But Was it Really UBL?

EXCLUSIVE - Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden revealed: Rob O'Neill named as SEAL Team Six hero who shot 9/11 mastermind three times in head - and has already inspired series of Hollywood films

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2822370/Navy-SEAL-killed-bin-Laden-revealed-Rob-O-Neill-named-Seal-Team-Six-hero-shot-terror-chief-three-times-head-inspired-series-Hollywood-roles.html#ixzz3IEj1y8p3
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Esquire Interview with "The Shooter"

The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden... Is Screwed

Via Yahoo.

Zero Dark Thirty

Went to Winchester 21 on Saturday night, after having dinner with xiao Jimmy at Eastridge. It's been... maybe 10 years or more since I last sat in that theater. It wasn't so cold inside, but I was wearing a sweater and a coat over it, plus a hat. However, I don't know this is due to the project or to the reel they received, but the print seemed fuzzy and the resolution was not as good as something you'd see on a smaller screen over at AMC or nearby CinéArts.

I don't have much to say about the technical aspects of the movie, or the visual story-telling. Zero Dark Thirty seemed like it was done proficiently in those respects. But how can one's experience of the movie not be colored by his opinions about its truthfulness or the real-life events it claims to represent? How much artistic license taken in telling the story? I went to the movie more for the last half-hour, with its focus on ST6 and the mission to capture/kill Bin Laden, then the rest of it, which chronicled the efforts of the CIA to find him.

It is pro-American propaganda? We'll probably never know the true story or what really happened (or if we really killed OBL at that point in time). The movie is centered on a "tough" and persistent Uuhmerican female CIA agent, Maya (played by Jessica Chastain), who ultimately finds Osama Bin Laden. In the movie, there is some intra-agency conflict between Maya and the CIA station chief in Pakistan (played by Kyle Chandler). The station chief wants to allocate resources to preventing terror attacks in the U.S., and says that Bin Laden is not important. Maya says that he is still the one in charge. In their debate, there is no explicit mention of targeting Bin Laden because he was the chief mastermind behind 9/11, that this is a question of justice and punishing those who are responsible. Perhaps it is implied, but I thought it strange that it was omitted, as it would have been effective rhetorically. Maya appeals to their superiors at Langley, but it is not clear what priority was given to finding and killing Bin Laden by the CIA or the White House. The movie highlights the importance of HUMINT and how little of it we actually have for that region of the world. (See the book by Robert Baer for an explanation why.)

Might the movie rather be effective propaganda against Uhmerica? It depicts the torture of Muslims and the willingness of Americans to kill Muslims civilians in order to get at high-value targets. (Rf. Mya's comeback to the SEALs during their briefing that she preferred that a bomb be dropped on a house she knows is occupied by women and children over deploying a special ops team.) Moreover, the women seem to be in charge even if they are subordinates in name, and the men have no effective control over them, especially the ones at Langley, who seem whipped. If a man was petulant like that in the workplace, who would be able to tolerate his behavior or continue to respect him? But since Maya is a woman, she can get away with it. No doubt some will interpret her behavior as being of someone who is extremely dedicated and understandably upset that no action is being taken against OBL, even though his location has been ascertained. Her tantrums nonetheless strike me as being unprofessional and border on insubordination.

Indeed, the movie is not very successful in presenting the feminist case for women being in the CIA (even if they can be effective honey traps), despite the possible intention of the filmmakers. While Jessica Chastain can play the b*tch, on-screen she still seems like a vulnerable little girl who is trying to be a man in a man's world. Yet one cannot but help think that the movie makers are advocating that we put such women in charge.

Another example would be Jennifer Ehle's character, who is based on Jennifer Lynne Matthews. The movie seems to put the blame on her for the Camp Chapman attack. (In accordance with one of the official stories put forward by the CIA afterwards?) She is portrayed as an eager beaver seeking a lead to OBL's location and waving off proper security protocols in order for the meeting to go forward. So whose incompetence resulted in the success of the attack? The on-site supervisor? Or the superiors who failed to train their analysts as field operatives properly or placed results above safety?

