# Abbottabad is inland. Why send the Navy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2011, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679 "2011-05-04T11:38:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/21 "2011-05-04T17:05:01Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > Yeah, but if he was exercising, doing his jumping jacks, then we would’ve needed the Air Force, right? 😃 That would have been a mistake - he’d have seen the guys coming in from a mile away with their reflective belts 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/22 "2011-05-04T17:07:13Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > I heard on CNN this morning that it was because of the size of the unit. One of the others (didn’t pay attention to specifics) was too small, another was too big. Seal Team Six was exactly the right size and was perfectly trained for this type of mission. Wait..so these decisions are made by _Goldilocks_? ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/23 "2011-05-04T17:22:19Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Wait..so these decisions are made by _Goldilocks_? Snort!😃 Seriously, why can’t there be one amalgamated military force? This seems so silly and redundant. (also, not complaining about the results.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/24 "2011-05-04T19:22:09Z")
> [@](#): > > They even made us look at a real M-16 once too! [Army automatic weapon](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.defensereview.com/stories/m16clinic/M16%2520Viper%2520with%2520the%2520Coyote%2520Ugly%2520Finish,%2520by%2520M16%2520Clinic.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.defensereview.com/m16-viper-series-custom-556mm-weapons-packages-for-special-ops-video/&usg=__wQsNqi0kZM5UIzCclVwkGyf461Q=&h=337&w=697&sz=61&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=3y2iIfncjYsIWM:&tbnh=67&tbnw=139&ei=4KbBTc2fG8rZiAL8g_ijAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dm16%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26c2coff%3D1%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1199%26bih%3D889%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1) [Air Force automatic weapon](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.456fis.org/MIS-4/GAU-8_meets_VW_Type_1%255B1%255D.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.456fis.org/GAU-8_AVENGER.htm&h=1150&w=1800&sz=206&tbnid=tcHXMomMlix8UM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=150&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgau8%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=gau8&hl=en&usg=__JI6kRzZrp9BbSZrpmv-ERObGUP0=&sa=X&ei=K6fBTfLUDerRiALggJ2jAw&sqi=2&ved=0CCYQ9QEwAQ) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/25 "2011-05-04T19:27:43Z")
Yeah, but they won’t let you take a GAU-8 into a bar. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/26 "2011-05-04T19:33:33Z")
> [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](#): > > Seriously, why can’t there be one amalgamated military force? This seems so silly and redundant. (also, not complaining about the results.) Well, of course much of the reason is history, that’s just the way it worked out. But another reason I’ve heard given is protection against coups; it’s harder to get the leaders of several mutually competitive institutions to all agree to commit treason. A variation on “divide and conquer”. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/27 "2011-05-04T19:43:18Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > it was because of the size of the unit. Size doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![tingbudong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tingbudong/32/520_2.png) [@tingbudong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tingbudong)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/28 "2011-05-04T19:51:33Z")
> [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](#): > > Snort!😃 > Seriously, why can’t there be one amalgamated military force? This seems so silly and redundant. (also, not complaining about the results.) That was tried in Canada. It didn’t work out too well. Although technically I suppose it still is ‘united’ under the banner of Canadian Armed Forces with land, sea, air elements. ---
**Author:** ![tingbudong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tingbudong/32/520_2.png) [@tingbudong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tingbudong)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/29 "2011-05-04T19:55:14Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Wasn’t the attack launched from a carrier group? I believe it was launched from Afghanistan. I could be wrong, though. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/30 "2011-05-04T20:00:46Z")
> [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](#): > > …Seriously, why can’t there be one amalgamated military force? This seems so silly and redundant. (also, not complaining about the results.) Funny you should ask: [Why do we (the U.S.) have 5 seperate military branches? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=607189) The raid was launched from the USS _Carl Vinson_ carrier strike group: [Carrier Strike Group 1 - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_One). ---
**Author:** ![dmatsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@dmatsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmatsch)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/31 "2011-05-04T20:14:59Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Yeah, but they won’t let you take a GAU-8 into a bar. You, obviously never get invited to the good Air Force Bars. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/32 "2011-05-04T20:40:31Z")
> [@dmatsch](#): > > You, obviously never get invited to the good Air Force Bars. Well, there you go. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/33 "2011-05-04T22:44:01Z")
