[7], O'Neill told Esquire that he found himself in a United States Navy recruiting office after a relationship breakup. Former Team Six member Matt Bissonnette, who wrote a bestseller under a pseudonym about shooting bin Laden, is about to publish his second book about being a Navy SEAL. White House photographers snapped pix, which Mr.Wakuski and his wife eagerly await.Meanwhile, in Poland, Nina issuddenly famous, as the media have covered her adventure via Mr. Wakuskis tweets. 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. Youll get the Monitor Weekly magazine, the Monitor Daily email, and unlimited access to CSMonitor.com. Unlike ONeill, however, Bissonnette is under investigation by the federal government, which is trying to determine whether he disclosed classified information in his first book. The narrative conflicted with many elements of Bissonnette's telling, and in his opinion it is the SEALs' story to tell. I think it was apparent that we had done it. Born in Butte, Montana, on 10 April 1976,[1] Robert J. O'Neill[2] is the son of Tom O'Neill, Jim and Diane Johnson, and the brother of Tom O'Neill. First, he offered his version of events anonymouslyin the February 2013 Esquire profile, The Shooter. But by November 2014, he had revealed his true identity on FoxNews. A weekly digest of Monitor views and insightful commentary on major events. [14], Fellow SEAL Matt Bissonnette claims in No Easy Day that the unnamed point man actually fired the killing shots. It was his youngest wife, Amal.'. Robert ONeill, the former SEAL identified in several news accounts as the shooter who fired the fatal shot to bin Ladens head at close range, now says it doesnt matter who did so during that US raid on bin Ladens compound hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011. Despite his 16 years of service, O'Neill told the magazine that the SEALs had offered to get him a job delivering beer in Michigan, which he compared to witness protection for Mafia turncoats. 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. I'll explain the. Who shot Osama bin Laden? The Monitor is a peculiar little publication thats hard for the world to figure out. 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. Said Kirby, I'll just read for you the last paragraph: Within the Department of Defense, we did not identify instances whereby any Special Operations tactics, techniques and procedures-related information was provided to filmmakers., So, no. He showed that in a biography prepared for a course in hostage rescue he was instructing in his home state of Montana. (But probably dating back to Prussian Field Marshal Helmuth Von Moltke, whose rather less pithy remark was, No operation extends with any certainty beyond the first encounter with the main body of the enemy.). The decision of O'Neill to go public and speak at length will prompt fresh examination of that version of events, in which the SEAL said that 'The Shooter', now known to be O'Neill, had fired the first,non-fatal shot at bin Laden and that other SEALs finished him off. Doesn't matter.. He was decorated 52 times, leaving as senior chief petty officer. As the 23 SEALs (and a combat dog) dashed off the helicopters toward their planned positions, several barreled upstairs toward what was thought to be bin Ladens living quarters, according to several accounts, including this lengthy piece in Esquire magazine published last year. 'All members exposed to classified information have a duty obligation to protect this information, regardless of what may be reflected in the media, accurately or otherwise. "The most important thing that I've learned in the last two years is to me it doesn't matter anymore if I am 'The Shooter.' According to the site, public revelations about the Bin Laden raid had led to a rift in the tight-knit community of America's special operations warriors. ", at least 30 generals and admirals that haven't resigned, SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Secret Chinese Police Stations in Europe Are 'Tip of the Iceberg', Trump's Attorney Just Blew Carroll Rape Case, King Charles Says Royals Require 'Acting Ability', Ukraine Will Regain 'Significant Territory' From Russia, Florida GOP Paves the Way to Help Ron DeSantis Challenge Trump. At 25 years old, it would be easy to write him off, but he was a college guy who lost 2020. That appears to be a reference to unfounded claims of irregularities in the 2020 presidential election. You dont have a Christian Science Monitor Robert ONeill has a new book about being the man to fire the fatal shotsbut hes not the only one making thatclaim. I want her to write about her experience, but she says she cant remember anything.With time, details began to emerge. And I was talking to another SEAL Team Six operator with whom I've served for 20 years. His account did not match the story that ONeill was telling Esquire magazine around the same time. Thank you Mr. A SEAL source told MailOnline: 'The real shooter would never discuss it publicly. He used the interview to raise concerns about how veterans - including himself - were treated. Some of Bissonnettes peers also took issue with the book, which became a No. 