Saturday evening.

Sunday was, Brennan revealed to his eager audience, "probably one of the most anxiety-filled periods of times in the lives of the people assembled here." Poor poor bureaucrats. Extra Tums all around. Did someone order dinner?

There may have been a little anxiety aboard those combat choppers. Who knows? We can't hear from them. And, as every day, anxiety in the kitchens, hearts and mind of thousands of military families who put up with the terrifying uncertainty of the dangerous deeds their loved ones have volunteered to secretly do for their country. During his 49 minute presentation Brennan did squeeze in one reference to the mission's "very brave personnel."

But the emphasis, with 2012 just around the calendrical corner, was on the boss' valor. "There was nothing that confirmed that bin Laden was at that compound," Brennan related as if such uncertainty is uncommon in war.

"And, therefore," Brennan continued, "when President Obama was faced with the opportunity to act upon this, the president had to evaluate the strength of that information and then made what I believe was one of the most gutsiest calls of any president in recent memory."

According to early reports of the incident, detailed here in The Ticket, 24 SEALs rappelled down ropes from hovering Chinooks in post-midnight darkness Monday Pakistan time with Osama security forces shooting at them. Brennan didn't have much time to go into all that today, the goal is to elevate the ex-state senator to at least a one-star commander-in-chief.

Here's something else that didn't get much recognition in all the street celebrations or all-hail-Obama briefings:

The trail to Monday morning's assault on Osama's Pakistan compound began during someone else's presidency. That previous president authorized enhanced interrogation techniques which convinced folks like Khalid Shaikh Mohammed to give up, among many other things, the name of their top-secret courier, now deceased. His travels ultimately led the CIA back to Osama's six-year-old suburban home.

Related:

Rush Limbaugh on Osama bin Laden's death: 'Thank God for President Obama'

Donald Trump praises Obama on Osama bin Laden's death

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photos: Denis Sinyakov / Reuters (A Chinook and Blackhawk helicopter in Afghanistan); Jewel Samad / AFP / Getty Images (Brennan); Photo illustration by Andrew Malcolm.

Comments

[Steve Reid]

Oboma was very brave i hear' he refused to wear flack jacket and helment,

[Jabusse]

Obama seems to be a quick learner. from way dumber than Palin he learned from Bush's tactics, implemented them and followed through. Although I am sure the SEALS planned and excuted the mission without Obama's help he did authorize it. There are too many I's though in Obama's lexicon seems to be an insecure person grabbing at accolades and import. He clearly doesn't understand the power of his office. . IT is a good day for america and Obama was part of it but certainly not the whole thing as he would have you believe. I am impressed with Bush's and Clinton's words. They set this up. I am gratified Obama had the good sense to follow through. Next maybe water boarding can restart at Guantanimo. Success breeds success. This would not have happened if Bush followed Obama because the basic information wouldn't be there.

[Jim in Houston]

Steve H: On the contrary, Steve, the article tells it exactly like it is: Obumbler knows nothing, sees nothing, hears nothing and does nothing. However, he speaks all the time.

[Jim in Houston]

News Lies: The Huff & Puff is calling it is time for your kool aid and your meds.

[Tex]

Hahahaha! It was such a tense time around the WH that Potus only managed a back 9? Well how many rounds does he normally average during 'non tense' times?? And where does Michael Moore stand on this one?? Where's the outrage, libs??

[listen]

They got rid of Osama's remains too quick. Before I believe Osama is dead, I need to see photos of his dead body.

[john lichtenberg]

How anyone can find anything remotely funny about what happened is repulsive. Perhaps no one at the LA Times had a relative or friend killed on 9/11. But apparently your publication has no soul, integrity or common sense. Reinforces the attitude that the people in LA are somehow detached from the rest of the world.

[just a citizen]

Thank you for this article, finally someone on the leftcoast talking like an American...not an elephant or donkey

[Mark S ~]

Andrew,
How refreshing, coming from the L.A. Times. Finally, journalism at its best.

I voiced a similar opinion to the Dallas Morning News Op-Ed but doubt that the publication will occur. So glad to see our opinion to at least see the "light of day".

Bravo!