If this is the reality of the CIA it is rather laughable - even more reason for our enemies to hold us in contempt. They may believe that we are superior not because of culture or character, but only because of technology, and even then our advantage is limited.

Would I recommend the movie? I am not sure why I would want to do so, but this is because I am skeptical of its accuracy. As a tribute to the men and women(?) who brought Osama Bin Laden "to justice"? As a engrossing procedural? I can't say that the portrayal of Operation Neptune Spear is worth the price of admission alone. Those who believe that the story is true may enjoy it more; no doubt there will be those who know very little and will leave the theater convinced that they've learned some real history.

James Howard Kunstler has a rather positive appraisal of the movie. Steve Sailer.

Related:
Zero Dark Thirty: Torturing the Facts by Marjorie Cohn
How 'Zero Dark Thirty' Reminds Americans How Much They Love Torture
Torture in Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty
Former CIA officer Robert Baer offers an alternative to the White House story on bin Laden's death. (mp3)
Revealed: CIA agents envious of glamorous Hollywood treatment of Jessica Chastain's real-life relentless Bin Laden tracker 'Maya'
Peter Bergen and Robert Baer: Zero Dark Thirty Torture Controversy
FLASHBACK: Former CIA Operative: “Of Course Bin Laden is Dead” - Robert Baer: When Will Obama Give Up the Bin Laden Ghost Hunt?
What Awaits John Brennan at the CIA
ABC: Operation Neptune Spear
Zero Dark Thirty — Some Truth, Some Fiction

WATCH: Jennifer Ehle On 'Zero Dark Thirty's' Women 

Before the movie I strolled through Santana Row - what do the patrons there have to offer, besides their youthfulness? One perhaps should not begrudge those who are out enjoying a Saturday night with their intimates and friends, but one could do without the display of wealth and ease. Where else do the local singles go? There was some live music at El Jardin - in Spanish, and the audience was quite enthusiastic. Local Anglos? Or affluent visitors from Ibero-America? A reflection in some ways of the soon-to-be majority for the city of San Jose. The local young SWPLs care very little for traditional Anglo culture.

The Real SEALs

Zero Dark Thirty featurette.

A fan-made video:

MANHUNT: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad

another

Peter Bergen, MANHUNT: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad

Related:
Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda: Lessons from the Abbottabad Documents

A Different Take on Zero Dark Thirty

And its stance on torture: The Kidd Vs. ZERO DARK THIRTY. Diverging opinions. I'll have to watch the movie and see for myself.

Another on Torture and Zero Dark Thirty

New Yorker

Related:
The Senate Report on CIA Interrogations You May Never See

Advocacy of Torture?

I will probably watch the movie, though I am wary of it being a tool for cheering the National Government's GWOT and all that it entails. I have read that Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal have depicted torture as a matter of fact, without passing judgment, showing that it was necessary to get the information that lead to the discovery of Osama Bin Laden. But in doing so, does the movie justify the use of torture, by claiming that in this instance it was effective in attaining its purpose?

Will the New Osama bin Laden Film "Zero Dark Thirty" Rehabilitate Torture? by Adam Serwer

Twitch Review of Zero Dark Thirty

ZERO DARK THIRTY Pierces a Troubling Search With Riveting Precision

Related:
Zero Dark Thirty - Interviews with Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Ehle, Kyle Chandler, Jason Clarke
Charlie Rose

Best Film, New York Film Critics Circle


More interviews:

More on Zero Dark Thirty

'Zero Dark Thirty' Focuses on CIA & Military Heroes' Role in Osama bin Laden Hunt (VIDEO)
'Zero Dark Thirty': Hunting Down Osama Bin Laden All Over Again
EW

official

Kathryn Bigelow on Nightline

'Zero Dark Thirty': Real-Life Stories Behind Controversial OBL Film

Watch More News Videos at ABC
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2012 Presidential Election
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Entertainment & Celebrity News

(YT)

'Zero Dark Thirty' Controversy Over Classified Materials

Watch More News Videos at ABC
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2012 Presidential Election
|
Entertainment & Celebrity News

'Zero Dark Thirty' Focuses on Young Female CIA Agent

Collider

The Zero Dark Thirty FB page: "Catch Zero Dark Thirty director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal tonight on Nightline."

