02 May 2011
Our people have hunted down and killed Osama bin Laden. Thank you to all the military and other good people who tracked him down to his own sanctuary. We can only hope that the materials captured at his hiding place will lead to more terrorists, and that they will meet similar ends.
Today I received a message from the office of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates: “Secretary Gates is enormously proud of everyone involved in making yesterday’s operation a success. It was an extraordinary achievement.” It certainly was. America is today extremely proud of our secret warriors and the considerable organizations that facilitate their work.
The wounds inflicted upon humanity by the death cult that is al Qaeda have been enormous. We should remember the tears of the innocent as we continue the hunt in the pursuit of justice and self-defense.
Six years ago today, an apparent al Qaeda suicide bomber killed a little girl named Farah. Maybe it was in the name of justice that Osama bin Laden’s dead body was dumped anonymously at sea on the same day, on the anniversary of Farah’s loss.
Little Girl
First Published May 14, 2005
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Mosul
Major Mark Bieger found this little girl after the car bomb that attacked our guys while kids were crowding around. The soldiers here have been angry and sad for two days. They are angry because the terrorists could just as easily have waited a block or two and attacked the patrol away from the kids. Instead, the suicide bomber drove his car and hit the Stryker when about twenty children were jumping up and down and waving at the soldiers. Major Bieger, I had seen him help rescue some of our guys a week earlier during another big attack, took some of our soldiers and rushed this little girl to our hospital. He wanted her to have American surgeons and not to go to the Iraqi hospital. She didn’t make it. I snapped this picture when Major Bieger ran to take her away. He kept stopping to talk with her and hug her.
The soldiers went back to that neighborhood the next day to ask what they could do. The people were very warm and welcomed us into their homes, and many kids were actually running up to say hello and to ask soldiers to shake hands.
Eventually, some insurgents must have realized we were back and started shooting at us. The American soldiers and Iraqi police started engaging the enemy and there was a running gun battle. I saw at least one IP who was shot, but he looked okay and actually smiled at me despite the big bullet hole in his leg. I smiled back.
One thing seems certain; the people in that neighborhood share our feelings about the terrorists. We are going to go back there, and if any terrorists come out, the soldiers hope to find them. Everybody is still very angry that the insurgents attacked us when the kids were around. Their day will come.
[Post Script]
The reaction to my photo of Major Bieger cradling Farah, the little girl who died in his arms, provoked a flood of messages and heartfelt responses from caring people around the world. I have spent the last several days trying to read every message, and respond to as many as possible, but the flow has finally outpaced me, much as the swiftness of a river will finally defeat even the most determined swimmer.
This morning there was a banging on my door. It was “Q,” loaded for battle, weapon in hand, wearing the military radio headphones with the microphone that wrapped around his face. Bang, Bang, Bang! Q hit my door.
“Mike! Where are you?!”
“Hold on,” I said, opening the door.
“Why aren’t you ready! Grab your gear . . . we’re going!” My worn-out boots sat empty in the corner.
“I can’t go today,” I said, glancing in the direction of my laptop.
“What?”
“Just tell them I can’t go today.”
“Okay!” And Q trotted off back to his Stryker, leaving me behind. The soldiers rolled out on their mission without me.
And now I sit here, answering a few final emails, while the men of Deuce Four patrol in Mosul. My hands may be here, but my head and heart are on the streets in the struggle. I’ve been riding the wave of interest and feedback from that photo, but I need to get back to what I seem best equipped to do–posting dispatches about what is happening here in Iraq. I will continue to read every message, and I offer my sincere thanks in advance for everyone who takes the time to send one, but, alas, with this dispatch, I must swim to shore.
Michael
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Comments
you helped. You did. You kept us informed. We kept the home "fires"--pressu re burning. Bless you. Keep it up. Stay safe for us.
Thanks for doing what you do so effectively.
I never heard that they dumped it in the ocean somewhere. Why would they do that?
Can you confirm?
Thanks for all that you do!
Thanks for all you do
died. He played a large part in leading men to believe they should blow up children to get their way.
I read the story of Farah and Major Bieger on the day it was first published, and it has never ceased to break my heart. Farah is gone, but I pray for Major Bieger, because I believe he carries Farah still, and will carry her until they day he joins her in Heaven. I hope she is light in his arms now. God bless Major Bieger, God bless you, Michael, and God bless all our troops, and those they protect.
