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| 'It was a kill mission': independent Bin Laden panel contradicts US claims | 'It was a kill mission': independent Bin Laden panel contradicts US claims |
| (2 months later) | |
| Few secret US missions have been described to the public in as much detail as the one that killed Osama bin Laden. In the 26 months since the al-Qaida leader's death, a series of vivid accounts have emerged describing his final moments, including two relayed by men who claim to have shot him. | Few secret US missions have been described to the public in as much detail as the one that killed Osama bin Laden. In the 26 months since the al-Qaida leader's death, a series of vivid accounts have emerged describing his final moments, including two relayed by men who claim to have shot him. |
| The latest came this week, in a newly released Pakistani intelligence report. But instead of clarifying, it has served only to complicate, and in some cases directly contradict, the most widely read accounts of the mission. | The latest came this week, in a newly released Pakistani intelligence report. But instead of clarifying, it has served only to complicate, and in some cases directly contradict, the most widely read accounts of the mission. |
| The report was compiled by the Abbottabad Commission, an independent panel directed by the Pakistani government to review Bin Laden's presence in the country following the September 11 attacks and his death in May 2011. | The report was compiled by the Abbottabad Commission, an independent panel directed by the Pakistani government to review Bin Laden's presence in the country following the September 11 attacks and his death in May 2011. |
| Much of the report concentrated on the failings of Pakistani intelligence service to detect the presence of al-Qaida in a prominent center of population in the country. But it also dwells on what happened during the raid, after taking testimony from eyewitnesses, including Bin Laden's wives and a daughter, as well as the widow of his most trusted courier. Al Jazeera posted a copy of the 337-page document online Monday. | Much of the report concentrated on the failings of Pakistani intelligence service to detect the presence of al-Qaida in a prominent center of population in the country. But it also dwells on what happened during the raid, after taking testimony from eyewitnesses, including Bin Laden's wives and a daughter, as well as the widow of his most trusted courier. Al Jazeera posted a copy of the 337-page document online Monday. |
| While elements of what the women recalled have been reported in the past, their stories have never before been presented in such detail. In some cases, information they provided supports prior accounts of the raid. In other instances, however, their recollections contradict widely read descriptions of the operation, which left four men and one woman dead. | While elements of what the women recalled have been reported in the past, their stories have never before been presented in such detail. In some cases, information they provided supports prior accounts of the raid. In other instances, however, their recollections contradict widely read descriptions of the operation, which left four men and one woman dead. |
| The Abbottabad Commission’s report is quite clear about the conclusions it draws from the accounts of its eyewitnesses. "The US raid was not a capture-or-kill mission. It was a kill mission," the report says. “It was accordingly a criminal act of murder which was condemned by a number of international lawyers and human rights organizations." | The Abbottabad Commission’s report is quite clear about the conclusions it draws from the accounts of its eyewitnesses. "The US raid was not a capture-or-kill mission. It was a kill mission," the report says. “It was accordingly a criminal act of murder which was condemned by a number of international lawyers and human rights organizations." |
| The US has always maintained the raid was legal. | The US has always maintained the raid was legal. |
| Since the mission, two men who claim to have shot Bin Laden have publicly described their competing versions of the final shots. The raid has also been the subject of several books, documentaries and a Hollywood film. So what does the latest account add? | Since the mission, two men who claim to have shot Bin Laden have publicly described their competing versions of the final shots. The raid has also been the subject of several books, documentaries and a Hollywood film. So what does the latest account add? |
| The death of Osama bin Laden | The death of Osama bin Laden |
| Questions surrounding Bin Laden's shooting focus on the actions of two Seal team members; a point man who spotted him while ascending a staircase and the Seal directly behind him. At issue is whether the point man killed or incapacitated Bin Laden with a shot from the stairs. | Questions surrounding Bin Laden's shooting focus on the actions of two Seal team members; a point man who spotted him while ascending a staircase and the Seal directly behind him. At issue is whether the point man killed or incapacitated Bin Laden with a shot from the stairs. |
