# Did Obama cause the 31 US Seal Team 6 Deaths? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 7, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827 "2011-08-07T14:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/41 "2011-08-07T17:45:55Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The administration didn’t place names or faces on anybody. There technically is no SEAL team 6. That’s basically just a media contrived designation for a team which is essentially anonymous.The administration, at best, revealed that it was a SEAL team, which is something everybody would have known anyway. [Obama meets SEALs in bin Laden raid](http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/05/06/Obama-meets-SEALs-in-bin-Laden-raid/UPI-94491304670600/) > [@](#): > > At Fort Campbell, Obama thanked members of SEAL Team Six, officially known as the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group, who carried out the pre-dawn Monday raid on bin Laden’s fortified compund. > [@](#): > > Team Six, based at the Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex in Virginia Beach, Va., is a Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Unit with the highest level on the U.S. Special Operations Command spectrum and National Command Authority. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/42 "2011-08-07T17:48:48Z")
They’re not really called “Team 6.” Officially, there is no Team 6. Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/43 "2011-08-07T17:50:16Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > You’re contending that there wouldn’t have been mass celebration amongst the Taleban for downing an American special forces team regardless? No, again all I’m saying is that them now knowing that they took down the team that took out OBL elevates them to Superstar status among their supporters. That’s the risk that was taken by identifying the Superstars on our side. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/44 "2011-08-07T17:51:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > They’re not really called “Team 6.” Officially, there is no Team 6. Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Yea, the UPI is just a piece of sh\*t news outlet ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/45 "2011-08-07T17:52:26Z")
They weren’t identified by our side, they would be just as dead either way, and taking down a bunch of US Special Ops would be just as popular either way. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/46 "2011-08-07T17:56:29Z")
for goodness sakes, there are about 300 people in the seals, scattered around the country. even the unaverage people in the world don’t know who is and isn’t in a specific group, and where in the world they are. it was a very lucky shot for the taliban, a very, very unlucky shot for the u.s. military, and the poor dog. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/47 "2011-08-07T17:57:09Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > They’re not really called “Team 6.” Officially, there is no Team 6. Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. According to the following you are technically correct. > [@](#): > > SEAL Team 6 was dissolved in 1987. The operators of SEAL Team Six established the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as DEVGRU. While DEVGRU is administratively supported by Naval Special Warfare Command, they are operationally under the command of the Joint Special Operations Command. > > SOURCE: [United States Navy SEALs - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_SEALs#SEAL_Teams) Looks like SEAL Team 6 became a covert squad (more covert than “normal” SEALs) under a different command. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/48 "2011-08-07T18:02:05Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Yea, the UPI is just a piece of sh\*t news outlet In this case, it’s inaccurate. Seal Team Six was [disbanded](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Naval_Special_Warfare_Development_Group#Renaming) in 1987. A new unit was formed with a new name. > [@](#): > > In 1987, a new unit was formed, given the official title of “Naval Special Warfare Development Group” (abbreviated to NAVSPECWARDEVGRU, or DEVGRU) after SEAL Team Six was dissolved. Reasons for the disbanding are varied,[7] but the name SEAL Team Six is often used in reference to DEVGRU because of their similarities as a maritime counter-terrorism unit.[8] Officially, there is no Seal Team Six. That’s an informal, media name not used by the SEALS themselves. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/49 "2011-08-07T18:10:31Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I think you are doing me a grave disservice-I raised a very reasonable issue: that of, should a CIC be allowed to exploit a military operation for political gain. Obama DID publicize the attack which resulted in the death of OBL. He wallowed in the fame, and seemed to revel in the idea that he had a lot to do with it. > Now we have 31 Americans dead, and it seems that someone knew all about this mission. Should Obama be held responsible for these deaths? > I think so. I think it strange that Obama haters blame him for all that is bad and when some thing he accomplished (getting bin-Laden) the haters give him no credit,when Bush left office the economy was in the tubes, nothing was said about the trillions of dollars of surplus that was quickly used up by going to Iraq unnecessarily, and if I recall when Obama took office the country was not in it’s best shape. And also all the Republicans reps. did all they could to try to stop Obama from succeding. The fact that we went into a needless war and had no way to pay for it with little money coming in and a high unemployment. It is hard to gather the feathers once they are thrown to the wind!!! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/50 "2011-08-07T18:16:53Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > No, again all I’m saying is that them now knowing that they took down the team that took out OBL elevates them to Superstar status among their supporters. They didn’t “take down the team that took out OBL”. They killed some members of the same unit, none of whom were involved in the OBL raid, per the Guardian link on page one. Seriously, give it up. You’re starting to sound like one of the crazies. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/51 "2011-08-07T18:30:25Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I think you are doing me a grave disservice-I raised a very reasonable issue: that of, should a CIC be allowed to exploit a military operation for political gain. Obama DID publicize the attack which resulted in the death of OBL. He wallowed in the fame, and seemed to revel in the idea that he had a lot to do with it. > Now we have 31 Americans dead, and it seems that someone knew all about this mission. Should Obama be held responsible for these deaths? > I think so. This is on the same level as weird shit like shapeshifting. With this level of reasoning, what kind of job do you hold down? ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/52 "2011-08-07T18:32:59Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > They didn’t “take down the team that took out OBL”. They killed some members of the same unit, none of whom were involved in the OBL raid, per the Guardian link on page one. Sorry, don’t read the Guardian. But it matters not, there are plenty of other media sources saying exactly the opposite. Take out a hero (whether you knew it before hand or not) - Instant hero in return. On the bright side, maybe our troops can take them out before they have the opportunity to do much dancing on the wreckage of the helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/53 "2011-08-07T18:38:49Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > But it matters not, there are plenty of other media sources saying exactly the opposite. Are there: Link us up, because I’m sure they won’t be instant Internet experts purposely feeding peoples’ political prejudices? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/54 "2011-08-07T18:38:59Z")
Who gives a shit if they dance? Why does that bother you? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/55 "2011-08-07T18:42:20Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Sorry, don’t read the Guardian. But it matters not, there are plenty of other media sources saying exactly the opposite. Take out a hero (whether you knew it before hand or not) - Instant hero in return. Uh… okay. So what? What the hell does this have to do with Obama? Do you think the Taliban would go “ho hum” if they had taken out some other US special forces? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/56 "2011-08-07T19:25:15Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > What the fuck is the matter with you that you want to ‘blame’ someone who had nothing to do with the planning of the operation?: > [@PrettyVacant](#): > > With this level of reasoning, what kind of job do you hold down? Keep the personal comments in the Pit, not Great Debates. > [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Some may even go as far to say that there’s a special word for a pattern of behaviour like this. Still, we should count ourselves lucky that he’s at least figured out how to use the parenthesis key on his keyboard. Accusing posters of trolling is against the rules. It’s still against the rules even if you use cutesy euphemisms to hint at what you’re saying. Don’t do this again. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/57 "2011-08-07T19:40:12Z")
Resolved: no. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/58 "2011-08-07T19:50:48Z")
I guess the OP thinks the helicopter had “SEAL Team Six” painted on the side in big letters and that the Taliban doesn’t usually try to take down U.S. helicopters. This is slightly misinformed in the same way the Pacific is slightly damp. [A news story about Operation Anaconda, which (from what I could tell) was the first Afghanistan military operation where an RPG brought down a helicopter.](http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=128582&page=3) Obama wasn’t even president yet and he was already screwing up. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/59 "2011-08-07T20:25:17Z")
I’m getting the impression that a lot of poster’s here share the OP’s belief that the Taliban in Afghanistan have been just itching to get revenge in particular for bin Laden’s death. The truth is that there is and was a lot of [resentment against bin Laden](http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2070640,00.html) for pursuading Mullah Omar to give him sanctuary resulting in their defeat and losing control of Afghanistan. Their purpose was control of Afghanistan, not world jihad the objective of bin Laden and al Qaida. Frankly, most analysts and diplomats in the know believe the Taliban are somewhat relieved by bin Laden’s demise. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827/60 "2011-08-07T20:25:56Z")
I’m a conservative in my political views. I do not think that Obama is the best president we have ever had, or even the best in my lifetime. But with that said, reading this thread title and the OP had me going WTF? 😕 :rolleyes: I would suggest that the OP give it up, you are dishonoring some very brave men. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-cause-the-31-us-seal-team-6-deaths/591827.md?page=4)