That's tough to hear., But, he added, They have every right to say it and that's fine.. Key Background O'Neill told The Washington Post in 2014 that he was the U.S. special operator who fired the shot that killed al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden during a 2011 raid. During the defense's cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll, Trump's attorney asked the writer why she "did not scream" when she was "supposedly raped. Log in to hide ads. Ex-Navy Seal Robert O'Neill, 38, has told the Washington Post in an interview that he fired the fatal shot. He's not young, so, ya know, he should already be in the majors, if the Cubs didn't want to waste him for no reason. Forty. A critical (tenet) of our Ethos is I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions., We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain., The letter closes by reminding the teammates that classified information is protected by law, and warns that We will actively seek judicial consequences for members who willfully violate the law.. The interview, which was published in March 2013, began with a meeting in April 2012 as he prepared to leave the Navy. We want to bridge divides to reach everyone. contact customer service Mr. Luskin said that Mr. Bissonnette and other SEAL members also received consulting fees from companies that designed tactical clothing and gear for other parts of the military or for sales to outdoor enthusiasts. The comments below have not been moderated, By A SEAL whose identity still remains secret was the first man to reach the top of the stairs leading to the third floor of Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The public squabble among supposedly zip-lipped US Navy SEALs over who, exactly, killed 9/11 mastermind and al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has taken another turn. In that interview, published in March 2013, he said that he burst into bin Laden's bedroom, saw a gun within bin Laden's reach, and shot him in the forehead. Documents filed in Federal District Court in Alexandria on Friday indicated that Mr. Bissonnette must transfer nearly $6.8 million to the government as part of the settlement. Bissonnette, who left the Navy in April 2012, was the first SEAL from the bin Laden mission to cut a business deal based on his participation. Its hard for me to take when I've been reading books my whole life about former special operations warriors, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. The amount includes all of the $6.7 million in royalties he has earned on No Easy Day, as well as $100,000 in fees for six speeches he gave in early 2013 before the government approved the slides he used in such presentations. Accusations were flying on social media forums, lines in the sand have been drawn, and friendships have been ended, a post on the site said. Rick Woolard, a former SEAL team commander told The Associated Press that active-duty SEALs are pretty much very disappointed and I'd have to say angry with guys who have used their deeds and those of their companions for personal gain.". 'Members of SEAL Team Six havent discussed it publicly so theres a reasonable chance hes not being truthful. Take the recruitment quiz. He has reported from Afghanistan, Pakistan and several countries in the Middle East, focusing on terrorism, war and intelligence. The Washington Post said that it had planned to reveal his identity along with Fox News later this month. 'The families told me it helped bring them some closure,' he told the paper. My work in Kenya, for example, was heavily influenced by a Christian Science Monitor article I had forced myself to read 10 years earlier. A 2017 report from The Intercept claimed that O'Neill did shoot bin Laden but the Al-Qaeda leader may already have been dead. Navy SEALs, the . He fires at least one shot. In the Esquire interview his wife spoke about her concerns over a retaliatory attack. A weekly digest of Monitor views and insightful commentary on major events. Robert O'Neill says he shot bin Laden in the head Credit: AP:Associated Press 16 Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette wrote a book claiming he killed bin Laden Then there is SEAL Team Six's most. Hatch pointed out that leadership had allowed active-duty SEALs to participate in the movie Act of Valor, a fictionalized account of SEAL missions against terrorists around the globe. 'My ex-wife gave birth to a man. [I wanted to let the public know that SEALs] are real people with real families and real emotions and semi-normal lives. This much we know: On May 2, 2011, a group of Navy SEALs helicoptered into Pakistan under the cover of night and ambushed a compound that U.S. intelligence indicated was the residence of the worlds most wanted manOsama bin Laden. This contradicts the account of Matt Bissonnette, another former Seal involved in the . Since former U.S. Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill identified himself as the man who killed Osama bin Laden in an interview with the Washington Post, there have been competing narratives from members of the elite fighting unit about which of them actually killed the al Qaeda leader. After separating from the US Navy, O'Neill began working as a motivational speaker. Rep. Peter King, R.