Intercept Exposé on How SEAL Team 6 Killed Osama Bin Laden, "Canoeing" & Other Atrocities

democracynow.org - We continue our conversation with reporter Matthew Cole about his stunning new exposé published this week in The Intercept about the elite military unit SEAL Team 6 reveals a darker side of the group best known for killing Osama bin Laden. National security reporter Matthew Cole spent two years investigating accounts of ghastly atrocities committed by members of the unit, including mutilating corpses, skinnings and attempted beheadings. According to sources, senior command staff were aware of the misconduct but did little to stop it-and often helped to cover it up.
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[@Britton_Thompson]

This is deceptive journalism. "Canoeing" targets isn't an atrocity or war crime. It was an unintended consequence. All US special operations units within JSOC were made to change their tactics to shooting enemies in their faces instead of aiming center-mass (torso) after insurgents were still able to kill Army & Marines infantrymen through touching together wires that ran down their arms to their wrists to detonate their suicide vests in their last seconds alive. The only effective way to prevent it was by shooting them in their mustache areas because the bullet pierces through to the brain stem at the base of the cranium to instantly sever all communication between the body and the nervous system. The caliber of ammunition they use is so powerful that it consequently splits their heads open in a V shape. It isn't done to mutilate the enemy. It's just a side effect of the adjustments that were made by US forces due to conditions on the ground

[@LowKickMT]

you dont know what you are talking about. it was done intentionally

[@MattyP3789]

@@LowKickMTThank you. Of course it was intentional. Never a war crime, but intentional. I would also love to hear what he thinks that very powerful ammunition is that “they” use to sever brain stems. If only it was that simple…

[@diederikbotha1028]

The problem is that terrorist groups do not follow any rules of engagement .... none at all . Being a Soldier all my life !

[@RonKris]

"You need to have drama when you're selling a myth". Yep..could apply to you, too.

[@divinuminfernum]

i imagine the US gov would have wanted Bin Laden dead asap rather than bring to a trial - Bin Laden surely would have said too much about Saudi Arabias involvement in supporting terrorism and it would have been too problematic a position for the US to be in

[@dirtbagtrooper]

I imagine that Hillary's missing 2 million emails on an illegal server doesn't both you, huh? Do you have any pictures of them doing it? Didn't think so!!!!

[@big3ye378]

@@dirtbagtrooper Are you still beating that dead horse?

[@caposantana8753]

R u a paid shill? Lmao more like would have said too much about direct cooperation with U.S. intelligence services as well as Pakistan's

[@chapter11247]

You're absolutely right. Can you imagine the circus a trial would have been?

[@viv7169]

What are you talking about? It was never a capture mission. It was a kill mission to begin with.

[@fiacmar]

They are flying at night in helicopters over one of the maddest most hostile places on Earth. Once there, to do personal, face to face battle with the guys that do the beheadings, brought down the towers, throw gays from roofs, full body bag their women, shoot cartoonists, blow up kids concerts....Need I go on? The most motivated evil on earth. I'm an armed police officer, but I can only play defence. We need someone on offence, ffs. Who do you want to send..? KZbin journalists? You Americans own these calm professional maniac Rottweilers. They are a national resource. Just train em, aim em, and let 'em go! ....on a long leash...

[@KrisSays]

fiacmar Amen!

[@kazaddum2448]

Or you know, just don't fuck up half the continent? So you don't even need those monsters a couple of decades later?

[@mfngaming5630]

I like this one... But I think you got some dip spit in you beard.

[@TheReasonableLiberal-hn2rs]

Seals ans Special forces often kill civilians too. We're still allied with Saudi Arabia and they throw gays off roofs too.

[@JonSmith-yq1dw]

CrimsonKnight the word often means that you think they kill civilians at at least one out of three people that they put down. seals do not go in and just shoot up the whole place no matter who's there. there are acceptable civilian casualties in War it's inevitable but for the u.s. they were telling the tier 2 and Tier 1 operators that they must not go over something like half a percent so that means that there must not be any collateral damage or civilians killed more than one out of every 200 combatants killed. if you think that these guys or any military force can go into a dangerous Battlefield and not kill one civilian the whole time you've never served. let me ask you this say it's 1939 Hitler just invaded Poland save for some reason you were able to make a predator drone at that time. You have a lock on Hitler but he's adding meeting with his girlfriend his niece a few friends that are part of the war effort and a few other civilians along with all of his high command. You can drop a 2000 lb jdam and destroy the whole building and kill everybody in it, do you let that bomb go? I'm assuming you would say yes so you do agree that sometimes collateral damage and civilian deaths are inevitable. This isn't World War II anymore where both sides do daily Air Raids on the population centers of the enemies countries. it's not like the u.s. is going in with B-52 bombers loaded up and just bombing anything that has movement. look how the Russians fought the Afghanistan war when they were there. they were shooting anything on site that wasn't in the Communist capital. they got shot at with a missile and a helicopter went down they brought in an Armored Division to go into that Village and kill everything and blow up everything that's there. The u.s. brings in troops to do searches of every single house to find who has those types of weapons if the same thing were to happen. Those troops would only fire if they're being fired upon since that's what Obama's Roe was through most of his administration. If you don't understand War or how it's fine., how it's been fought in the past and how much restraint us uses you're just not going to see the bigger picture and not understand anything. Name me another country in the Modern Age that has had military tribunals Four soldiers that went AWOL and killed civilians on purpose. the u.s. is the only one I can think of. Remember that one guy that went off base went into a village and killed like 15 civilians he was tried and found guilty and he's going to spend the rest of his life in prison. if that was a Chinese or Russian or Pakistani or any other Soldier that would have just been covered up. You know why you don't hear of any of the atrocities that those few Russians that are on the ground in Syria do? It's because they don't have a free press over there they don't have a Freedom of Information Act Like We Do the Russian say there's no paperwork because it didn't happen they deny it the US has a free press so if something bad happens it gets put out for the whole world to see.

