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Report: Obama Canceled Bin Laden Raid Three Times
Power Line ^ | JULY 30, 2012 | JOHN HINDERAKER

Posted on 07/30/2012 11:47:59 AM PDT by RobinMasters

The Daily Caller has a preview of an explosive claim contained in a book by Richard Miniter that will be published next month: Before finally approving the SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden, President Obama blocked it three times:

At the urging of Valerie Jarrett, President Barack Obama canceled the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on three separate occasions before finally approving the May 2, 2011 Navy SEAL mission, according to an explosive new book scheduled for release August 21. The Daily Caller has seen a portion of the chapter in which the stunning revelation appears.

In ”Leading From Behind: The Reluctant President and the Advisors Who Decide for Him,“ Richard Miniter writes that Obama canceled the “kill” mission in January 2011, again in February, and a third time in March. Obama’s close adviser Valerie Jarrett persuaded him to hold off each time, according to the book.

Miniter’s book suggests that Obama got cold feet one more time before finally approving the raid:

Obama administration officials also said after the raid that the president had delayed giving the order to kill the arch-terrorist the day before the operation was carried out, in what turned out to be his fourth moment of indecision. At the time, the White House blamed the delay on unfavorable weather conditions near bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

(Excerpt) Read more at powerlineblog.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: book; leadingfrombehind; obama; richardminiter
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1 posted on 07/30/2012 11:48:01 AM PDT by RobinMasters
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To: RobinMasters

A Wimp.


2 posted on 07/30/2012 11:50:33 AM PDT by Red Steel
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To: RobinMasters

I got a malware warning earlier today when I went to the DailyCaller


3 posted on 07/30/2012 11:53:14 AM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's Welfare, Food Stamps, Division and Disability 'Legacy')
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To: RobinMasters

There is a rumor that Obama’s “approval” of the “directive” was to officially “defer” to a general. He figured out a way to avoid responsibility in case it went wrong.

He assigned the responsibility of deciding whether or not to execute the plan to one of his generals.

He “directed” nothing. He voted present and would have denied that he directed the mission to proceed. He intentionally lined up a scapegoat beforehand.


4 posted on 07/30/2012 11:56:41 AM PDT by Tenacious 1 (The Click-&-Paste Media exists & works in Utopia, riding unicorns & sniffing pixy dust.)
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To: TribalPrincess2U

ok now.

Also see this story..

New book: Obama’s 2nd term will feature ‘green bank,’ more energy stimulus, talk radio censorship

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/30/new-book-obamas-2nd-term-will-feature-green-bank-more-energy-stimulus-talk-radio-censorship/#ixzz228LlCsFB


5 posted on 07/30/2012 11:56:45 AM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's Welfare, Food Stamps, Division and Disability 'Legacy')
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To: RobinMasters

Are there any men in Washington ???


6 posted on 07/30/2012 11:58:19 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana (Why should I vote for Bishop Romney when he hates me because I am a Christian)
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To: RobinMasters
At the urging of Valerie Jarrett, President Barack Obama canceled the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on three separate occasions before finally approving the May 2, 2011 Navy SEAL mission

My bet is that Pannetta had the op on the way before Obama even heard of it (and Jarrett had a chance to nix it). Obama had given some sort of blanket 'if you get the opportunity, take it' approval in the past. THey got the intel, they rolled, and then informed him when it was pretty much a done deal, keeping Jarrett out of the loop.

About all Obama could do at that point was claim credit.

7 posted on 07/30/2012 12:02:30 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
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To: Red Steel

So it took the threat of revealing his true birth history to make the call.


8 posted on 07/30/2012 12:03:56 PM PDT by naturalborn
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To: RobinMasters

Does the book include the intel that would provide any reason for the cancellations?


9 posted on 07/30/2012 12:04:37 PM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: Red Steel

I would like to share a story I was told weeks after obama “gave the order” to kill osama. Traveled to arizona and was picked up at the airport by the hotel property I was staying. The driver had mentioned that her son was in the marines and some of his friends were part of seal team 6. According to the driver, seal team 6 spent a month in hiding near osama’s compound because obama would NOT give the kill order. Finally, the decision was made by hillary clinton and robert gates. The driver-lady seemed sincere, but I didn’t tell many people because the claim was too easy to refute. But now this claim has greater credibility.