-N.Y., called for an Inspector Generals investigation in August 2011 after learning of reports in the media that Bigelow and Boal had enjoyed access to government officials. "[9], Of his decision to lay claim to killing bin Laden, O'Neill told CBS News that "I think it's a difficult secret to keep, [] Everyone was proud. The SEAL claimed that the 'point man' rushed up the stairs, and seeing bin Laden poke his head out of his bedroom door, shot him once in the head, gravely wounding him. IE 11 is not supported. Matthew Cole is an investigative producer for NBC News focusing on national security matters. He later claimed to have delivered the fatal blow to bin Laden himself, though this claim has proven controversial and has been disputed by another Navy SEAL who was involved. 'He was one of the quiet professionals performing the most difficult tasks in the most difficult circumstances, serving his remarkable career in the shadows and keeping America safe in the process.'. There's how many former generals, how many former CIA directors, how many former secretaries of defense? Would she like to see the Oval Office? [21] O'Neill has also published two books: Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. A Defense Department official told NBC News Tuesday that at the Defense Department's request, the Justice Department is investigating whether Bissonnette revealed classified information. He also acknowledges that at least two other SEALS, including Bissonnette, fired shots. A weekly update on music, movies, cultural trends, and education solutions. Others arent so sure. However being an unsung hero was not enough. And that's it,'" he said. MailOnline yesterday revealed that Rob O'Neill, a retired 16-year veteran of the elite squad is the man who says he shot bin Laden in the head to kill him. Behind the news are values that drive people and nations. same place.'. We still love each other.'. I was part of the greatest [SEAL] team ever assembled. I have 40 names in the contact list of my cell phone that are dead. These special forces operators, meant to be silent-but-deadly in their shadowy forays around the world, arent supposed to be popping off publicly about their exploits certainly not boasting for credit or financial gain. The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization offering calm, thoughtful, award-winning coverage for independent thinkers. His tale comes nearly two years after a colleague, Matt. Doesn't matter.. The Pentagon sent him a letter threatening legal action, and said he had revealed classified information. O'Neill's decision to speak out was prompted by losing some of his military benefits by quitting the SEALs after 16 years rather than staying for a full 20 years of service. Anna Schecter is a senior producer in the NBC News Investigations Unit. But his decision has been greeted with fury by the SEAL establishment. But their dueling narratives are a sign of the backbiting and dysfunction that has roiled a once tight-knit band of warriors as former members violate their code of secrecy in search of the spotlight. O'Neill is not the only one who has come under fire. In his interview, he confirmed that two other SEALS, including Bissonnette, fired shots at the al-Qaida leader. The Justice Department conducted criminal investigations into whether Mr. Bissonnette had disclosed classified information in his book or speeches and whether he had violated conflict-of-interest laws in consulting for companies that had contracts with SEAL Team 6. A deeper view that unites instead of divides, connecting why the story matters to you. Whatever he [O'Neill] says, he says. The real story of who killed bin Laden may have gone to the bottom of the ocean or been plowed back into the dirt in Abbottabad, writes Shane Harris, intelligence and national Security correspondent for The Daily Beast. Give me nine guys. . He handed her his phone so she could take selfies, but it was confiscated for the duration of the visit.I encountered the Wakuskis on the White House grounds soon after, and Nina was in a crouch, her head in her hands.I think shes in shock, Mr.Wakuski said, gushing with pride. Select stories from the Monitor that empower and uplift. Hear about special editorial projects, new product information, and upcoming events. O'Neill grew up in Butte, Montana, a former copper mining boomtown that has now fallen on hard times. When a previous SEAL went public, the then head of U.S. Special Operations took the personal steps of asking members of SEAL Team Six whether that account was accurate. 'We were expecting someone who was 6 ft. 8 in. He will speak fully of his role in that action later in November in the first part of a two-part Fox News interview. In the end, the department did not bring any criminal charges, settling instead for the cash forfeitures. One noted that he was speaking to them on 2 May 2013 - the second anniversary of the death of bin Laden, and not knowing his involvement in the most famous of all SEAL operations said: 'God Bless America.'. For O'Neill, the threat is a devastating fall from a position as a national if unknown hero. Who Fired the Shot That Killed Osama bin Laden. The first SEAL in the stack, the point man, sees a tall man stick his head out of the bedroom door on the third floor. US Navy/Wikipedia. [12] He served with SEAL Teams Two (19962001), Four (20012004), and Six (20042012), and attained the rank of senior chief petty officer. Mr. Luskin also noted that a number of high-level officials have assisted other authors writing about the Bin Laden raid as well as the creators of the movie Zero Dark Thirty. But, he said, only Mr. Bissonnette has paid any penalties for the disclosures. I dont want to touch that.. Copyright 2023 IBTimes LLC. Robert J. O'Neill (@mchooyah) September 12, 2014.