[@bulletjones119]

Thanks to seal team 6 for doing what needed to be done!!!

[@1Flyingfist]

Bullet Jones I hope you feel the same way if a country sends in armed forces to take out Trump, Clinton, Bush, Rumsfeld etc 🤔. There are probably plenty of people outside of the USA that feel that something "needs to be done", with regards to them. 😒

[@MrBrim-yo4mv]

1Flyingfist unfortunately for those people, our leaders aren’t holed up in rusted compounds in shitholes

[@_i-kr6eg]

I'm sure they did kill anyone all fake . Keep believing the lies sheep.

[@lesflynn4455]

Tell that to Linda Norgrove, her family, and MI6.

[@linksterz4208]

Really they made sure binladin didn't talk. I sure would have loved to hear what he had to say

[@wuteva34]

During Vietnam, the troops engaged in “”ears for beers”.

[@johngoodell2775]

a lot of folks miss the point...its not about the violence or killing...we understand that is part of war and especially targeting leaders of a terrorist group. The problem is the SEAL's declining organizational culture and the Navy's failures to correct those problems. You cant have the elite special forces group rife with discipline problems, war crimes, and self-promotion/monetization of their active duty deeds.

[@kez0o9]

Being in a warzone is a major emotional event

[@brendondowdy5651]

Especially when we send sociopaths and psychopath to fight them. Not let me also include I don't care if we torture bad guys. But when we act that way it our guys get operators syndrome it's not good for us.

[@picassoboy52]

you dont say.....

[@LowKickMT]

yet the majory doesnt have to act like an isis terrorist its a few who are doing wrong

[@glenn2745]

"Canoeing" is an atrocity? No, it's just shooting a legit target in the head in particular way - they are dead either way. I don't really care. The sober truth is this. War is horrific and it's a racket. It turns men into monsters who have to fight it. It's not too far a stretch to say these men were responding to the viciousness they encountered from the enemy and sought to terrorize them in return. My understanding is that several U.S. SF units had this reputation in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it was helpful to us. The real issue is how we prosecuted the war in Afghanistan and going to Iraq at all.

[@LowKickMT]

do you care if the taliban behead or castrate us soldiers when they are already dead? if the answer is yes, then you are just hypocritical and not different than them

[@SPARTAN_B-312]

Since when is DEVGRU called The President's Own lmao?

[@jleo555]

It’s not

[@dmichael7144]

Obama always claimed that he caught Bin Laden

[@SPARTAN_B-312]

Hahahaha you've never heard a suppressed weapon. They're loud as balls! They're in the hearing safe level but they're not quiet at all lmao

[@crimsonking4151]

Im not in the military yet but from the research I've done NSW and JSOC has been issuing silencers or suppressors developed by AAC since 2008 I believe. Those cans suppress rifles to roughly 130 DB (decibels) ever since like 2012 they have been issued to tier 2 units likes Special Forces Navy SEALs ect

[@charleswittmer2477]

@@crimsonking4151 so do you think 130 db is quiet? it is quiet enough to here the gun cycle but it is not quiet.

[@technoruffles7747]

@@charleswittmer2477 It is if you use sub-sonic.

[@soulcleric]

130 dB would be pretty loud at night in a house/indoors. Even if the bullet was silent you would hear the gun cycling very loudly

[@torrecontrolhps2354]

Sometimes the public shoud not ask questions that have answers they/we are not willing to stomach. War is waged by humans, humans are emotional, and at some point in time, emotions will bring out the worst of any of us. I'm not condoning Seal Team 6 actions, but I understand them.

[@globetrotternews]

Rubbish. This is a slap in the face of vast majority of those who didn't. The underlying issue is that the incidents were covered up to protect the command.....

[@colintainter4856]

If you follow this stuff, other former tier 1 operators say that there are some guys who are legitimate psychopaths in there that literally joined for the chance to kill people. It’s like condoned serial killing. The idea that someone like that was on that mission is not that far fetched. These guys are also selected and trained on their ability to stay calm in combat because you make better tactical decisions while calm. So the idea that any of THE most elite operators we have succumbed to the heat of the moment actually seems more far fetched in my opinion.

[@globetrotternews]

@@colintainter4856 Agree. Unfortunately, over time it is just another day at the office. Hence training and leadership are critical to maintain focus and compass.

[@SanFranciscoFatboy]

yep...... i like Dem Now, but it makes me cringe to see this reporter complain about the military that makes her political show possible........ this video only has 135k views in 6 years, obviously no one agrees with this interview..........

[@digital2701361]

The military has to follow rules like anyone else. You sound like a dipshit

[@rudy.von.thisenhausen]

Should be ashamed of your words, Usama bin Laden was a treath by himself - even as old frail man. Think man

[@daviddunne348]

Threath

[@hellwig2357]

Hearts & Minds. When terror is brought to your soil, you send it back tenfold to protect your homeland.