I think if you’ve got a GAU-8, then whether the bar _lets_ you in is kind of irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/34 "2011-05-04T22:51:40Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Also contingency. What if Bin Laden had been hiding in a jacuzzi? Only the SEALs are trained for amphibious operations. Or the Playboy Playmates, who are said to have extensive hand-to-hand experience in jacuzzis. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/35 "2011-05-04T23:46:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think if you’ve got a GAU-8, then whether the bar _lets_ you in is kind of irrelevant. If I’ve got some guys to help carry it. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/36 "2011-05-05T00:08:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think if you’ve got a GAU-8, then whether the bar _lets_ you in is kind of irrelevant. [jedi wave] You do not need to see his identification [/jedi wave] ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/37 "2011-05-05T00:23:01Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Well, of course much of the reason is history, that’s just the way it worked out. But another reason I’ve heard given is protection against coups; it’s harder to get the leaders of several mutually competitive institutions to all agree to commit treason. A variation on “divide and conquer”. Yet people still believe in conspiracy theories in the assassination of JFK. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/38 "2011-05-05T01:01:10Z")
It is increasingly common in the U.S. Armed Forces for various operations to be run by a Joint Command from all the military services. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/39 "2011-05-05T01:53:55Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > Seal Team Six was exactly the right size and was perfectly trained for this type of mission. Trained seals. Well there you go, shows how important the element of surprise is. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/40 "2011-05-05T02:03:58Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Only the SEALs are trained for amphibious operations. This, along with many other items, simply isn’t true. In fact, Special Operations units of all of the services are trained for some type of amphibious operations, and in particular US Marine Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalions, although the SEALS are (probably) the only Special Forces Units that have experience in deep submergence operations (as fictionally portrayed in James Cameron’s _The Abyss_). The essential answer to the o.p. (albeit not definitive) is that the United States Special Operations Command is a multi-service command intended to mix and match the Special Operations forces from different branches to assure that there is overlap capabilities to support any mission that might be undertaken by the United States armed forces. The Special Mission Units–the elite covert and direct action groups such as the Navy DEVGRU and the Army 1SOFD-D (colloquially “SEAL Team Six” and “Det Delta” respectively)–fall under the direct command of the Joint Special Operations Command. At the operator level, the SpecOps operators and those from the CIA Special Activities Division Special Operations Group, operate as _ad hoc_ teams regardless of branch affiliation. At the command level, on the other hand, command officers who are typically not themselves professional operators often tend to exhibit preferences or prejudices toward the different services without really understanding the capabilities of the units. Hence, an Army colonel or general may prefer Delta operators for a particular task even though there is a SEAL unit that is better trained for that particular mission. It is interesting to note (though not definitive) that the current commander of the JSOC (and frocked commander of the USSOCOM) is a Navy Vice Admiral. It may be that DEVGRU was best equipped, best prepared, had the best logistical support in place, or had some other asset that rendered them clearly most capable for this mission, or it may be that they were just in the right block on the dart board that day. Former Delta operator Pete Blaber’s half-memoir/half scathing criticism of the political command, _The Mission, The Men, and Me_ goes into great detail on the difference of how operators train and coordinate in the field, and the planning and “coordination” that occurs by often remote senior command. It is easy to dismiss his statements as a disgruntled operator who pretty clearly had his career capped, but his complaints fall largely in line with other criticisms I’ve seen and read, and his lack of bombast sets him aside from other former operators-turned-author/celebrities who are clearly attempting to cash in on the public enthusiasm for what is largely thought of as SpecOps. BTW, while the general perception of Special Operations in that it involves a lot of direction action, snatch & grab operations, and other really cinematic functions, the bulk of actual Special Operations work is actually surveillance and intelligence gathering, logistical support, training and fomenting insurgent forces, and other less than exciting roles that Chuck Norris would not be tempted to portray in his next direct-to-DVD offereing. The operators in _The Unit_ or _Navy SEALS_ may jet-set from one continent to another, gunning it out with enemies from unheard of Eastern European nations against flashy backdrops, but the reality is that even most field operators rarely engage in direct action operations outside of the battlefield, and most US Army soldiers who are authorized to wear a Special Forces tab are not field operators (although only Q Course graduates can wear the green beret). Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679.md?page=3)