[Pouncekitty]

Now Obama's a military genius, too, added to his mighty credentials as a student, financial guru, healer and saint! My God, these kool-aid drinkers are amazing! They'll believe anything! Obama is good at two things --- blaming others for mistakes and golf. That's it, folks!

[S Bonz]

O probably has awarded himself a dive bubble and jump wings for his heroic actions of May 1 thinking that would make him an honorary SEAL. Sorry watching the action from 8,000 miles away does not make one a hero

[Saul]

Oh! I get it when everything go's to hell its Obama's Fault, when something amazingly wonderful happens it's thanks to W......

[tkdblk3]

Oh, for sure my dad who was on Guadalcanal, functioning as one of the 6 marshals who drove around in jeeps checking to see if everyone else was in foxholes during bombing raids, my uncle in New Guinea, and another uncle who nearly froze to death in Korea would feel so secure knowing that Mr. Obama had their back in a tight situation.

I suppose he would have handed the Japanese and Chinese soldiers a strongly worded signed document.

Thats all he actually did! Anyone occupying the office of the President would have done the same!

[Bill]

Office bravery? How lame is that comment. He blames Bush for all that is bad, and now takes credit for our military finding and killing OBL. Pathetic beyond words.

[X-Ray]

Obama blasted Bush for the decisions that made OBL's execution possible, putting political games above national security. Now, Obama is taking the credit, when the work was done by the military Obama just recently was going to allow go without pay (Republicans had offered a bill to pay the military through any possible government shutdown, but Obama refused to sign off on it). Truth be told, Obama didn't want OBL caught, but even more didn't want to be known as the doofus who let OBL slip away (again). Obama is a chicken 8hit mealy-mouthed qussy who sat and listened to his pastor damn America. Eat s hit Obama.

[David Kramer]

HEY, what the HELL is going on?

Our president was only allowed to have 9 holes of golf!?

This war against terrorists has to stop, if they cannot fit it in between his golf games, we are going to have to go to war!

Wait a minute, that is like hypocrisy!

[Bret]

Attn: Times Editors

This knucklehead does not belong writing for your paper.

He sounds like a real uber right whiner.

GW has been out of office for quite a while now, and that imbicille had absolutely nothing to do with yesterday, other than fighting the wrong people in the wrong countries.

After all, wasn't it ol' georgie that approved the $1B to the Pakistanis to find bin laden??

I smell a refund.

[Clint Baxter]

You have some nerve, as does Obama...we owe this to our MILITARY IN BATTLE!!! Thank you President Bush for initiating the war on terror.

[Fred]

What's with our helicopters breaking down every time we send them out on a critical mission?

[James]

No eric, maybe you are conservative in CA or OR, but you aren't even close to conservative if you think this is not appropriate. What is not appropriate is the current pretender-in-chief avoiding the obvious, not giving credit where credit is due, to the brave soldiers on the ground; instead implying he was somehow a brave dude for basically just not getting in the way any more than he has already. I suspect he was told to sit down, shut up, and sign off, and then he could take all the glory. What a braveheart.
And despite not being a fan of George W. Bush, I am confident if he had given this press conference, there would have been a completely different angle, with the emphasis on our brave troops, not himself.
What a lousy excuse for a leader...

[L A Steiner]

I think Malcom's grapes have soured. I have a vague memory of a president standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier, declaring victory in Iraq. No grandstanding there.

[Bill]

Great article and right on the money with this narcissistic mutual admiration society administration. Only 9 holes of golf? What sacrifice! Good job, Mr. Malcolm!

[swingvoter]

Wow, someone with no goose bumps for Obama writing for the LA Times! Personally, I think it's a little to sharp for a day we should all be as one, but come election time, it will be refreshing to read someone who may bring attention to $5.00 gas, 9% unemployment, huge debt, and not let Obama off the hook!

[Chris R]

"This is patently false. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed did not give up the information during TORTURE (enhanced interrogation techniques in govspeak), but rather during a normal interrogation months later."
-
No, THAT is patently false:

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/mukasey20071030.pdf

[The King]

Liberals are funny. They're morally opposed to water-boarding, but it's okay to target and murder someone.

