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US Navy SEALs - the elite soldiers at the killing edge
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) ^ | 4th May 2011 | Ian McPhedran

Posted on 05/03/2011 5:22:14 PM PDT by naturalman1975

THEIR motto - Failure is Not an Option - would have been ringing in the ears of the Navy SEALs as they flew into Pakistan to capture or kill Osama bin Laden.

Their mission was so meticulously planned they built a full replica of the target compound to train in.

The SEALs (SEa, Air, Land) are one of the US military's most diverse special forces units. For the bin Laden raid they were joined by members of the US Army Delta Force and CIA specialists.

It was a SEAL from counter-terrorist Seal Team 6 who delivered the fatal shot to the world's most wanted man.

They have a long and proud history and, despite being a US Navy unit, they have suffered considerable losses in land-locked Afghanistan where they have fought alongside Australian SAS units since late 2001.

The mission to take out bin Laden was code named Operation Geronimo and was months in the planning.

According to insiders, the kill team, made up of SEAL, Delta Force and CIA Special Activities Division operators, the paramilitary branch of the agency, was probably formed several years ago and has been waiting patiently for its chance to catch or kill the world's most wanted man.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailytelegraph.com.au ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: binladen; specialforces; usnavy

1 posted on 05/03/2011 5:22:17 PM PDT by naturalman1975
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To: naturalman1975

SEALS ARE NOT SOLDIERS!!!!


2 posted on 05/03/2011 5:27:17 PM PDT by Ronin ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves" -- Bertrand de Jouve)
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To: naturalman1975

Buzz Sawyer was the first.


3 posted on 05/03/2011 5:29:14 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Eh ?)
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To: Ronin

Thank you.


4 posted on 05/03/2011 5:30:14 PM PDT by rabidralph (http://www.conservativedna.com/)
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To: Ronin
SEALS ARE NOT SOLDIERS!!!!

A close friend had a son who was a SEAL. He was more a champion type swimmer.

5 posted on 05/03/2011 5:34:12 PM PDT by Ole Okie (++++++)
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To: Ronin
You are correct, of course, but this article was written primarily for an Australian audience, to explain what SEALs are (yes, a lot do know already, but certainly not all). The headline, like all headlines, is designed to grab their attention to get to read the article. Which includes the statement:

They have a long and proud history and, despite being a US Navy unit, they have suffered considerable losses in land-locked Afghanistan where they have fought alongside Australian SAS units since late 2001.

If you want to teach people things, you need to first of all get them to read it.

6 posted on 05/03/2011 5:39:34 PM PDT by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: Ronin

THANK YOU!


7 posted on 05/03/2011 5:40:47 PM PDT by Marty62 (Marty60)
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To: naturalman1975

My step nephew started his SEAL training last summer. He got thru Hell Week just fine. Although he said the term “Hell Week” actually sounded like a lovely place compared to the reality of that part of the training. We are so proud of him.
There is a guy who lives near here who claims to have been the commander of SEAL team one in Vietnam. I have no idea if that is true.


8 posted on 05/03/2011 5:43:02 PM PDT by madamemayhem (defeat is not getting knocked down, it is not getting back up.)
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To: Marty62

I know I shouldn’t have shouted, but it’s aggravating when MSM writers are so obviously clueless about the things they report.

Someone told me that you could technically call a Marine a soldier, based on job description, but I wouldn’t want to try it.


9 posted on 05/03/2011 5:43:42 PM PDT by Ronin ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves" -- Bertrand de Jouve)
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To: Ronin

Ian McPhedran isn’t clueless about the military, or for that matter about elite special forces - he’s a real expert, actually. I don’t know who wrote the headline for his article, but headlines are written to get people to read the article - not for absolute accuracy.


10 posted on 05/03/2011 5:47:30 PM PDT by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: Ronin

I’ve come to the conclusion that the majority of “reporters” don’t even bother to do basic research.


11 posted on 05/03/2011 5:47:46 PM PDT by Marty62 (Marty60)
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To: naturalman1975
The action was filmed by helmet cameras worn by the troops on the ground and beamed to Washington via satellite.

That's so Eric Holder's boys at Justice can determine if any violations of US, International or Zimbabwe law occurred. The last SEAL Team that slapped a terrorist around got Captain's Mast.

12 posted on 05/03/2011 6:04:22 PM PDT by Jacquerie (Obamadollars, currency of Acorn Nation.)
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To: Ronin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_SEALs


13 posted on 05/03/2011 6:10:44 PM PDT by Mr. Wright
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To: madamemayhem

Regarding that neighbor who claims to have been a SEAL..contact VeriSEAL or one of the other websites that authenticates former special forces operators. The SF community is (rightly) tired of phonies and they can tell you if this guy is legit within a matter of hours.

And, if your neighbor proves to be a fraud, find out if he’s made any public speeches or appearances making claims about his “SEAL” background. If so, contact your local FBI or U.S. attorney’s office. Despite a reversal in a California case, many federal prosecutors still go after individuals who make false claims about their military careers under the Stolen Valor Act.

The very thought of someone trading on the valor of real-life heroes sickens me. The phonies deserve to be exposed and punished.


14 posted on 05/03/2011 6:27:53 PM PDT by ExNewsExSpook
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To: naturalman1975

Navy SEALs: they'll shoot your eyes out!


15 posted on 05/03/2011 6:50:40 PM PDT by Travis McGee (Navy SEALs: they'll shoot your eyes out.)
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To: naturalman1975
THEIR motto - Failure is Not an Option

I would submit that for this operation they use the motto of my ancestors from Scotland:

'Nemo Me Impune Lacessit', 'None shall provoke or injure me with impunity'.

16 posted on 05/03/2011 7:26:46 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (The best is the enemy of the good!)
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To: Ronin

Roger that.

Are they “sailors” then? Not trying to be funny, I really want to know.


17 posted on 05/03/2011 7:34:06 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. That should be a convenience store, not a Government Agency.)
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To: West Texas Chuck

They are SEALS. Period.

Like Marines are Marines. Period.

Both associated with the Navy but not sailors.


18 posted on 05/03/2011 7:43:24 PM PDT by Mears
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To: Mears

Wrong. They’re still sailors. They wear Navy uniforms, they have Navy ranks, they are just as competent in their ratings (job specialties) as others in their pay-grades and have to pass the same tests for advancement as other sailors do.

They don’t spend all their time on the teams. If a SEAL is going to make the Navy a career, it is expected that they will sometimes transfer back into the fleet where they will work just like their non-SEAL counterparts and gain the requisite professional experience expected for their rank.

They still get to wear their Trident though, so nobody will ever accuse them of being “just” a sailor.


19 posted on 05/03/2011 8:00:58 PM PDT by Ronin ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves" -- Bertrand de Jouve)
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To: Mears

I question your post. I do not agree with elitism.

All our men and women in uniform serving with bravery on behalf of our country deserve equal respect.

I applaud our Marines and Seals, but they could not do anything without the support of techs and sailors and grunts.

Let’s applaud the ordinary, extra-ordinary guys and gals who make things work. And also die in combat.

To be unremembered, unrecognized because they were not part of an elite team?


20 posted on 05/03/2011 10:47:27 PM PDT by saltus (God's Will be done)
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