# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/41 "2011-05-05T02:33:50Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Seal Team Six is part of [JSOC](http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/the-secret-team-that-killed-bin-laden-20110502), which, interestingly, is the group that Seymour Hersh [referred to](http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/sy-hersh-cheney-ran-assassin-ring) as “an executive assassination ring.” And equally interestingly, Seymour Hersh wears tin-foil hats, and is not at all a credible source. I’d sooner accept a Truther telling me about the temperature steel melts at, or a Birther telling me about the validity of various forms of birth certificates, than accept anything he has to say. How about an actually valid cite for this “executive assassination ring” claim, eh? ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/42 "2011-05-05T02:48:06Z")
I can back up what **Stranger** says. I’ve worked with these guys off and on over the years both in the country and in theater (have never actually been on a mission with them, though) and I’ve never felt safer. My impression is that they are the elite of the elite, and this perception is mirrored in most of my peers, in all services. If you watch Blackhawk Down, you can see the Delta operators are much more tactically prepared and savvy than the other operators. This is the movie portrayal, but I’ve heard from guys that were there that it’s accurate. I’ve also heard that the problem the Delta operators ran into in that scenario (getting outranked by a Ranger officer and told to do something they knew was not a good course of action) has been fixed, and that any Delta operator will be in charge despite the rank of other service operators. No idea if that’s true, but I’d believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/43 "2011-05-05T04:25:34Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > And equally interestingly, Seymour Hersh wears tin-foil hats, and is not at all a credible source. I’d sooner accept a Truther telling me about the temperature steel melts at, or a Birther telling me about the validity of various forms of birth certificates, than accept anything he has to say. How about an actually valid cite for this “executive assassination ring” claim, eh? Seymour Hersh is a very credible journalist. He broke the story of the My La massacre in Vietnam. He broke the story of the Abu Graib prisoner abuse in Iraq. He may interpret facts differently than you or I, but he does not make them up. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/44 "2011-05-05T12:31:03Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Or the Playboy Playmates, who are said to have extensive hand-to-hand experience in jacuzzis. I think you’re a bit off on where their hands are going to… ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/45 "2011-05-05T12:39:25Z")
Interesting note. According to a seal who was interviewed locally, there is no seal team six. It’s called the _Dev team_. Dev for development. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/46 "2011-05-05T13:36:30Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Interesting note. According to a seal who was interviewed locally, there is no seal team six. It’s called the _Dev team_. Dev for development. That is what is says on the wiki page for [SEAL Team Six](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_Team_Six). ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/47 "2011-05-05T15:28:15Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > From Carl Vinson. I looked at a map and I find it difficult to believe that the operation would be staged from an aircraft carrier that had to be over 750 miles from Abbottabad when the Afghan border is only 120 miles away. Even if the equipment came off the Vinson it would make sense to fly to one of our Forward Operating Bases in eastern Afghanistan and stage the operation from there. They could then scoot back over the border with some jets waiting over the border if the Pakistani air force decided to take some action. I suspect that the whole story about staging the operation from the Vinson is to save the Afghan government the embarrassment of admitting that we invaded Pakistan without telling them. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/48 "2011-05-05T15:35:45Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I looked at a map and I find it difficult to believe that the operation would be staged from an aircraft carrier that had to be over 750 miles from Abbottabad when the Afghan border is only 120 miles away. Even if the equipment came off the Vinson it would make sense to fly to one of our Forward Operating Bases in eastern Afghanistan and stage the operation from there. They could then scoot back over the border with some jets waiting over the border if the Pakistani air force decided to take some action. > > I suspect that the whole story about staging the operation from the Vinson is to save the Afghan government the embarrassment of admitting that we invaded Pakistan without telling them. They might indeed have either staged from Afghanistan or just stopped there to refuel. But Carl Vinson is where the mission originated and was controlled from. It is also where Bin Laden’s body ended up. ---
**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 5, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/49 "2011-05-05T15:59:06Z")
…and may I just offer my tangential opinion that we shouldn’t be naming supercarriers after relatively obscure members of Congress, even those who were stalwart supporters of the Navy: [Carl Vinson - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Vinson); [John C. Stennis - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Stennis). They just don’t fit in with the former Presidents otherwise honored. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/50 "2011-05-05T16:07:20Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > They might indeed have either staged from Afghanistan or just stopped there to refuel. But Carl Vinson is where the mission originated and was controlled from. It is also where Bin Laden’s body ended up. If Blackhawk helicopters were used it would be impossible for the action to be conducted directly from the Vinson. It would be too far even with extended range tanks. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky\_UH-60\_Black\_Hawk#Specifications\_.28UH-60L.29](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_UH-60_Black_Hawk#Specifications_.28UH-60L.29) If it is true that stealth helicopters were used, then it would make sense to bring them in on the Vinson and only move them at night and keep them undercover in the daytime. [http://www.businessinsider.com/abbottobad-stealth-helicopter-project-2010-5](http://www.businessinsider.com/abbottobad-stealth-helicopter-project-2010-5) ---
**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 5, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/51 "2011-05-05T16:33:42Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > They just don’t fit in with the former Presidents otherwise honored. Good point. ---
**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 5, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/52 "2011-05-05T20:48:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think if you’ve got a GAU-8, then whether the bar _lets_ you in is kind of irrelevant. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > If I’ve got some guys to help carry it. Firin’ that thing from the hip, are we?:dubious: ---
**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 5, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/53 "2011-05-05T21:04:47Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Firin’ that thing from the hip, are we?:dubious: I figured to prop it up against a Ford F-100. There’s always a couple of those at the bars I frequent. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/54 "2011-05-06T02:00:30Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > there is no seal team six. Team 7: No poofters! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/55 "2011-05-06T03:46:29Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Or the Playboy Playmates, who are said to have extensive hand-to-hand experience in jacuzzis. That’s not my hand… ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/56 "2011-05-06T08:50:31Z")
OBL selected inland Abbottabad as part of his ingenious plan of avoiding any assassination attempt by Navy Seals, whom he feared. He figured they’d never get a boat next to his villa. ---
**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 6, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/57 "2011-05-06T21:33:32Z")
Last thought of zombie OBL, aboard USS _Carl Vinson_: “Hey, I’m on a boat!” =Splash!= ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/58 "2011-05-07T02:15:37Z")
Israel has, nominally, a combined military force. No idea how that plays out, though. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/59 "2011-05-07T10:05:30Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > They might indeed have either staged from Afghanistan or just stopped there to refuel. But Carl Vinson is where the mission originated and was controlled from. It is also where Bin Laden’s body ended up. Cite? The originating part, don’t think anybody cares about or disputes the conclusion part. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679/60 "2011-05-07T19:02:22Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > Cite? The originating part, don’t think anybody cares about or disputes the conclusion part. I would like to see a cite also. I found many references to Bin Laden being buried from the Carl Vinson, but nothing about the mission originating there. It is more likely that mission originated in eastern Afghanistan and they used a fixed wing aircraft to fly the body to the Vinson for burial. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbottabad-is-inland-why-send-the-navy/580679.md?page=4)