[Chris R]

Does Mr. Malcolm realize people are having a field day with this article's byline?

Sure, those Navy SEALS deserve a little credit, but it was all about that phone call Obama made. He had to sacrifice a day of golf for this!

[Sashland]

There were Seals involved?

A true hero, that President of ours.

Gutsy.

Tough decisions.

oops, almost forgot = Its George Bush's FAULT!!!

[Bob Tussey]

I give Obama credit for have the courage to make the decission. It could have been political suicide had it gone wrong.
I give Bush credit for allowing our people to dig out the information that led to this.
I give credit to the brave solders, sailer, airman and marines, along with the inteligence people that went into harms way to pull this off.
I give credit to the commanders who planned this operation.
Now everyone has an equal pat on the back. You decide in your own mind who are the truely brave ones, and who displayed courage in other ways, and who were instrumental in the success of the mission.

[deegeejay]

Ha! Best ever!

[Me]

This is an awesome article. I loved how they said the president was brave, after years of bashing bush and our 'air raiding' of peaceful villages.

How is this one of the gutsiest calls of any american in history? Truman and the H-bomb? Nooo, this was definately waay braver that that. Reagan and Grenada? Panama/Desert Storm and the GH Bush? Nope. How about Clinton and Kosovo? I am sure this was way more 'gutsy' than anything GW Bush did ... (9-11 etc).

I wish the people in the presidents inner cisrcle would take off the knee pads for a minute and realize that if their boss doesnt stop playing golf and get to work on serious issues like he did with this then they are all going to need new resumes.......

A Soldier (not the gay kind democrats prefer, just someone who cares...)

[David Kramer]

Damn, it was sooooo important that the president only got in 9 rounds of golf this weekend?!

It must have been important!

[Gary Crammer]

It's consistent with Obama policy: Veteran's are last on the food chain.

[Terri lawless]

Oh poor Mr.President Obama ,so sorry that your golf game was disturbed! And the fact that you were sitting in your air conditioned office sweating to learn of the capture of Bin Laden.All the while your children and wife are but a few steps away.The meal you share with them most nights , tuck them into bed with a story and a kiss! Your wife there to support you! Just how tuff is your life!!!!!!
Meanwhile our soldiers,all branches of the military have been away from their families for months,only contact is thru a computer screen and letters. They eat ,sleep and guard each other in the heat and dust of a country so far from their home . They lay their lives on the line every minute of everyday to protect our freedom, yours and mine .How can you take any credit for something you really had nothing to do with. I thank God , those men and women that serve our country everyday with their blood ,sweat and tears! So no you get no credit for this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUR MILITARY DOES!!!!!

[Neal J. King]

Such negativity!

The writer fails to grasp the point that the courage involved was real: Obama had to make the decision go/no go. If he were to make the wrong decision, his presidency would be down the tubes immediately. It could have been like Carter's "helicopters in the desert" moment, and the analogy would have killed him in the media.

Writer, it's obvious that you've never had to make a decision in a position of responsibility.

[Ruth]

How right you are. The real heroes in this story are our military and intel personnel.

For a president to make a decision that might backfire in an election cycle is not gutsy or brave. No, bravery is reserved for those who follow that same president's orders, knowing it may cost them their lives.

[Ares]

Finally a REAL article about Obama.

[FillB]

Get over yourself.

[EligibilityActivist]

The only medals of valor that should be issued are for those brave, young interns in the White House graphics department who risked their entire future to create a new identity for Barry Soetero in the form of a "long form BC" that matches up with the ridiculously amateurish COLB, which we were told before was THE "long form" BC.

These heroic young men and women fresh out of liberal colleges, once they are found out, will have the privilege of "serving" with Barry and his entire administration for what hopefully will be life sentences of hard labor at Club Gitmo.

Maybe next time these traitors and subversives will learn to keep their stories straight!

After all, it was only a few weeks ago that Dr. Chiyome Fukino, director of the Hawaii State Department of Health announced to MSNBC that "...she examined the records twice, reporting that she found the original record number, half typed and signed by the doctor."

I have seen Barry's new BC and I am still looking for that "half typed part"!

What comes to mind is the old adage about liars and their stories. They can't keep'em straight.