I was unaware that Vigilante may have closed his office. He emails so I never call. We've had a lot of issues getting this book off the ground. Looks like still around one month out. Was fielding a couple emails today re production. It's done from my end though one final review now is taking place. My deep apologies for the delay. If you had any idea of the problems this has caused me... Several times I was ready to scuttle the book, and sometimes wish I had. On the other hand, it looks very good. The product itself is tops.
Steve Gough, I hear it was SEAL Team 6 but am not chasing that. Will watch it unfold. I've got to be back into Afghanistan.
Thank you, Peter.
Harry, give my best to your son!
Good night, and Good luck.
The celebrations over this side of the pond have been extensive and heartfelt.
Semper Fi!!
I'm still looking for your Inferno book, also.
Today Justice was served for those children, those who rode to the sound of the guns that day and all the other victims.
I hope the crabs enjoy the feast.
Joel .... I completely agree! This is much to obvious..the whole thing about his body being thrown into the ocean..how convenient, now nobody can attest to his death, not really - they will get "govt. officials" to "confirm" it, ...yeah, right...Osama Bin Laden was not that stupid! But people will WANT it to be him, so, that's what they'll believe....and that's the first thing I thought of too....an election year!
Well Done.
Rest In Peace, sweet child. Thank you, Michael.
Whether or not Usama died a few nights ago, or a few years ago this remains:
1) We are bleeding are freedoms
2) Terrorists will be martyred
It Is What It Is
OH! MY! GOSH!
Not the ideal way 2 create a conspiracy/cove r up.
Dumping him at sea even if they covered him & said prayers over him was a fitting disposal of a thoroughly evil man. He's now fish food dumped at sea like the trash he was.
For the skeptics in the crowd, do you honestly believe Navy Seals would be party to a hoax?
From what I know, (and it comes from a very good intel source), it all went exatly as advertised, although apparently the package sent in was a lot larger than has been mentioned with various other "higher flying" assets in use.
I remember Zaqawi and Saddam were both dumped at sea also. This is intentional to avoid a physical location that can become a place of worship to those who would do such a thing.
Firstly, I do believe the 'package' would have been much larger than was advertised.
Slight corrections: Zarqawi was buried at a secret location. Saddam was returned by Blackhawk from Baghdad to Tikrit area, and he was given back to his people.
There has to be a way to send it to the Navy or something and have them make sure it gets to whoever it is that deserves it. I just can't sit here and have no way to thank whoever it was that did this, they have earned much more than any of us can really hope to repay.
Anyone from the Seals to the CIA guys that developed the intel. They deserve much more than a pat on the back.
One was a loss to be mourned that showed ever so clearly our soldiers have hearts bigger than the world. The other had earned his death many times over with his pure evil.
{^_^}
Little Farah may you be smelling the roses in your Paradise !
If we hadn't proceeded with Islamic tradition, all the radical muslims would be protesting, inciting riots and burning crap.
Again Joel: YOU-ARE-A-IDIOT
I'm in the same boat, tried to contact but no response, is there anything yo can tell us Michael?
The reason I asked was that Team Six was disbanded years ago and replaced by DEVGRU which itself was disbanded and replaced by another designation that is classified, I just used the last known des. Yesterday I confirmed with someone from Teams that it was who we think it is along with assets from other "groups".
I'm not sure who used "Six" first in describing the op, a journalist, a politician or mil but if it was mil then I suspect they did it for OPSEC reasons and used a term that the public were familiar with. Not that it matters too much because we do know that SEAL's were involved and I'm hoping that the 160th SOAR guys got to do their thing as well, at least a little payback for Redwings...
You are the messenger. THANKS
Ted
Why wasn't Delta force used as well? Aren't they the primary anti terror force? Thanks for all your great work!
Josh Ebert, Chicago
Again he deployed, and just returned home again from Afganistan. Being a father who got to hold his baby boy for the first time and his precious two year old daughter after missing two Christmas holidays with her.
This time was different for me, OBL is dead! I am not celebrating in the streets as it means that we will suffer at the hands of evil again. I am happy that he has meet his Maker. I am concerned for our troops and our country, if we do not change the road we are being lead down by the leadership of this country.
Carry on Michael. God bless you and keep you safe.
PS My friend says OBL swims with the fishies, I say I hope he swam with the sharks!
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