[@xymoriintus]

Thank you for saying this! War is ugly but necessary and everything under the sun bad can and will happen in the "fog of war"

[@timgimmy609]

Okay so we need to defeat terrorism…what should we use? Oh, I know, terrorism! Do you not understand how self defeating and stupid that logic sounds?

[@cwatson42785]

​@@timgimmy609How are they the same? Both are not equal or the same. Stop with that nonsense. Put the bong down Tim

[@billsherman8755]

I love how this fucking broad and beta male pos shit talk heros that provide protection and freedom these two people are an absolute disgrace they are to journalism what Dr. Seuss is to medicine

[@thejokersdick449]

Matthew Coles need to research "Mozambique Drill" The muzzle will naturally rise from the center mass to the head, it is part of the training. No Suppressed weapons are not very quiet Mathew Cole, it is not like the movies. A mark 12 with Suppressor is still loud in door.

[@ac1dP1nk]

Thejoker's Dick they weren't using a mark 12 indoors were they and subsonic weapons and ammo can be very quiet

[@just82much72]

@@ac1dP1nk :HK416

[@2spooky4me96]

Bobby Keller sub subsonic .556 is a thing. You can load it yourself and a few major ammunition company's load it for sale off the shelve. It will operate in most .556 semi/full autos if you change up the recoil spring (ar15/m16/m4 etc) but if you do this and then run full power ammo with the subsonic recoil spring it will crush your rubber buffer in no time and cause undue wear on the firearm. The problem with making a subsonic .556 is generally that the grain weight of your projectile is to light to be highly effect at subsonic flight speeds (basically turn it into a .22lr). What makes .556 effective is its speed, yes higher grain weight loads are manufactured and do increase effectiveness at subsonic speeds (I believe an increase to about 75 grains for subsonic, from 55 grains standard ), standard load .45 acp is the best subsonic off the shelves cartridge for a suppressed firearm intended for close range. Obviously if you're serious run an AR platform in .300 blackout, it was prupose built for subsonic suppression.😜

[@ignaciocaballeroruiz9092]

So i assume you were on the raid? All we know is what they tell us.

[@charleswittmer2477]

@@ac1dP1nk only a 22 pistol like mossad used was reasonably quite. any bullet traveling over 1100fps, almost every thing except 22 and 45acp is loud with a suppressor but better than without one.

[@brandonclark435]

When a high power rifle round hits the head, hydraulic pressure causes the skull to split open.

[@NoWay1969]

Kudos to DN for highlighting this, but there's an inherent problem with stories like this. They almost always seem to want to make these things out to be notable. They make beheadings and "canoeings" out to be somehow outside of the norm. This is what war is, and I don't say that as a peacenik. War murders children, burns civilians alive, it always has collateral damage, and sometimes that collateral damage is justified. Let's be sure to put the blame for the horrors of war on those that start the wars. The people who created the situations where people did this. The people who hide in offices and lie to everyone about what war is. We had an opportunity to get Bin Laden under Bush. I haven't been able to go back and find the stories but at one point, maybe at Tora Bora, we had Bin Laden cornered, and then shortly after that moved troops away from where Bin Laden was and into Iraq, and he subsequently got away. Forgive the conspiratorialness, but I think he was going to say things that would embarrass the US government, and we didn't want him brought in alive. One of the areas where President Obama disappointed me was in his unwillingness to hold the prior administration accountable for their actions. It's very likely that Bin Laden would have shed a great deal of light on the last 35 years of US-Saudi relations had he been captured alive.

[@NoWay1969]

We need to hold the people who actually cause these situations accountable.

[@shlomoroth2195]

Agree. Let's start with Israel, where collective punishment, torture, house destruction (along with de facto apartheid) are the order of the day. He's trying to make an issue over shot placement that has the goal of rendering a potential militant unable to click off a vest or pull a pin on a grenade? "Canoeing?" Seems more like good and surgical shot placement to avoid any further hostile actions from the target. Are any shots to the head unacceptable in Mr.Cole's world? To the face? If he were kidnapped and threatened with beheading, I somehow think his qualms about " well-grouped shots as a war crime" would dissipate very quickly.

[@NoWay1969]

You're actually missing my point which is to stop these things before they begin. We should expect our leaders to not start wars that don't justify the killing of innocents and children. That's the inescapable result of going to war. We have a myth where only brave soldiers die during a war, but it's a myth. War kills children. We should own that every time we go to war.

[@craigfulton3316]

No Way I agree buddy applying peace time normal morality to a war time situation is not realistic, these acts have been done in every war ever fought.

[@craigfulton3316]

Sobululu war is a crime in all its Guise's.

[@markwentworth5347]

Love how easy it is to be a Monday morning QB and just report on the negative!!!

[@DylanAce6]

Yeah a seal probably fucked this guys wife

[@Diddley-js6lf]

Not only that he is a piece of crap

[@LowKickMT]

we have to otherwise we wouldnt be any different

[@selectland1]

I spent some time researching the Battle of Robert's Ridge, part of Operation Anaconda, including watching first hand accounts from people who fought in the battle and to me it seems like overwhelming examples of bravery, heroism and people who truly cared about their fellow man.

[@mackenzieblair8135]

Except for how the Navy and SEALs treated Chapman when he was considered for an upgrade to the Congressional Medal of Honor for fighting and dying on that ridge.

[@xObscureMars]

Except the Seals left a guy there to die and then tried to lie about it.however, it was a combat controller ( Air force spec ops) and Airforce had drone footage u can watch online showing what really happened.

[@Becarhodzic]

@Obersturmführer Klein Those are some strong words…. I’m sure you would have been successful in all the parts they weren’t.