| In an early account of the raid, unnamed US officials claimed no shots were fired until the Seals entered Bin Laden's room, where he had taken refuge after seeing the commandos coming for him. | In an early account of the raid, unnamed US officials claimed no shots were fired until the Seals entered Bin Laden's room, where he had taken refuge after seeing the commandos coming for him. |
| As the point man approached, sources said he encountered two women "yelling and trying to protect" Bin Laden. The point man grabbed the women and shoved them away. The second Seal stepped into the room and shot bin Laden in the head and chest. US officials said Bin Laden's rifle and pistol were found, untouched, on a shelf by the door. An August 2011 article in the New Yorker, described a similar version of events, but added that the point man shot one of the women – Bin Laden's youngest wife, Amal Ahmad Abdul Fattah al-Saddah – in the calf before pushing them aside. | As the point man approached, sources said he encountered two women "yelling and trying to protect" Bin Laden. The point man grabbed the women and shoved them away. The second Seal stepped into the room and shot bin Laden in the head and chest. US officials said Bin Laden's rifle and pistol were found, untouched, on a shelf by the door. An August 2011 article in the New Yorker, described a similar version of events, but added that the point man shot one of the women – Bin Laden's youngest wife, Amal Ahmad Abdul Fattah al-Saddah – in the calf before pushing them aside. |
| A year later, Matt Bissonnette, a member of the Seal team, published a book, No Easy Day, under the pseudonym Mark Owen. According to Bissonnette, he went public because the raid had been reported like "a bad action movie." | A year later, Matt Bissonnette, a member of the Seal team, published a book, No Easy Day, under the pseudonym Mark Owen. According to Bissonnette, he went public because the raid had been reported like "a bad action movie." |
| No Easy Day diverged from prior accounts in important ways. Placing himself second in the line of Seals moving up the stairs, Bissonnette indicated the point man's shots hit their target. When he stepped into the bedroom, Bin Laden was "in his death throes" and "still twitching and convulsing." He and another Seal then "fired several rounds" into the terrorist's chest. | No Easy Day diverged from prior accounts in important ways. Placing himself second in the line of Seals moving up the stairs, Bissonnette indicated the point man's shots hit their target. When he stepped into the bedroom, Bin Laden was "in his death throes" and "still twitching and convulsing." He and another Seal then "fired several rounds" into the terrorist's chest. |
| Bissonnette's account sparked criticism from the international law and human rights community, who argued he had committed a war crime by wilfully killing an incapacitated bin Laden. Other legal experts contested this analysis. | Bissonnette's account sparked criticism from the international law and human rights community, who argued he had committed a war crime by wilfully killing an incapacitated bin Laden. Other legal experts contested this analysis. |
| In February, Esquire magazine presented another version of the raid. Again, the account was provided by a former Seal – identified as "the shooter" – who also claimed he was directly behind the point man. The shooter claimed the point man's shot missed. As they approached Bin Laden's room, the point man tackled two women in the hallway, not in the bedroom, the shooter said. | In February, Esquire magazine presented another version of the raid. Again, the account was provided by a former Seal – identified as "the shooter" – who also claimed he was directly behind the point man. The shooter claimed the point man's shot missed. As they approached Bin Laden's room, the point man tackled two women in the hallway, not in the bedroom, the shooter said. |
| The shooter said he then stepped into the room, where he saw Bin Laden holding Saddah by the shoulders. The al-Qaida leader was unarmed, but a weapon was within reach, he claimed (though Bissonnette said he found Bin Laden's rifle tucked away on shelf above the doorway, unloaded). The shooter said he shot Bin Laden in the forehead, twice, then a third time when he fell to the ground. | The shooter said he then stepped into the room, where he saw Bin Laden holding Saddah by the shoulders. The al-Qaida leader was unarmed, but a weapon was within reach, he claimed (though Bissonnette said he found Bin Laden's rifle tucked away on shelf above the doorway, unloaded). The shooter said he shot Bin Laden in the forehead, twice, then a third time when he fell to the ground. |