Something else to consider. If this story is true, think of the danger seal team 6 was under to avoid capture. Just because obama didn’t have the backbone to make a decision.


10 posted on 07/30/2012 12:05:32 PM PDT by Son-Joshua (son-joshua)
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To: RobinMasters
Prediction: All of a sudden, the White House will become very interested and will take drastic measures to find out who's leaking stuff!
11 posted on 07/30/2012 12:06:28 PM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim ('Nancy Pelosi is a DINGBAT.' - Gov. Sarah Palin)
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To: RobinMasters

I still don’t know who wrote this. It does however match the bits and pieces gleaned from other sources.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT??
“What Valerie Jarrett, and the president, did not know is that Leon Panetta had already initiated a program that reported to him –and only him, involving a covert on the ground attack against the compound.” Q: You stated that President Obama was “overruled” by military/intelligence officials regarding the decision to send in military specialists into the Osama Bin Laden compound. Was that accurate? A: I was told – in these exact terms, “we overruled him.” (Obama)

I have since followed up and received further details on exactly what that meant, as well as the specifics of how Leon Panetta worked around the president’s “persistent hesitation to act.” There appears NOT to have been an outright overruling of any specific position by President Obama, simply because there was no specific position from the president to do so. President Obama was, in this case, as in all others, working as an absentee president. (Notice that Panetta is NOT in the room)

This update comes some 24 hours after our longtime Washington D.C. Insider first outlined shocking details of an Obama administration having been “overruled” by senior military and intelligence officials leading up to the successful attack against terrorist Osama Bin Laden. What follows is further clarification of Insider’s insights surrounding that event.

I was correct in stating there had been a push to invade the compound for several weeks if not months, primarily led by Leon Panetta, Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates, David Petraeus, and Jim Clapper. The primary opposition to this plan originated from Valerie Jarrett, and it was her opposition that was enough to create uncertainty within President Obama. Obama would meet with various components of the pro-invasion faction, almost always with Jarrett present, and then often fail to indicate his position. This situation continued for some time, though the division between Jarrett/Obama and the rest intensified more recently, most notably from Hillary Clinton.

She was livid over the president’s failure to act, and her office began a campaign of anonymous leaks to the media indicating such. As for Jarrett, her concern rested on two primary fronts. One, that the military action could fail and harm the president’s already weakened standing with both the American public and the world. Second, that the attack would be viewed as an act of aggression against Muslims, and further destabilize conditions in the Middle East.

Q: What changed the president’s position and enabled the attack against Osama Bin Laden to proceed? A: Nothing changed with the president’s opinion – he continued to avoid having one. Every time military and intelligence officials appeared to make progress in forming a position, Jarrett would intervene and the stalling would begin again.

Hillary started the ball really rolling as far as pressuring Obama began, but it was Panetta and Petraeus who ultimately pushed Obama to finally act – sort of. Panetta was receiving significant reports from both his direct CIA sources, as well as Petraeus-originating Intel. Petraeus was threatening to act on his own via a bombing attack. Panetta reported back to the president that a bombing of the compound would result in successful killing of Osama Bin Laden, and little risk to American lives. Initially, as he had done before, the president indicated a willingness to act. But once again, Jarrett intervened, convincing the president that innocent Pakistani lives could be lost in such a bombing attack, and Obama would be left attempting to explain Panetta’s failed policy. Again Obama hesitated – this time openly delaying further meetings to discuss the issue with Panetta.

A brief meeting was held at this time with other officials, including Secretary Gates and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but Gates, like Panetta, was unable to push the president to act. It was at this time that Gates indicated to certain Pentagon officials that he may resign earlier than originally indicated – he was that frustrated. Both Panetta and Clinton convinced him to stay on and see the operation through.

What happened from there is what was described by me as a “masterful manipulation” by Leon Panetta. Panetta indicated to Obama that leaks regarding knowledge of Osama Bin Laden’s location were certain to get out sooner rather than later, and action must be taken by the administration or the public backlash to the president’s inaction would be “…significant to the point of political debilitation.” It was at that time that Obama stated an on-ground campaign would be far more acceptable to him than a bombing raid. This was intended as a stalling tactic, and it had originated from Jarrett. Such a campaign would take both time, and present a far greater risk of failure.