Good thing the NEA has dumbed down the American population to a point that it can only be described as a full scale Idiocracy.

Are YOU a member of this new political system, the new Idiocracy?

If so, write something real nasty back to and we will make your new party affiliation official.

Maybe we can even send you a little card or a truth detector ring for your messiah, lil' Barry Soetero, our pretend president?

[Joe]

Didn't you hear Obama say that the SEALs attacked on his orders? He told Leon Panetta to get the CIA to find Osama. I think Mr President deserves 100% of the credit. Without Obama's permission, the Navy SEALs would be sitting at home playing pinochle or goldfish.

[vietnam vet]

Yeah, it was real dangerous for those armchair commandos! Only 9 holes of golf, God what obama won't do for his country! The sacraficies all these warheros made on their weekend off.

[Mel]

Thank you for this commentary....brilliant. Thank you.

[jo jo]

A day we can truly be proud of our leaders, our military, and the LA Times.

[Fifth Louisiana]

Great article! I do believe he should be commended however, I mean, I agree totally with Obama's method of military tribunal! Why didn't he start this method earlier instead of leading us to believe he wanted to close Gitmo?

[Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr.]

Very insightful article, Mr. Malcom! Thank you for not buying into the Kabuki-Theater Propaganda Parade now on display at the White House. Seriously, is there ANYTHING this clutch of political hacks will NOT exploit for political purposes? I feel so much safer knowing ideologues like Leon Panetta and just plain blithering idiots like John Brennan are now in charge of U.S. Intelligence! I'm sure the bravest thing President Obama did over the weekend was to say 'uh... Yeah.' When presented this plan as a fait accompli. SItting around and watching a video feed, no matter what the operation, does NOT constitute 'bravery'. As for the gutsy call, when has BHO in the last two years either deviated from the Bush/CHeney script, or else made an intelligent and independent decision in time to achieve anything?

The myth of this President's 'Intelligence' and 'eloquence' has rapidly unravelled with every misstep, missed opportunity and mistake. THe guy seems to be on autopilot most of the time, and seems to delgate every decision to aides, Congress or another 'Commission' or 'Panel'. The one thing he ISquick to do is jump in and take credit for the work of others, after he has failed to provide any leadership or direction. Two more years of this hyper-political drift in the WH and we are going to be in even worse shape than we are now, even if the WH and their flacks in the media continue to insist that the Emperor INDEED has new clothes- instead of the empty invisible suit that any clear-thinking American can plainly see.

[Leslie]

So we are now defining "Heroics" as someone sitting in an office while other people do the hard work and may pay the final price? Seriously?

[betsp]

So, if nothing was confirming that Osama was there, why is it Obama bravery to sit in a well guarded room watching a real time account of our most courageous and skilled men risking their lives? If this is accurate, Obama took a 50-50 risk with their lives, and then scarfed all the credit. And he did this for a campaign? What a leader. Puke.

I'm glad the murderer is dead. I'm just ashamed that we have such a coward for a president.

[befitz]

Yeah, Bush left the job undone(because HE COULDN'T RUN FOR A THIRD TERM!). 9/11 happened during Bush's first term honeymoon, he dealt with hunting this guy for 7 years; Obama walks in, says 'keep it up', and in 2 years we have him. You figure it out.

[Jim Burgess]

Thank you for this. At least someone is keeping it in perspective.

[darwin]

Best commentary I have read. The truth: The trail to Monday morning's assault on Osama's Pakistan compound began during someone else's presidency. That previous president authorized enhanced interrogation techniques which convinced folks like Khalid Shaikh Mohammed to give up, among many other things, the name of their top-secret courier, now deceased. His travels ultimately led the CIA back to Osama's six-year-old suburban home.

[astralweeks]

Well, I for one want to congratulate President Obama for continuing to follow the Bush/Cheney Doctrine, despite the promises he made to his gullible followers, which led, via intense interrogations, a continued Middle East military presence, continuing the operation of Gitmo, and the continuing of Homeland Security wire tap, to the death of Bin Laden. Well done, Mr. President. By acknowledging Bush was right in so many areas shows that you're starting to grow up.