[@the_local_bigamist]

What you mean to say is that you spent time reading and watching propaganda material designed to make trained psychopathic killers (not an insult: only certain kinds of people can join "elite" teams such as these) look like heroes. You could equally have been born - via accident of birth - in a Pashtun village and heard stories of heroic Taliban units who bravely took on American occupiers, whilst caring deeply for their tribe. You are falling for the propaganda line of the military industrial complex and the endless war required to keep global capitalism afloat via military contracts, arms deals and the like, and it is pathetic, for lack of a better word.

[@joesgotya9930]

@Slayer23The first rule of combat medicine is to “win the gun fight”.. There were only six operators on that Mako 30 team. Neil Roberts was KIA, Chapman had gone down was out of the fight for some time before he regained consciousness. The SEAL 60 gunner named Steven Topaz had his leg completely ripped apart my enemy belt fed 7.62 and was bleeding to death. The other 3 operators are loaded out with less then 6 mags of 5.56, 2 hand grenades and were then losing the advantage as the sun was slowing coming up. (One of the biggest advantages this team had was the cover of darkness and their NVGs). Now that’s gone, and the enemy has the high ground with superior fire power and have food and water to sustain that fighting position. You’re damn right that SEAL Officer got off that mountain and saved what was left his team.. That was the RIGHT call

[@jackiebinns6205]

Don't matter how he was killed ! Just that he was killed !

[@ignaciocaballeroruiz9092]

I agree, bin laden should be dead, but it would of been better to do a public exucution.

[@UserDom777]

Agreed!

[@josephcoates879]

I guess this guy has never heard a 10.5 suppressed AR theyre not quiet at all.

[@cwatson42785]

Imagine outrage over doing that to a guy responsible for killing thousands of people's lives

[@jones1351]

'Why do they hate us?'

[@gapshot5065]

The “canoed” heads in the binder at the stumpmuster was my favorite part of the whole interview

[@johnsiedlitzki8381]

I wonder if Cole and her ever watched and listened to the people who were forced to jump outta the twin towers. People on the ground say the body was found in pieces….. I have NO remorse for Osama bin Laden!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Diamondfoxx721]

War is ugly !!

[@cecillyles2678]

This story about the British female that was killed accidentally is almost a mirror image of what happened to Pat Tillman! I will ad right down to the cover-up by our government and our military!

[@aaronlopez717]

May be by her work they found the place ? Why do not inf about her to protect If she was part of them ! ? ? ( sorry for the woman and kind who lost their live in the hands of those ones >

[@designated_hitter_EGA]

No it does not. The Tillman incident was totally different.

[@TheBigfoottrucker]

I caught that also

[@willypete2401]

From my research the Pat Tillman story is much worse. Being repeatedly shot at by your own fellow soldiers while you're screaming to them you're a friendly, in my opinion is worse than just having a grenade land next to you that shouldn't have ever been thrown

[@johnnyfavorite1194]

Democracy Now sure is concerned about the well-being of Osama Bin Laden.

[@0MVR_0]

Like the fact or not, he was a living human being.

[@oompaloompa9139]

J̅o̅h̅n̅n̅y̅ F̅a̅v̅o̅r̅i̅t̅e̅ That's how a typical 5th grader would see this. A slightly more advanced mature adult would see a concern for power abuses and international law violations.

[@andreja2726]

I actually haven't got that impression, however I do feel that US military and government can kill, torture and occupy whoever they want, regardless of international laws or ever hold accountable for their actions..at a same time preaching democracy all over the world

[@jleo555]

噢馬 ya so were the 3000 Americans killed on 9/11, so were his wives before he used them as human shields. What’s your point?

[@jcham979]

We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard of morality or we are no better than those we are fighting against. Highlighting war crimes is not always a bad thing for our military, in many cases it helps bring about top down change. Not addressing professional misconduct issues in the field will only hurt honorable SEALs both currently serving and retired, which is the overwhelming majority of them.

[@thedretti21]

What is the exact location on the forehead for a canoe. Is it always at the same spot?

[@DylanAce6]

Top and middle of the forehead is the goal

[@nj7969]

“No noise, suppressed weapons are very quiet.” Helicopter crashed, there was a fire fight, and also suppressed weapons are not that quiet. There would have been plenty of noise. Not gonna lose any sleep over how he died.

[@EtomidateEnjoyer]

Those two seals are now banned from the seal team 6 headquarters, along with only one other former seal to ever be banned from their hq

[@christopherwalker6056]

Why does it matter whether OBL was armed or unarmed? If he was responsible for so many atrocities then why is there an issue with the way he was killed?

[@kazaddum2448]

There is something called as trial. Civilized nations have those, yes even for people who did terrible things. Makes them better than those who don't. Makes them stand above said terrible people. Good to know were the "western" world stands.

[@MrIhavedonuts]

Christopher Walker that wasn’t the point of what he was saying. He did say he was going to die no matter what. He is trying to say how blown out of proportion the story is and to make themselves sound like heros

[@MrSimondaniel3]

i think the point is the lies. I dont even really believe they got OBL because theres no photos + the supposed disfigurement.

[@ttrons2]

You don't think American interference and assalts on his people might have something to do with it?

[@michael7v6]

We were about to drop a bomb on the compound?

[@paulstrathern4309]

Cole's new book 'Code Over Country' is great.

[@barkon34]

where did he get this information?

[@deliciousmorton]

He tells you in the video.