| This version of events was challenged by some members of the special operations community, who argued it was well-established that the point man killed Bin Laden and said the shooter lacked credibility. | This version of events was challenged by some members of the special operations community, who argued it was well-established that the point man killed Bin Laden and said the shooter lacked credibility. |
| The Abbottabad Commission report does little to clear the fog surrounding Bin Laden's shooting. | The Abbottabad Commission report does little to clear the fog surrounding Bin Laden's shooting. |
| Saddah, Bin Laden's young wife, said a blast was heard outside the compound and she "simultaneously" heard sounds suggesting someone was on the roof (all credible reports indicate the Seals were unable to gain access to bin Laden's roof). | Saddah, Bin Laden's young wife, said a blast was heard outside the compound and she "simultaneously" heard sounds suggesting someone was on the roof (all credible reports indicate the Seals were unable to gain access to bin Laden's roof). |
| According to the report, Amal heard footsteps coming up the stairs then "saw an American soldier on the landing outside the bedroom aiming his weapon at the Shaikh. She saw a red beam of light but heard no sound. She rushed the soldier and grappled with him in an attempt to take his weapon from him. But he screamed 'No! No!' and shot her in the knee." | According to the report, Amal heard footsteps coming up the stairs then "saw an American soldier on the landing outside the bedroom aiming his weapon at the Shaikh. She saw a red beam of light but heard no sound. She rushed the soldier and grappled with him in an attempt to take his weapon from him. But he screamed 'No! No!' and shot her in the knee." |
| Following the shot, Saddah's recalled few details. Consistent with prior accounts, the Abbottabad Commission agreed that Bin Laden was unarmed when he was killed, though Saddah offered nothing in the way of explaining whether bin Laden was wounded then killed or if he had already been shot when she charged at the Seal. | Following the shot, Saddah's recalled few details. Consistent with prior accounts, the Abbottabad Commission agreed that Bin Laden was unarmed when he was killed, though Saddah offered nothing in the way of explaining whether bin Laden was wounded then killed or if he had already been shot when she charged at the Seal. |
| Bin Laden's 20 year-old daughter, Sumayya, also grappled with one of the Seals, according to the report, but "did not see her father fall." She did, however, claim to see him on the floor with a bullet hole in his forehead. | Bin Laden's 20 year-old daughter, Sumayya, also grappled with one of the Seals, according to the report, but "did not see her father fall." She did, however, claim to see him on the floor with a bullet hole in his forehead. |
| As a result of the lack of clarity stemming from comments in Abbottabad Commission report, each of the most widely read accounts of bin Laden's final moments – contradictory though they might be – still appear plausible. | As a result of the lack of clarity stemming from comments in Abbottabad Commission report, each of the most widely read accounts of bin Laden's final moments – contradictory though they might be – still appear plausible. |
| The question remains; was bin Laden destined to die from the moment the Seals hit the dirt in Abbottabad? It remains unclear. | The question remains; was bin Laden destined to die from the moment the Seals hit the dirt in Abbottabad? It remains unclear. |
| "We weren't sent in to murder him. This was, 'Hey: kill or capture,'" Bissonnette told 60 Minutes. | "We weren't sent in to murder him. This was, 'Hey: kill or capture,'" Bissonnette told 60 Minutes. |
| "I knew I was going to shoot him if I saw him, regardless," the shooter told Esquire. | "I knew I was going to shoot him if I saw him, regardless," the shooter told Esquire. |
| The Guesthouse: Ibrahim Saheed Ahmed, aka 'Ahmed al-Kuwaiti' | The Guesthouse: Ibrahim Saheed Ahmed, aka 'Ahmed al-Kuwaiti' |
| While much has been written about who might have killed Bin Laden, there are also significant discrepancies surrounding the death of his most trusted courier, Ibrahim Saheed Ahmed, otherwise known as Ahmed al-Kuwaiti. | While much has been written about who might have killed Bin Laden, there are also significant discrepancies surrounding the death of his most trusted courier, Ibrahim Saheed Ahmed, otherwise known as Ahmed al-Kuwaiti. |
| Kuwaiti lived in a guesthouse detached from the main compound with his wife and children. The two most detailed accounts of his death are provided by Bissonnette in No Easy Day and Kuwaiti's widow, Maryam, in the Abbottabad Commission report. The two versions of events stand in such stark contrast to one another. | Kuwaiti lived in a guesthouse detached from the main compound with his wife and children. The two most detailed accounts of his death are provided by Bissonnette in No Easy Day and Kuwaiti's widow, Maryam, in the Abbottabad Commission report. The two versions of events stand in such stark contrast to one another. |
