Why was it given to the SEALs

[Jeneral2885]

I don't doubt US SEALs but why them and not Army/Air Force/NAvy SFs?

[NavyDavy]

1. its the Navy Seals.....

[Bladian]

23. Because the SEALS

are badasses. End of story.

[mkultra]

2. There are only two Counter Terrorism Special forces groups

Delta and Seal team six. Both where involved.

[kick-ass-bob]

5. We need more focus on teams like this

and less on the mass of manpower, because they have less relevance in the newer nature of warfare.

[Jeneral2885]

7. My reading says

CIA and SEAls only. All four branches have SFs.

[mkultra]

45. I read that Delta was also involved and

I didn't say they the other branches didn't. I did say they are the only counter-terrorism special forces groups. Seal team 6 is a specific seal team and Delta is a specific army airborne unit. Both units draw from special forces teams but the requirements are much more stringent.

[Warpy]

13. They've pretty much combined them at this point

and a small, mobile force was what was indicated since there would have been limited support from either Pakistan or our own military. This is what should have been done from the beginning.

The keys to antiterrorism are good police work, international cooperation, and very careful use of small scale force. Going after them is like going after any criminal gang, in other words, and using the US military was like swatting a mosquito with a Buick--it causes a hell of a lot of unintended damage and the mosquito usually gets away.

[Jeneral2885]

17. Well

so are the rangers

[CTyankee]

42. There's a great book that came out a couple of years ago about NYC's counter-terrorism office

titled "Securing the City" by Christopher Dickey. What an eye-opener it is! And what a fabulous outfit NYC has (some say they top the FBI in capability). When I was returning from Europe last month at JFK airport, we weren't allowed to use our cellphones for the entire time after we deplaned and waited for/picked up our bags and then cleared security. I wouldn't want to even TRY it because as Dickey made clear, the security people have broad power in their jurisdiction and you can have unpleasant outcomes if you break the rules...

[mkultra]

46. they combined who exactly?

[Gin]

33. Team six is based in Va Beach at Oceana.....Team six is not the

real name....that's how secret the group is...(per noon news)

[mkultra]

47. yeah, the last non secret name used was DEVGRU

Seal team 6 was the first name meant to disguise the number of seal teams that actually existed.

[d_b]

3. because winning

[WilliamPitt]

4. .

:rofl:

[countingbluecars]

6. Good one! n/t

[OhioChick]

12. ..........

:rofl:

[TransitJohn]

14. !!!!!

:spray: :rofl: :spank:

[WildEyedLiberal]

16. + infinity

:rofl:

[Capt_Nemo]

25. ... even before breakfast!

[Arugula Latte]

30. ...and tiger blood. Duh!

:D

[DCofVA]

8. Because they are Navy!

Yay! Go Navy! :patriot:

[rustydog]

9. WHO CARES? A dirty task that needed being done was done

A very evil person has been removed as a threat.

[Jeneral2885]

18. i do

gives glory to one branch but not the others

[rfranklin]

10. It was a water operation...code name Dunk Osama...

makes sense doesn't it?

[seabeyond]

11. cause they are that good. that is what their job is. nt

[undeterred]

15. Can we send them in to get the Oil Company Executives?

[bobbolink]

24. Don't forget the banksters. Please?

[undeterred]

29. !

Now that would be heroic! :hi:

[whistler162]

19. Rainbow Six was probably busy!

[suffragette]

20. JSOC

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1014343

Much more at the article in the link.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. THe Speical Forces communiy is far less

competitive than anybody else in the armed forces.

That said the SEALs are actually specially qualified for this kind of a mission. The Rangers are far more into multiplying assets.

Yes I have read for years on JSOC, and even know a few people who were part of that community. (In fact once an operator, you are one for life)

[loudsue]

22. It was NOT given to the SEALS. It was a JSOC operation.

Joint Special Operations Command. It is a joint action of all the special branches.

[MzNov]

32. Here's a good article from Jeremy Scahill about this same subject:

www.Commondreams.org 5/2/11

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/05/02-5

[EFerrari]

52. And that seems to be the correct answer. n/t

[H2O Man]

26. The walrus was Paul.

[DevonRex]

27. It's actually hilarious that anybody thinks they know who did what.

[davepc]

28. Delta Force called heads.

It was tails.

[MilesColtrane]

31. Because Chuck Norris was busy shooting a Total Gym™ infomercial?

:shrug:

[blondeatlast]

34. Because the Army SEALS were on furlough. nt

[pintobean]

39. Army seals

[Hutzpa]

35. Because they were involved in a war at the NFL draft

Army vs Navy.

[Stinky The Clown]

36. Navy Seals Rawk

The Couric woman, circa the bush years.

[Stinky The Clown]

37. Fact is, Navy Seals are the baddest of the badasses.

[tammywammy]

38. Isn't this the same SEAL team that took out the Somali pirates? n/t

[davepc]

40. There are 10 regular teams and one super elite one.

Google DEVGRU

[MrSlayer]

41. Because they are the best of the best.

If you want this sort of thing done you call in the SEALs. It really is that simple.

[quinnox]

43. They are a super elite force

And this does appear to be an operation right up their alley.

I don't know for sure, but the SEALs maybe the best elite military force in the world.

[damntexdem]

44. Because sealions are too wimpy, and orcas too macho.

;-)

[kenny blankenship]

48. Yeah, this sounds awfully FISHY! Something stinks in this picture -ITS A HOKES!

[Shrek]

49. According to this article, there's an informal division of labor

The battlegrounds of Iraq and Afghanistan had been informally divided, with the SEALs running Afghanistan and Delta Force conducting the bulk of the operations in Iraq, though there was overlap of each organization. There is considerable professional rivalry between them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/navy-seals-end-hunt-for-bin-laden-in-darkness-and-gunfire-now-told-to-keep-quiet/2011/05/03/AFXrpHeF_story_1.html

[guitar man]

50. because

wit a job this important, you don't want to fuck around with anybody but the best of the best ;)

[LibertyLover]

51. When you care enough to send the very best,

you send in the SEALS. In the interests of full disclosure one of my cousins was a SEAL. He was assigned to the SEAL Team out of Virginia Beach, although I don't remember if it was SEAL Team 6 then or not. This was about 12 years ago and he is no longer in the Navy, but still, I'm proud of the job SEALS do.

[Iggo]

53. Because that's their job. (n/t)

[pipi_k]

54. Jack Bauer was busy that day? n/t

[lpbk2713]

55. We aren't always told how a final decision evolves.

It might be that other units were given the task previously and botched the job.
Perhaps even units from other countries. This time it was the US Navy SEALs turn.
OBL said he would never be taken alive. They honored his request.