[@squatch545]

No he doesn't

[@danielpowers2413]

This guy isn’t an authority on war crimes. His audacity is stunning.

[@devilkazuya2001]

But but but but he has "sources"😂

[@markolson9913]

His sources are former SEALs...

[@danielpowers2413]

@@markolson9913 and how would you know?

[@markolson9913]

@danielpowers2413 I'm taking his word for it because he's a reputable journalist that hasn't given me a reason to not believe him. Nobody ever said he was an authority on war crimes either. What's your reason for not believing him?

[@danielpowers2413]

@@markolson9913 in what way is he a reputable journalist? He did a piece for the NYT, but the Times is overtly biased and leans hard left. He states that members of our military committed war crimes, but presents no hard evidence other than the alleged testimony of “sources” which he conveniently cannot name. He also does not define how the nature of the alleged crimes in any way constitutes war crimes. To be a war crime, strict definitions apply.

[@johnhering4724]

Hey Matthew Cole...The worst type of people do not deserve a respectable death. Thank you to all our men and women in uniform who help take down these brutal animals.

[@frankzappa951]

Who’s the animals? Cowards who drop bombs and send in drones, many trained men executing innocents without weapons ?

[@the_local_bigamist]

Would you have said the same as a citizen of Nazi Germany, when their army was making their own attempt at global domination?

[@LowKickMT]

you arent very bright john calling them brutal animals but justify our own actions because they did it first? you do realize that from their perspective we did something first as well which justified their attacks we have to have different standards and call wrongdoings out otherwise we would be the exact same

[@lesflynn4455]

The Linda Norgrove story is infuriating. Team Six knew she was effectively an MI6 asset. Somehow an assaulter grenades the room where she's expected to be, and kills her. Then they try to cover it up. What a shit show.

[@g3tshotheett]

It was by accident 🤷‍♂️

[@digital2701361]

So were you.

[@timgimmy609]

@@g3tshotheettit’s not the mistake that’s unforgivable, it’s the attempt to change the narrative because the truth would be embarrassing. So disrespectful to the memory of that woman, when they had already been responsible for her death. The least they could do is own up to the mistake.

[@TheBigfoottrucker]

Remind me of bin Laden raid where a soldier dives on a grenade

[@joesgotya9930]

That’s not what happened all. That was the UK medias version of that event (not what actually happened).. Linda was moved by an Al Qaeda fighter out of a structure during the night assault and the ISR UAV did not see this happen.. Linda was completely out in the open when the enemy fighter holding her opened fire on the outer cordon security team. One of the SEALs who was suppressing the enemy had a jam in his belt fed LMG, and he deployed a frag grenade to keep the momentum and get his weapon back up and running. Its absolute BS and boarder line incompetent to suggest the SEALs just threw a frag into a room with out any thought. This was all documented in the book Relentless Strike by award winning writer and war correspondent Sean Naylor

[@markbishopiii1577]

This guy has absolutely no evidence to back up his account. He just expects us to believe that he knows what actually happened before, during, and after the raid took place.

[@sheilalarkin1291]

I salute Seal Team 6, well done🇺🇸Much respect. Reporters agenda questionable? Narrative questionable?

[@muriloninja]

NSWC as a whole is questionable...the most vain special operations org ever!

[@chazw6023]

Soft ass hippie

[@cookingwithvince]

How on earth does this guy feel as if he is justified to say how the most elite force of the Joint special forces operation's command does their job. Was he there? Was he placed in a life or death decision? And how on Earth is this guy going to act like the terrorists these men are killing are unarmed prisoners that have done nothing wrong. They are killing savages that have had countless atrocities against innocent people. Nothing he says has any level of credibility due to lack of factual evidence. I guess where I am getting act is even if these claims are true, mutiliation of a corpse may be an illegal war crime, but how is it anymore unethical to shoot the guy from order (probably from the president) if they are already dead....it'd be one thing if they are alive, but every account he mentions they are dead.

[@ac1dP1nk]

Vince K you forget

[@2023awakening]

There are so many things wrong with what you said. You can't mutilate a body just because its dead or terrorist or both. you are a world class moron and do not belong in civilized society please go live in shit holes like Kandahar. People like you do not belong in America.

[@perpetuallymediocre3453]

They’re not “the most elite”

[@bobwaldman9996]

RIGHT YOU ARE VINCE THE NAVY SEALS ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST AND MATT COLE SHOULD SHUT THE HELL UP FOREVER

[@badsanta69]

I will get my milspec tear jar for this one.

[@spartanlukas]

Bad Santa hahaha...good one!

[@smithnwesson990]

Bad Santa says the liberals who are to pussy to even deploy hahahahaha

[@davelarson2663]

How is OBL not being armed even in the conversation????????????? Were 3000 innocent civilians armed? Wth?

[@franckbejuit6055]

The first victim of war is the truth. But respect for the Warriors who fight when you are sleeping at night in your bed. ⚔️🇺🇸

[@williamspinelli6601]

Ghastly Behavior? Like driving a plane into a building with 3000 innocent people? Unbelievable...I will just say: thank you

[@baileyayyy5085]

you realize the war has killed 70,000 afghan and pakistani civilians right? but apparently civilian casualties only matter if its americans

[@LowKickMT]

doing similar things wouldnt make us any different mind they also had their "reasons" from their point of view

[@kayakwesty]

Seals killing the enemy...meh zero shites given.