| Bissonnette wrote that he and another Seal were responsible for assaulting the guesthouse. At this point in the raid, Bissonnette explained, there had already been several explosions. The men expected to meet armed resistance. | Bissonnette wrote that he and another Seal were responsible for assaulting the guesthouse. At this point in the raid, Bissonnette explained, there had already been several explosions. The men expected to meet armed resistance. |
| According to Bissonnette's version of events, he and his teammates came under AK-47 fire as they attempted to blow up a lock preventing them from entering the building. They returned fire – Bissonnette shooting through a window – and did not stop until they heard someone attempting to open the door from the other side. Bissonnette wrote that a woman emerged with a baby in her arms, Kuwaiti's wife, Maryam. Bissonnette's teammate questioned her, he wrote, while he entered the guesthouse. Bissonnette found Kuwaiti dead on the floor and shot him several more times. Nearby was his AK-47 and pistol, he wrote. | According to Bissonnette's version of events, he and his teammates came under AK-47 fire as they attempted to blow up a lock preventing them from entering the building. They returned fire – Bissonnette shooting through a window – and did not stop until they heard someone attempting to open the door from the other side. Bissonnette wrote that a woman emerged with a baby in her arms, Kuwaiti's wife, Maryam. Bissonnette's teammate questioned her, he wrote, while he entered the guesthouse. Bissonnette found Kuwaiti dead on the floor and shot him several more times. Nearby was his AK-47 and pistol, he wrote. |
| Amid the shooting, Bissonnette wrote, he was struck in the shoulder with what he assumed was glass or shrapnel. He received a Purple Heart for the injury he sustained. | Amid the shooting, Bissonnette wrote, he was struck in the shoulder with what he assumed was glass or shrapnel. He received a Purple Heart for the injury he sustained. |
| According to Maryam's account, as detailed in the Abbottabad Commission report, she and her husband were awoken by "a noise of magnitude she had never heard before" at approximately midnight. She said her husband went to fetch their daughter from a room next door when he received a call on his cell phone. Kuwaiti believed the caller on the other end of the line was his brother, Abrar, who lived in the main compound, but received no reply. | According to Maryam's account, as detailed in the Abbottabad Commission report, she and her husband were awoken by "a noise of magnitude she had never heard before" at approximately midnight. She said her husband went to fetch their daughter from a room next door when he received a call on his cell phone. Kuwaiti believed the caller on the other end of the line was his brother, Abrar, who lived in the main compound, but received no reply. |
| "Abrar, I cannot hear you. I am coming," Maryam recalled her husband saying. It was then, she claimed, that someone knocked on their door. Maryam said her husband shouted, "Is that you Abrar?" as he opened the door. A bullet then punched through a window, killing Kuwaiti instantly, Maryam said. Another bullet then grazed her cheek and teeth. Maryam was struck in the right shoulder and fell to the ground. She told the commission she dragged herself to the door and opened it, allowing the Seals inside, while her daughter cried and begged her not to die. | "Abrar, I cannot hear you. I am coming," Maryam recalled her husband saying. It was then, she claimed, that someone knocked on their door. Maryam said her husband shouted, "Is that you Abrar?" as he opened the door. A bullet then punched through a window, killing Kuwaiti instantly, Maryam said. Another bullet then grazed her cheek and teeth. Maryam was struck in the right shoulder and fell to the ground. She told the commission she dragged herself to the door and opened it, allowing the Seals inside, while her daughter cried and begged her not to die. |
| Several accounts of the raid support Bissonnette's claim that the Seals were shot at, with Kuwaiti pulling the trigger. Author Mark Bowden, in his book The Finish, described the shooting as a "single brief spray of gunfire." The shooter in the Esquire piece also described facing armed resistance; "The guys that could shoot shot, but we were on top of them so fast." | Several accounts of the raid support Bissonnette's claim that the Seals were shot at, with Kuwaiti pulling the trigger. Author Mark Bowden, in his book The Finish, described the shooting as a "single brief spray of gunfire." The shooter in the Esquire piece also described facing armed resistance; "The guys that could shoot shot, but we were on top of them so fast." |
