Osama Bin Laden is dead and his corpse is in US hands.

[USSWisconsin]

I have heard that OBL's corpse has been buried at sea - to preclude any pilgrimages to his grave or monuments being built at the site.

[Agnostic Muslim]

Not necessarily. All the personnel and equipment for the mission could have entered Pakistan in disguise in the weeks and months preceeding the raid. The helos could have been for a quick extraction only...and for support/security during the raid and during the extraction. ST6 and SFOD-D often infirltrate in this manner, disguised as civilians.

My point is that the use of choppers, in any role, makes the argument of 'Pakistan did not know about the operation' highly implausible.

[Dreadnought]

The US does not have 'independent' bases in Pakistan - the bases it has used are existing Pakistani bases with Pakistani personnel. That makes the argument of 'lack of Pakistani knowledge about a raid' even less plausible.

Air traffic, including drones, is monitored by Pakistan.

The recent tensions over Raymond Davis and covert CIA operations in Pakistan would have only increased monitoring of US forces in Pakistan.

Have you forgotten the base the US used during the flood aid?

[Red Seven]

My point is that the use of choppers, in any role, makes the argument of 'Pakistan did not know about the operation' highly implausible.

Anything with regard to special operations of this nature is plausible.

[Dreadnought]

Hundreds join first Pakistan rally to honour bin Laden
Hundreds join first Pakistan rally to honour bin Laden | Herald Sun

HUNDREDS took to the streets of Pakistan's city of Quetta to pay homage to Osama bin Laden, chanting death to America and setting fire to a US flag, witnesses and organisers said.

Angry participants belonging to a religious party in Quetta, the capital of southwestern province Baluchistan, were led by federal lawmaker Maulawi Asmatullah. They also torched a US flag before dispersing peacefully.
It was the first rally in Pakistan after the US announced that bin Laden had been killed in an overnight commando mission in Pakistan.
Organisers said between 1,000 and 1,200 people attended the rally, but witnesses put the figure closer to 800.
"Bin Laden was the hero of the Muslim world and after his martyrdom he has won the title of great mujahed (Muslim fighter)," Asmatullah said.
"His martyrdom will not end the movement. It will continue and thousands more bin Ladens will be born," he said.
The marchers also chanted slogans in favour of the Taliban and its supreme leader Mullah Omar who have been fighting across the border in Afghanistan since US-led troops invaded after the militia refused to give up bin Laden.
"Today's operation shows the US has no respect for international borders and they can violate international laws any time," he added.
Baluchistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan is wracked by an insurgency waged by ethnic Baluch tribes seeking greater autonomy from the government and a greater share of profits from the region's wealth of oil and gas resources.
The region has also been hit by attacks blamed on Taliban militants.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regards,
Bhaarat

IMO, There are some pretty pathetic people out there considering the fact that Bin Laden and his group has killed scores of Muslims outside of others. Guess he didnt think much of his own kind either and yet these idiots praise him. And on the other hand the US has done more for Pakistan then any other country has to date. Go figure. Either way the SOB is dead and in the deep six. F'em!

[notorious_eagle]

Not necessarily. All the personnel and equipment for the mission could have entered Pakistan in disguise in the weeks and months preceeding the raid. The helos could have been for a quick extraction only...and for support/security during the raid and during the extraction. ST6 and SFOD-D often infirltrate in this manner, disguised as civilians.

Sir sorry to say but these speculations of 'could have' or 'would have' are not helping at all. Lets wait for the official events of how the raids took place, but this is verified that ISI's agents and SSG's commandos were present at the location during the time of the attack at that compound. Contrary to what a lot of people say on this forum, cooperation between Pakistan's Military and US Military can be described as "good". It is in Pakistan's interest to take out Bin Laden and this is exactly what the ISI did in cooperation with the Americans.

[notorious_eagle]

Have you forgotten the base the US used during the flood aid?

Yes and every US chopper had a SSG commando in it, all US choppers were monitored.

[1980s]

Anything with regard to special operations of this nature is plausible.

Im sure most people who use a forum like this one have heard about 'Operation Eagle Claw' over Iran in 1980. Weather conditions and lack of fuel thwarted that mission, yet the Americans still managed to fly several helicopters deep into Iran undetected.

[Dreadnought]

Yes and every US chopper had a SSG commando in it, all US choppers were monitored.

Umm, apparently four were not.

As FDR once said of the Doolittle Raid on Japan, they came from Shangi La!;)

[Red Seven]

Sir sorry to say but these speculations of 'could have' or 'would have' are not helping at all. Lets wait for the official events of how the raids took place, but this is verified that ISI's agents and SSG's commandos were present at the location during the time of the attack at that compound. Contrary to what a lot of people say on this forum, cooperation between Pakistan's Military and US Military can be described as "good". It is in Pakistan's interest to take out Bin Laden and this is exactly what the ISI did in cooperation with the Americans.

Not trying to hammer you, NE, but "cooperation" is one thing, "trust" in highly sensitive intelligence matters is quite another. But you are right that speculation is merely that. I was trying to point out that there are hundreds of variations for ops of this nature and special operations planners at the level of DevGru pride themselves in creativity and deception.

[Agnostic Muslim]

Im sure most people who use a forum like this one have heard about 'Operation Eagle Claw' over Iran in 1980.

That was also '1980's Iran' ...

[zraver]

but this is verified that ISI's agents and SSG's commandos were present at the location during the time of the attack at that compound.

Now isn't that embarassing for Pakistan-to be caught having dinner with America's number 1 most wanted. Becuase that is the only way they were present. It also says alot about thier skill- taken alive in Osama's compund without killing even a single American. Well it is the ISI after, about all they can do is kill civvies and mislead thier own population.

[n21]

Commandos or special forces, semantics.

If they did not fly across Pakistan from Afghanistan, then where did they fly from?

.

Since it is going to be a season of CT, The shortest distance to OBL's cave would have been from Indian side of Kashmir! specially as the region is full of mountains and valleys.

And I am sure the Indian government would be more than happy to allow passage of "American choppers on their way to Afghanistan"!

[Hilal123]

As has been everything else with else with AQ, this story is fishy. What really stands out the most is that WHY did they dump his body at sea?!? The United States paraded the dead body of Saddam Hussain and his sons with a lot of fanfare as was done witd the dead body Abu Musab Zaraqwi so WHY not bin laden?

The idea that

Of lately the relationship between the US and Pakistan had been heading south quite fast and the American military pulled out this rabbit from their hat to pressurise Pakistan.


Simply word of mouth cannot be trusted as the US military has made fake stories in the pas also ..ala rescue of Private Jessica Lynch

So this story about US marines descending on Abbotababd and killing bin laden needs to be verified with the picture of the dead body of bin laden other wise this story is just baloney.

Personally I think Bin Laden has been dead for very long time now and this drama is aimed at pressuring Pakistan. The US MUST at least release a picture of the dead body of Bin Laden; other wise doubts will persist as to what really happened.

[Stitch]

Thanks Troung, as I suspected MH-60's with a lot of technical support. Once they were in the air Pakistan lost them.

Sounds like first blood for the new MH-60M . . . . .