[@Eddi3dakid]

Are the SEAL teams the only American SF organization to commit war crimes??? I think its quite unfair to single out one unit simply because of the publics infatuation with them.... Many people are quick to judge and condemn when they themselves have no idea what its like to exist in that type of environment.... Watch your loved ones be slaughtered and see how primal you become, and that goes for both sides... Afghans are just as HUMAN as Americans....

[@georgewashington938]

I always chuckle when I hear SEALs described as 'silent professionals'.

[@SkidRowRadio]

at the time i didn't believe bin laden was even there. it was all so dodgy. i guess this could be how it went down.. just too grusome to be able to document.

[@bjnowak]

SkidRowRadio I agree, rumors said he was already dead.

[@theoberfaust]

SkidRowRadio Sill though , the body/face was UN recognizable. . ............ The British and Benazir Bhutto had always said he was long dead. His Liver condition was too extreme to have survived that long in the mountains and on the run.

[@hansblitz7770]

Being forced to either jump 90 stories or burn to death is also pretty *gruesome. Being stabbed in the neck with a box-cutter is gruesome as well. Why do you feel sorry for a terrorist that killed 3,000 Americans?

[@nisslaz]

Hans Blitz Do you *really* believe that fairy tale? I guess you still believe Saddam Hussein was involved as well. And the "babies from incubators" line. And Oswald the one and only shooter. And the Tonkin incident. Wow.

[@hansblitz7770]

nisslaz That's deep bruh.

[@adamberndt4190]

This guy 100% was bullied in every year of school now he's got issues with "real men".

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

Does anyone know the status of the US attorney grand jury investigation of 9/11 from the southern district of New York? I heard on the radio once that that was supposed to be happening? All I can find is crickets

[@timhogan80]

The American troops commit these gruesome acts and war crimes and then they wonder why the people of Iraq or Afghanistan don't want them there and cause they are committing these acts they are radicalising more people against them. All of these Americans who are committing these horrific war crimes should be held accountable and put in front of the United Nations International Court of Justice The Hague and tried for war crimes n crimes against humanity.

[@jessesouza6466]

This is an example of degrading morals and ethics that will spread like poison.

[@Marcus-143]

great interview

[@anthonylewis1980]

Am I the only one that thinks what our special operators do on missions is their business?

[@sonofadoy]

"...MR. Burns! What's going on with your guys?" dm

[@jorgesianez4509]

this is what lil info we hear going on imagen thr stories trough out the middle east of the crimes we committed i can only imagen

[@matthewpalumbo2782]

I want an investigation on who stole his original Nintendo and game controller. Dudes room looked like a college dorm circa 1992.

[@just82much72]

Best comment.

[@Johnconno]

That's Classified.

[@markcampbell7577]

The character Osama bin laden is a person trained by the US military training camps in Afghanistan.

[@robbyrobinson4500]

America has known this not long after 9/11 tower bombings

[@sasajelisavac5209]

Michael Jackson never danced the moonwalk!

[@Henbot]

So Linda Norgrove was a spy, that is god damn fascinating

[@Lucas-dw4ws]

Thanks for reporting.

[@johnkidd1226]

They didnt want him tried or jailed, too many variables and he becomes a martyr to be avenged by all his followers. He had to be killed, there had to be proof and his body had to be permanently disposed of, all of which happened.

[@Jason_The_Man]

There are real men, Alphas, Sigmas…. And the beta boys who write about them.

[@sa.t.2507]

Sometimes you don’t have to see how justice was served, just trust that it was served.

[@bryant505]

I think Seal Team 6 was there in the studio tapping their axes on metal!

[@deltadawn9160]

That the government is allowing these two seals to do this should give everyone pause.

[@jacpratt8608]

🥵

[@BigSkip304]

I am thankful for all the US Military and especially Seal Team Six for killing BinLaden and all the other terrorists in the compound with him.

[@winstonsmith-ministryoftru1609]

True journalism!

[@chicagoliightsx]

But dangerous...😬😕

[@MrSchmolko]

anyone rembering what the hell us troops are doing in afghanistan, besides protecting the poppy fields...

[@crimsonking4151]

Hunting down and killing off terrorist splinter cells, buildings schools water Wells, rebuilding ruined country. Training police and military and spreading democracy.

[@just82much72]

Whaaaaaaacking Tangos!!

[@bobwaldman9996]

HEY MATT COLE DONT MESS WITH THE NAVY SEALS THEY GOT THE MOST HARDEST JOBS OF ANYONE THEY RISK THEIR LIVES EVERY TIME THEY GO OUT TO DO THEIR WORK YOU GOT IT EASY MATT YOUR A REPORTER

[@bronco1199]

Seals don't go to war to provide law and order.

[@the_local_bigamist]