'The families told me it helped bring them some closure,' he told the paper. People are asking if we are worried that ISIS will come and get us because Rob is going public. Somebody fired first, but others shot bin Laden too including, apparently, a number of SEALs who arrived seconds or minutes later, firing into bin Ladens body. Are corporations going liberal? I dont think he hit him, ONeill told Esquire. He then rushed past bin Laden's body to grab the two women in the room in case they were wearing suicide belts. Robert J. O'Neill (born 10 April 1976) is a former United States Navy SEAL (19962012), TV news contributor, and author. ONeill shoots bin Laden in the face and kills him. "And Tiny told me the response: 'Here's how you get the Americans out. Although it is not known if a similar operation is planned by the military, a SEAL Team Six 'operator' spoke to CNN in March 2013 to contradict the version of events O'Neill had then given anonymously to Esquire magazine. 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. [10], In 2013, O'Neill told The Montana Standard that he helped rescue SEAL Marcus Luttrell in Afghanistan, and that he was SEAL Team Six's "lead paratrooper" in the rescue of Richard Phillips from the Maersk Alabama hijacking; these missions were the bases of the 2013 films Lone Survivor and Captain Phillips, respectively. Matt Bissonnette, the SEAL behind O'Neill when bin Laden was shot, made millions out of his book No Easy Day but was forced to hand over the cash after the Pentagon sued him for not getting. "But we won't because we have a commander-in-chief that was put there through whatever happened at four in the morning on election night. Brandon gives some insight into why Navy . 'We will actively seek judicial consequence for members who willfully violate the law, and place our Teammates, our Families, and potential future operations at risk.'. O'Neill was arrested for driving under the influence Friday, April 8, 2016. His tale comes nearly two years after a colleague, Matt. glendale dmv driving test route selects academy at bishop kearney tuition matt bissonnette vs robert o'neill; 29. Bissonnette is currently under criminal investigation for possibly revealing classified information in his book, and during paid speaking engagements. He had been accused of violating federal law after penning a tell-all memoir. Bap! Upon his discharge from the Navy on 24 August 2012 (after 16.6 years), O'Neill was still assigned to SEAL Team Six at Virginia Beach, Virginia and had six months and 15 days of sea service to his credit. Mr. Bissonnette wrote in No Easy Day that he was one of the SEALs who shot Bin Laden, and he and Robert ONeill, another former SEAL Team 6 member who claims his shots were the fatal ones, have competed on the lecture circuit. We still love each other.'. 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. Log in to hide ads. More than three years after SEAL Team Six killed the terror leader, the elite group of warriors is at war with itself. His second book, No Hero, comes out next week. Were run by a church, but were not only for church members and were not about converting people. 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., I dont know who wrote the Ethos, and I dont care, ONeill replies when I bring up the letter to him. In that particular instance, one of ONeills best friends fired an important kill shot. Its not your life, he continues. subscription yet. Some Republicans charged that the Obama administration had provided secret access to the filmmakers. This is nonsense. This message will appear once per week The Shooter (the pieces title) is not identified, but is now generally assumed to have been ONeill who now works as a motivational speaker. . Navy SEALs are meant to keep quiet about their deadly missions around the world. Bissonnette had not submitted the book, which gives his account of the bin Laden raid, for prepublication review with the Department of Defense. Essentially deleting him from our lives, but for safety reasons. I knew it was him immediately, ONeill says. It is not difficult," O'Neill said. same place.'. matt bissonnette vs robert o'neillkpop idols who know martial arts; matt bissonnette vs robert o'neillhouses for rent by owner in calhoun, ga; matt bissonnette vs robert o'neilljim jon prokes cause of death; matt bissonnette vs robert o'neillcafe patachou nutrition information "The embarrassment is just going to keep growing over this," Laura Harth, the campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told Newsweek. Give me nine guys. "And that's how you should feel. 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.'. Copyright IBTimes 2023. He has reported from Afghanistan, Pakistan and several countries in the Middle East, focusing on terrorism, war and intelligence. [12] He served with SEAL Teams Two (19962001), Four (20012004), and Six (20042012), and attained the rank of senior chief petty officer. This contradicts the account of Matt Bissonnette, another former Seal involved in the . In the corner of the room, Bin Ladens 2-year-old son was wobbling on his two chubby legs, crying. Soon she found herself within earshot of the president himself and seized the opportunity.Suffice it to say, the grown-ups who cover President Biden dont get rewarded with a trip to the Oval when they shout a question. Were about kicking down the door of thought everywhere and saying, You are bigger and more capable than you realize. "[15], As of August2020[update], the federal government of the United States had neither confirmed nor denied O'Neill's claims,[16] though Rear Admiral Brian L. Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci did encourage all SEALs to abide by their code of silence, saying, "At Naval Special Warfare's core is the SEAL ethos [] A critical tenant [sic] of our ethos is 'I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions.' One other SEAL has previously gone public - Matt Bissonnette. But as is often said at the Pentagon, No plan survives contact with the enemy a quote variously attributed to Napoleon, Dwight Eisenhower, or George Patton. But deciding to speak publicly may surprise some. SOFREP understands that Chesney's relationship with his former command is good. [17], On October 14, 2020, US President Donald Trump re-tweeted an unfounded conspiracy theory that suggested Osama bin Laden was still alive and a body double was shot. Details of three of his missions have been turned into Hollywood action hits. Unlike Matt Bissonnette, also known as Mark Owen, who burned down a lot of bridges when he decided to publish. In his book Bissonnette said that bin Laden was on the floor having already been shot when he and other SEALs entered his room, having been fired upon by another SEAL when he craned his head into the hall as the team approached. However being an unsung hero was not enough. The official was not aware of any similar request for an investigation of O'Neill. Navy SEALs, the . Mr. Bissonnette acknowledged that he was required under his security clearances to let the Pentagon review the book, and he blamed another lawyer for advising him that he did not need to do so. "Everyone veteran, Marine, airman and navy SEAL coastguards everyone I've talked to today, all they tell me is they feel gross," O'Neill went on. Nina was prepared with a question for press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the kids briefing that morning with offspring of White House reporters, but she wasnt called on. 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. It's insulting," he said. What theyve done is dishonorable, he said. On Oct. 31, Rear Adm. John Kirby cited the final lines of the finished report to deny that the Pentagon had provided any sensitive information to Zero Dark Thirty filmmakers. ONeill stood there frozen as more SEALs made their way into the room. The terror leader was standing up, and O'Neill said he saw a gun, the AK-47 which bin Laden was known to have, on a shelf. The firsthand account of the daring raid was one of several high-profile books and movies involving former Navy SEALS that has led to criticism within a community once known for discretion that Mr. Bissonnette and the others were cashing in on their exploits. I watched cool guys do cool stuff, and then I did something cool., the Somali pirates who boarded Captain Richard Phillips ship in April 2009, Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect, Real Italians Put Hot Dogs and French Fries on Their Pizza, The Other Drug War: Inside the World of Counterfeit Viagra, The $65 Million Art Heist That Put Oceans Eleven to Shame. Latest book reviews, author interviews, and reading trends. He will speak fully of his role in that action later in November in the first part of a two-part Fox News interview. Hes just in the middle of a shit storm rightnow. Said Hatch, The same leadership that promoted and produced Act of Valor now want to punish people who did some heavy lifting. It's All About Money', "A Marine Medal of Honor recipient and the Navy SEAL who shot Bin Laden are writing a self-help book", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_J._O%27Neill&oldid=1150667288, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox military person with embed, Articles containing potentially dated statements from August 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 19 April 2023, at 12:37. In the Esquire version of the raid, ONeill is second in the stack. 19802023 The Christian Science Monitor. 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.". His decision to talk came nearly two years after another team member, Matt Bissonnette, published a controversial account of the raid in the book titled, "No Easy Day."It also follows what O . The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization offering calm, thoughtful, award-winning coverage for independent thinkers. In the Esquire interview his wife spoke about her concerns over a retaliatory attack. Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill has suggested that he fired the fatal shot that killed Osama bin Laden. I got into the famous bin Laden bedroom because they led me there. -- The United States has settled its years-long legal battle with . I just remember combat SEALs laughing at it the first time they read it. Same story, different year! But you know what? Martin Gould for MailOnline Rob ONeill, meanwhile, is the unnamed shooter who was credited in numerous magazine articles with firing the fatal shots, and according to two SEAL sources will be presented again as the shooter in a Fox News interview that airs later this month. Robert ONeill did not respond to an NBC News request for comment. Robert J. O'Neill (@mchooyah) September 12, 2014. This website uses cookies to you are agreeing to our, Fleeing Sudan: Evacuation challenge tests nations values, In Philippines, joint military drills leave locals torn on US presence, What Paraguay election means for Taiwan, and US-China competition. My retweet of his post on Nina and Mr. Bidengot a lot of love.Does Nina want to be a journalist when she grows up? When President Obama met with members of the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team Six, following the 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, he asked them to identify the man among them who fired the shots that had dispatched the al-Qaida leader. He also began hearing secondhand comments from other SEALs: With all the extra attention, why is he bragging aboutit?, But he says he understands the backlash. You can renew your subscription or

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