| Still, other reporting suggests Kuwaiti never shot at the Seals. CNN's Peter Bergen toured the Abbottabad compound and met Pakistani officials. In his book, Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad, he wrote: "The courier's AK-47 was later found by his bedside. It seems unlikely that he fired it, given its location and the fact that no casings from such a weapon were later found at the scene." | Still, other reporting suggests Kuwaiti never shot at the Seals. CNN's Peter Bergen toured the Abbottabad compound and met Pakistani officials. In his book, Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad, he wrote: "The courier's AK-47 was later found by his bedside. It seems unlikely that he fired it, given its location and the fact that no casings from such a weapon were later found at the scene." |
| First and second floor: Abrar, Bushra, Khalid | First and second floor: Abrar, Bushra, Khalid |
| In addition to Bin Laden and Kuwaiti, three more people were killed in the Abbottabad raid; Kuwaiti's brother, Abrar, and his wife, Bushra, and Bin Laden's 23 year-old son, Khalid. | In addition to Bin Laden and Kuwaiti, three more people were killed in the Abbottabad raid; Kuwaiti's brother, Abrar, and his wife, Bushra, and Bin Laden's 23 year-old son, Khalid. |
| Abrar and Bushra lived in the first floor of the compound. By most accounts, Abrar was first shot as he poked his head out of doorway. "Abrar al-Kuwaiti was wounded and struggling on the floor. Just as they opened fire again, his wife Bushra jumped in the way to shield him. The second burst of rounds killed both of them," Bissonnette wrote. Bergen wrote that Abrar was unarmed. Bissonnette added that an unloaded AK-47 was found in the room. According to the Abbottabad Commission, Bushra did not know the man who lived above her was Bin Laden. | Abrar and Bushra lived in the first floor of the compound. By most accounts, Abrar was first shot as he poked his head out of doorway. "Abrar al-Kuwaiti was wounded and struggling on the floor. Just as they opened fire again, his wife Bushra jumped in the way to shield him. The second burst of rounds killed both of them," Bissonnette wrote. Bergen wrote that Abrar was unarmed. Bissonnette added that an unloaded AK-47 was found in the room. According to the Abbottabad Commission, Bushra did not know the man who lived above her was Bin Laden. |
| The killing of Bin Laden's son Khalid is complicated by the Abbottabad Commission report, in part because it alternately describes the compound as being a two or three-story building (the building had three floors), making his various locations throughout the raid difficult to ascertain. US intelligence reports indicated Khalid lived on the second floor and most accounts indicate that he was killed on the stair case leading to Bin Laden's third floor bedroom. According to his mother, bin Laden's wife Sharifa Siham, Khalid grabbed his rifle as soon as he heard the Americans land outside. Bin Laden's oldest wife, Khairiah, said Khalid was moving between floors – checking on his father and Abrar al-Kuwaiti's screaming children – when the Seals entered the compound. | The killing of Bin Laden's son Khalid is complicated by the Abbottabad Commission report, in part because it alternately describes the compound as being a two or three-story building (the building had three floors), making his various locations throughout the raid difficult to ascertain. US intelligence reports indicated Khalid lived on the second floor and most accounts indicate that he was killed on the stair case leading to Bin Laden's third floor bedroom. According to his mother, bin Laden's wife Sharifa Siham, Khalid grabbed his rifle as soon as he heard the Americans land outside. Bin Laden's oldest wife, Khairiah, said Khalid was moving between floors – checking on his father and Abrar al-Kuwaiti's screaming children – when the Seals entered the compound. |
| Bissonnette and the shooter said Khalid was killed by the same point man who led the way to Bin Laden's room. The point man had whispered Khalid's name from the bottom of the stairs and when the young man peeked around the corner he was shot in the face. | Bissonnette and the shooter said Khalid was killed by the same point man who led the way to Bin Laden's room. The point man had whispered Khalid's name from the bottom of the stairs and when the young man peeked around the corner he was shot in the face. |
| The shooter said Khalid was armed; "He leaned out, armed with an AK." | The shooter said Khalid was armed; "He leaned out, armed with an AK." |
| Bissonnette wrote that the young man's weapon was found propped up on a bloody stair with a bullet in its chamber. | Bissonnette wrote that the young man's weapon was found propped up on a bloody stair with a bullet in its chamber. |
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