If the video becomes available I'll post it.

Interviews with Mark Bowden

His book on the killing of OBL was just released.

NPR: Technology Helps Track A Terrorist In 'The Finish'
Daily Caller

Guardian review

official publisher page

Related:
Will this account of Bin Laden’s murder sway the election?

National Geographic Channel Showing the Other OBL Movie

The one mentioned in this post.

National Geographic Channel - trailer

Sandy scrambles 'SEAL Team 6' premiere
National Geographic SEAL Team 6 Movie Allegedly Tweaked To Make Obama Look Good
GOP outrage after Harvey Weinstein movie on Bin Laden raid is 're-cut to add MORE footage of Obama'... and will be shown TWO days before election
Military.com review

Trailer:

New Trailer for Zero Dark Thirty

Coming Soon
Collider
SlashFilm


Apple

Mark Bowden's Book on the Killing of OBL

The Finish: The Killing of Osama bin Laden.

He collaborated with K. Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty. His book will be released before the movie, in October.

From the book's description:
"The story focuses on Bin Laden, who maintained a steady stream of despairing correspondence in hiding in the year before his death, and on President Obama, perceived by many as an anti-war candidate because of his opposition to the Iraq War, whose evolving views and enormous responsibilities have turned him into one of the most determined warriors to ever inhabit the White House."

Did Bowden write this or did the publisher? What a bunch of hooey.

Publishers Weekly

For Worm, the First Digital World War:



alt



NPR

60 Minutes: SEAL's first-hand account of bin Laden killing

CBS (has the link to the program segment plus some web extras) - a feature with the author of No Easy Day. (via TPM)



Washington Post

Account Says Navy Author Wrote Book After a Slight
Pentagon warns on former Seal’s Osama book
DoD Guidance for "No Easy Day"


I didn't know there was another SEAL movie that was going to be released: Codename: Geronimo. Today, this article is the first I've read of the movie - someone hasn't been handling publicity well, though the trailer makes the movie seem like it was done on the cheap. Another example of Hollywood studios putting out similar movies to compete for dollars.



International Trailer
Filmstalker
Tier 1 Studios
Code Name Geronimo Controversy
Fansite or official?

NYT Review of No Easy Day

Here

Is the DOD being pushed to punish him for pure politics, as the book may be critical of the Obama administration?

It is only after the George W. Bush presidency that the author begins complaining about the slow-moving “Washington machine” that members of the SEALs found frustrating. That irritation mounts in 2011, when the SEALs anxiously awaited their signal to raid Abbottabad, but this account is determined to steer clear of serious politics or leave itself open to election-season manipulation. The worst it has to say about President Obama is that none of the fighters who caught bin Laden wanted to help re-elect him, and that he never followed through on a promise to invite them to the White House for a beer.

DoD to Take Legal Action Against Mark Owen?

Autho of No Easy Day.

DoD Says SEAL's bin Laden Book Discloses Secrets

No Easy Day

Penguin





SEAL who wrote bin Laden raid book identified
Ex-Navy SEAL faces legal jeopardy for writing about bin Laden raid

What happened to Operation Dark Heart after it was censored?



Mark Owen's No Easy Day: Navy SEAL From Bin Laden Raid Faces Legal Action And Threats Over Book
SEALs Turned Authors: A Military Reading List

Related:
Behind the Hunt for Bin Laden
Jawbreaker
US Navy Seals