The president had been instructed by Jarrett to inform Mr., Panetta that he would have sole discretion to act against the Osama Bin Laden compound. Jarrett believed this would further delay Panetta from acting, as the responsibility for failure would then fall almost entirely on him. What Valerie Jarrett, and the president, did not know is that Leon Panetta had already initiated a program that reported to him –and only him, involving a covert on the ground attack against the compound. Basically, the whole damn operation was already ready to go – including the specific team support Intel necessary to engage the enemy within hours of being given notice.

Panetta then made plans to proceed with an on-ground assault. This information reached either Hillary Clinton or Robert Gates first (likely via military contacts directly associated with the impending mission) who then informed the other. Those two then met with Panetta, who informed each of them he had been given the authority by the president to proceed with a mission if the opportunity presented itself. Both Gates and Clinton warned Panetta of the implications of that authority – namely he was possibly being made into a scapegoat. Panetta admitted that possibility, but felt the opportunity to get Bin Laden outweighed that risk. During that meeting, Hillary Clinton was first to pledge her full support for Panetta, indicating she would defend him if necessary. Similar support was then followed by Gates.

The following day, and with Panetta’s permission, Clinton met in private with Bill Daley and urged him to get the president’s full and open approval of the Panetta plan. Daley agreed such approval would be of great benefit to the action, and instructed Clinton to delay proceeding until he had secured that approval. Daley contacted Clinton within hours of their meeting indicating Jarrett refused to allow the president to give that approval. Daley then informed Clinton that he too would fully support Panetta in his actions, even if it meant disclosing the president’s indecision to the American public should that action fail to produce a successful conclusion. Clinton took that message back to Panetta and the CIA director initiated the 48 hour engagement order.

At this point, the President of the United States was not informed of the engagement order – it did not originate from him, and for several hours after the order had been given and the special ops forces were preparing for action into Pakistan from their position in Afghanistan, Daley successfully kept Obama and Jarrett insulated from that order. This insulation ended at some point with an abort order that I believe originated from Valerie Jarrett’s office, and was then followed up by President Obama. This abort order was later explained as a delay due to weather conditions, but the actual conditions at that time would have been acceptable for the mission. A storm system had been in the area earlier, but was no longer an issue. Check the data yourself to confirm.

Jarrett, having been caught off guard, was now scrambling to determine who had initiated the plan. She was furious, repeating the acronym “CoC” and saying it was not being followed. This is where Bill Daley intervened. The particulars of that intervention are not clear to me beyond knowing he did meet with Jarrett in his office and following that meeting, Valerie Jarrett was not seen in the West Wing for some time, and apparently no longer offered up any resistance to the Osama Bin Laden mission. What did follow from there was one or more brief meetings between Bill Daley, Hillary Clinton, a representative from Robert Gates’ office, a representative from Leon Panetta’s office, and a representative from Jim Clapper’s office. I have to assume that these meetings were in essence, detailing the move to proceed with the operation against the Osama Bin Laden compound.

I have been told by more than one source that Leon Panetta was directing the operation with both his own CIA operatives, as well as direct contacts with military – both entities were reporting to Panetta only at this point, and not the President of the United States. There was not going to be another delay as had happened 24 hour earlier. The operation at this point, was in effect, unknown to President Barack Obama or Valerie Jarrett and it remained that way until AFTER it was already underway. President Obama was literally pulled from a golf outing and escorted back to the White House to be informed of the mission. Upon his arrival there was a briefing held which included Bill Daley, John Brennan, and a high ranking member of the military. When Obama emerged from the briefing, he was described as looking “very confused and uncertain.” The president was then placed in the “situation room” where several of the players in this event had already been watching the operation unfold.

Another interesting tidbit regarding this is that the Vice President was already “up to speed” on the operation. A source indicated they believe Hillary Clinton had personally made certain the Vice President was made aware of that day’s events before the president was. The now famous photo released shows the particulars of that of that room and its occupants. What that photo does not communicate directly is that the military personnel present in that room during the operation unfolding, deferred to either Hillary Clinton or Robert Gates.

The president’s role was minimal, including their acknowledging of his presence in the room. At the conclusion of the mission, after it had been repeatedly confirmed a success, President Obama was once again briefed behind closed doors. The only ones who went in that room besides the president were Bill Daley. John Brennan, and a third individual whose identity remains unknown to me. When leaving this briefing, the president came out of it “…much more confident. Much more certain of himself.” He was also carrying papers in his hand that quite possibly was the address to the nation given later that evening on the Bin Laden mission. The president did not have those papers with him prior to that briefing. The president then returned to the war room, where by this time, Leon Panetta had personally arrived and was receiving congratulations from all who were present.