Re-posting from part 1: It is worrying to see so many apologists for this kind of unnecessary violence. Hypocrisy amongst so-called "freedom loving" people is astounding - the very same people who will defend these psychopaths as merely conducting acts of warfare will be the first to condemn a Talib for doing the same to an enemy of theirs. Also, by calling these kinds of soldiers psychopaths, I am not insulting them: these are fighters who are chosen precisely for their capacity for enacting this kind of violence without mercy, a universal truth regarding all such "elite units", many of whom will go into the private sector as brutal mercenaries. A good book on such a private unit is 'Keenie Meenie: The British Mercenaries who Got Away with War Crimes' by Phil Miller. These were mostly ex-SAS (an infamous British elite unit) fighters that utterly brutalised people all over the world, where people were fighting against the dying British Empire for their own liberation. Nowadays, such soldiers will go onto service the interests of the American Empire, and most people will have no idea where they are or what they are doing, but as this book and others show, governments have a pretty good idea but will always turn a blind eye. It is all well and good to try and justify these killers under the illusion that they are keeping you safe, but history tells us a few things: One is that countries, nations and lands that have been exploited by colonialism, attempted to free themselves and have either done so, thus becoming enemies of western imperialism or have sold-out, and allowed themselves to become puppet-regimes of the very same imperialist core, all have something in common: they are powder kegs, almost constantly at war, sometimes invaded by the west, sometimes fighting amongst themselves (including within their own borders) or being brutalised by economic warfare via tactics such as sanctions. Fun fact: the sanctions placed against Iraq from the early 90s up until the ultimate US-led invasion killed more people than Saddam Hussein's regime did. And what is Iraq now, except for a failed state, fighting amongst itself along sectarian lines? Another thing is that, when the interests of the powerful are threatened, these very units may be unleashed upon the people of the nation they are supposed to protect. The aforementioned SAS committed atrocities in the British occupied part of Ireland, for just one example, but throughout history you will find many examples, all across the globe. The most pertinent to us comes as a part of the question of the looming threat of fascism. History shows us that those guns may well be turned against the people when the ruling class is in trouble. Americans love their guns: what do you think they are for? They are to protect you from being skinned alive by the forces of reaction - the men who kill without mercy and are always and forever "only following orders".

[@undergroundcronic9441]

He did a good job no matter how bad it sound He answered straight up truth. An that's all we ask for with real news tell us and don't let us find out later

[@nitrosnw]

How do you know it’s the truth?

[@ceebkay]

Did he investigate the taliban for beheadings as enthusiastically as the seals! Mutalating the mutalaters!😂😂

[@PervySage13]

Those suppressed weapons really that quiet?

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

What’s the difference between a terrorist sympathizers and terrorist empathizers? This piece garners both. Osama showed zero respect for human life. Have no mercy, show no mercy. 👍👋 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

[@randlemcmurphy6809]

So the point of this is...?

[@winstonsmith-ministryoftru1609]

You mean, murdering innocents?

[@mfngaming5630]

M M M MONEY

[@smithnwesson990]

Winston Smith in Oceania what innocents lol

[@Homelessgrunt]

Go back to making bullshit talking points about “what if cops didn’t exist huh liberal hur dur.” You’re a fucking partisan hack little bitch who can’t accept that even SEAL TEAM MEMBERS themselves are disgusted by their brothers actions! Did you even watch the whole video?? You’re just using old, useless rhetoric that I can wipe your fucking face clean with.

[@franklinholt8054]

I knew Smithers was a savage, you would have to be to work for Mr. Burns all those years! 😂😂😂

[@jacobking5043]

Rob never said ubl had a gun

[@rocketman48]

In my humble opionion this is one of the best videos of 2018.

[@wullymc1]

Bin Laden died in 2001 you cunts are fucking idiots! off-guardian.org/2015/05/15/how-many-times-can-one-man-die-the-disputed-killing-of-osama-bin-laden/

[@wullymc1]

www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jan/19/afghanistan.oliverburkeman

[@Mrright87]

In my Humble opinion You have Dick for brains

[@Yambag]

"he was canoed" yeah dude thats what happens when a high caliber round hits the head. just because you make up a name for it doesn't mean it's anything special or exclusive

[@mfngaming5630]

2 things... 1. Replacing one conspiracy for another is like joking at yourself when you fuck up so no one laughs as loud. and 2. This is going to be Blockbuster hit like Blackhawk Down.

[@xymoriintus]

Four years later, nobody cares and it's been further buried

[@mfngaming5630]

@@xymoriintus yup

[@kewdo1137]

This guy is second guessing the mission

[@leonhines8190]

Lies about lies about a lie .....

[@dannyrichards6233]

Wrong

[@W.A.T.P...55]

To those great seals,,well fucking done guys,,God bless every one of yous 👏👏👏🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@TheBigfoottrucker]

I bet they was in 9/11 bringing down the buildings . Someone’s team put in the explosives.

[@jws2899]

He is ignorant. Captain's mast... particularly, admirals mast can kill a career.

[@LadyJay114]

I saw that too. It didn't make sense what he said. If McRaven had to come down, then that SO's career was OVER!

[@mchristr]

When a person or group commits acts of terror, and refuses to fight under the flag of a nation, they are outlaws by definition. The world community will sooner or later bring them to justice.

[@jesseolson3142]

@Bobb Grimley You have to be a savage to fight savages.

[@atheistbiker]

It's a headshot, not a "canoeing". The term is a joking way to describe the gore of the wound. Gallows humor. "Dude, his head split right open right down the middle, just like a canoe!" I imagine follow-up headshots are common practice in a war zone. Still, shame they couldn't have taken OBL alive, or at least gotten photo evidence. Decapitation is pretty damn unprofessional, though. Not cool, bro.

[@rodgerasai]

"Canoeing" is one, very specific type of head shot, which according to the article, was an intended signature of SEAL Team 6 during the first few years in Afghanistan & Iraq.. Most head shots can't create that result. The "Head on a Platter" event occurred on Manning's 20th Birthday.