In my initial communication to you of these events I described what unfolded as a temporary Coup initiated by high ranking intelligence and military officials. I stand by that term. These figures worked around the uncertainty of President Obama and the repeated resistance of Valerie Jarrett. If they had not been willing to do so, I am certain Osama Bin Laden would still be alive today. There will be no punishment to those who acted outside the authority of the president’s office. The president cannot afford to admit such a fact. What will be most interesting from here is to now see what becomes of Valerie Jarrett. One source indicated she is threatening resignation. I find that unlikely given my strong belief she needs the protection afforded her by the Oval Office and its immense powers to delay and eventually terminate investigations back in Chicago, but we shall see.


12 posted on 07/30/2012 12:07:13 PM PDT by W. W. SMITH (Maybe the horse (RNC) will learn to sing)
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To: TribalPrincess2U

They got the site fixed. It was under attack. Weasel Zippers was attacked for running the story, too.


13 posted on 07/30/2012 12:08:33 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Bocephus hits a home run! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_vjPqAVzI)
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To: Smokin' Joe

Jarret did not give permission. Jarret did not think Leon Panetta had the testicular fortitude to make the decision. Leon slapped them in her face and ordered the mission. Obama had absolutely nothing to do with the mission.


14 posted on 07/30/2012 12:11:15 PM PDT by W. W. SMITH (Maybe the horse (RNC) will learn to sing)
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To: RobinMasters

I can hear the excuses now. (If they had missed him...)

“We were there just seconds after he left. It was that close!”

Nevermind it took months to get “Mr. Present” to sign off.

What did we expect from a Resident?

My take is that this guy will get every illegal alien vote. He’s their ultimate hero, something they an aspire too, if only they’re as slick and connected to global Marxists and problematic Imams as he is.


15 posted on 07/30/2012 12:17:42 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Remove all Democrats from the Republican party, and we won't have much Left, just a lot of Right.)
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To: Smokin' Joe

bttt


16 posted on 07/30/2012 12:18:37 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: RobinMasters

I’ll bet Obama has said to himself, “Damn! I gave the guy four months to get out of there. What more could I do?”

Then he goes on the tube to proclaim what a fantastic CIC he is.

If this guy gets one vote, it’s one too many.


17 posted on 07/30/2012 12:19:37 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Remove all Democrats from the Republican party, and we won't have much Left, just a lot of Right.)
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To: RobinMasters

Val_erie: “Now, Barock, Mooslims don’t kill Mooslims”


18 posted on 07/30/2012 12:24:00 PM PDT by TRY ONE (Obummer: The economy sucks......might as well go play golf)
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To: RobinMasters

It’s made Israeli news:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/158411#.UBarL5WuXwz


19 posted on 07/30/2012 12:24:33 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Bocephus hits a home run! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_vjPqAVzI)
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To: RobinMasters
Bin Laden moved into the Abbottabad compound in January 2006 under an agreement between the Saudi officials and the Pakistan intelligence service. With the informants the CIA had in ISI and the Paki military and considering the huge reward on Osama’s head it's likely senior U.S. officials knew that year of his exact location. What kept the Bush Administration from acting was fear of alienating Pakistan when Paki cooperation was essential to the war in Afghanistan. The bulk of U.S. logistical materiels comes through the Port of Karachi and is trucked overland across Pakistan to Kandahar. Pakistan was mostly turning a blind eye to U.S. raids and drone strikes inside their border.

In the 2007-2008 primary debates Obama repeatedly said he would not hesitate violating Pakistani sovereignty if he learned Bin Laden was in Pakistan. This caused some diplomatic rumbles. Osama whereabouts were likely leaked to Obama sometime during the primary by some high official who was sympathetic to his election.

When Obama played the Bin Laden card he did so knowing that the consequences could be the destabilization of the current Paki regime and a reemergence of the Taliban. The Saudis may have signed off on the raid with the condition that Bin Laden was killed because a living Bin Laden could implicate a long list of Saudi terror patrons.

20 posted on 07/30/2012 12:25:48 PM PDT by Brad from Tennessee (A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
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