[@jokerstorm231]

I think this whole report is bunk and a journalistic form of virtue signaling, trying to take as much perceived dirtiness or impropriety out in favor of a "clean" or politically correct war. These things just aren't worth prosecuting over or admonishing soldiers over, except for the bloodletting videos which can expose our soldiers to psychological harm and is cruel to the victims. Like you said, a gunshot wound to the head is going to cause a wound, sometimes a big one, it is the most humane way of ending a life using a firearm, it's difficult to hit the heart and is a much more excrutiating way for a person to be killed. And then the part at the end where they're trying to tie this all to Trump because a guy used government money for plane rides, I'm sorry but this just isn't that big a deal. They're scraping for a story on our people when the murders and torture by terrorists are far worse.

[@rodgerasai]

I'm guessing you are talking about this video not "this whole report". If not, go to the Intercept site and read the entire 65-page report - which includes the fact that there is photo evidence, but that it's greatly tarnished because of the improper (unnecessary and against direct orders) head shots. The Report (not this video about the report) was put together from two years of research - including interviewing many SEALs (current and former). To call the report "bunk" is to dishonor the honest recollections of the many SEALs who were there - and who honor their oaths by not seeking public acclaim for the work they do (vs. the couple that have done so and in a dishonest manner).

[@highspacefox]

Are you seriously trying to justify these actions? It's disgusting to think of how many civilians have been killed by US forces during this 15 year long war. The fact that your trying to justify shooting someone in the head at close range, EVEN after they have been found out to JUST BE CIVILIANS, shows how disconnected you are with the reality of destruction in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Gaza

[@Luke-oe8fe]

I think the point of this video, from Democracy Now's anti-war perspective, is to illustrate that US soldiers have in a sense "stooped down" to the ethical playing field of their combatants. To whatever extent this is fully true we will likely never know, but the vast majority of us will never have to deal with the grief of observing a close friend mutilated from 40m away. It is, after all, unique to our era that civilians own the luxury of peering in on what soldiers do in combat

[@lindabluhm3213]

You all sure can't leave a good thing alone. You have to defame everyone that does good!!!!! You should be ashamed of yourself.

[@farmrrick]

Monday morning quarterbacking by people we would never send to do any job.

[@gerardrbain1972]

Americans can't get away with war crimes.

[@manakara9821]

I never believed they killed him and still don't. There can be only 1 reason no photos of him dead were released?

[@user-nj1zu2nf1x]

You should actually watch the video your commenting on

[@KrisSays]

Hatchets are not irrelevant on the battlefield today. They're fully functional in breaching doors, opening / breaking pad locks and as a close combat weapon. It can also be used as a prying device and other field utilities. You should probably have someone from the military advise you as to help you avoid anymore misinformation.

[@Homelessgrunt]

Kris Says: it IS useless when you have unlimited resources to fucking do the shit you just said

[@technoruffles7747]

Or you could you know, just get a crowbar or a utility knife that does the same thing.

[@picassoboy52]

cmon bro...they were given the hatchets in order to bond with their images as the "red" team.....get them bloody on the battlefield as a badge of honor.....no one used the to break down doors.....it was all for bravado and ego ....they were expected to bloody them to prove they belonged...all tribal, clique mentality

[@brandonclark435]

There are stories of pitched battles where men without ammo resorted to using their entrenching tools and bayonets.

[@ajtn7585]

Amazing how you consider him murdered but what about those he murdered?

[@cornelwest633]

Why did Al Qaeda retaliate against the US military HQ and the symbol of US financial and commercial hegemony and try to attack the symbol of US political dominance?

[@ajtn7585]

@@cornelwest633 tell us?

[@richardanderson5746]

The enemy is free to slaughter us, as well as innocent men, women and children however they see fit. We, however, are held to a ridiculously high standard, to be non-emotional professional soldiers. I wish our own countrymen and women would not hold us to a standard significantly higher than the one that the enemy is held to. Should we really be capable of killing the enemy if we are entirely unemotional? What's more scary an unemotional person capable of wanton killing, or a human being who gets emotional and perhaps commits the occasional atrocity?

[@Homelessgrunt]

Allen Chancellor There’s something called Americanism, you should fucking learn morals of a civilized military and society before spouting bullshit.

[@mikeomalla6777]

Its "quiet professional ".... and it always seems guys who punch keys for a living try to dethrone the actions of the warrior class.

[@davehendricks7023]

Well said beta men seem to always do this shit guess it keeps them relevant.

[@kanonierable]

Fuck you and your "warrior class"! SEAL team 6 and the likes of them are nothing but a bunch of government paid murderers that enjoy committing atrocities against mostly defenceless people in foreign countries that never posed a threat to your "democracy" or your "freedom". Cowards that openly brag about needless killings of innocent men women and children, knowing they are safely shielded from being held accountable for their despicable acts that no honourable man would want to have part of.

[@smithnwesson990]

zürihegel Defenseless?? Hahaha right.

[@egruter89]

ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT!!! LOL

[@BenDover-lq1nq]

Obviously ol sammy been rottin' gave a huge fuck about the rules, he def followed the ROE to the T, obviously he cared about human rights also, you know, since his boys flew jumbo jets into our buildings killing innocent civilians smh .. You play a stupid game, you win a stupid prize. Just so happened today's winners received canoe's courtesy of ST6

[@tylerlawlerDEVGRU]

Do you know how many crimes are committed against SEAL TEAM 6 members? You would tell me to shut up and get medicine because it's too horrible.

[@LowKickMT]

keep playing call of duty

[@lifeWizard435]

Wasn’t a lot of noise? How bout the helicopter crashing in the front yard? The doors being blown, the shots fired at the seals by those on the lower levels.. those don’t count?