A Rare Medium Well Done: 9.9.12

Editor's note: Greggo doesn't want us to edit this.  So we won't.

please allow me to wander off the sports page for this blog selection...i just finished reading the absolute fascinating book "No Easy Day"...it's the terrific first-hand account on the mission that killed bin laden..it's penned by the Navy Seal that was in the room when the cowardly terrorist was eliminated...authored by Mark Owen(a pseudonym..like all characters portrayed in book..real names were omitted...except FOX News..who learned the real identity and outed him..a shameful decision)...readers are taken on a voyage of epic proportions and walked thru the entire mission..and it's done in a calculated and very detailed manner..Owen illustrates a very vivid picture of what happened on the third floor of that compound on 1 May 2011..readers are led through a maze of events leading up to the climatic end of one of the most notorious figures in the history of our great nation..from the time that SEAL team 6 was informed of the top secret mission..to the tireless training and planning..to the moods and thoughts of the brave men involved..the veteran SEAL Owen uses the back-drop of a political football thrown about..to overcoming the enormous amount of bureaucratic red tape to get the green light..no stone is unturned..the story is carefully crafted as to not give away classified information..words does not do this book justice..IT IS AWESOME!!..and dare i say..a must read for all americans..readers are given a front seat inside one of the most important missions in our country's storied military history......

now...let's tackle the controversial element...special ops forces are a proud group of warriors..some describe as the "silent professionals"..so it was widely assumed that the specifics of this mission would forever be a mystery..SEALs are a very tight-knit fraternity..obtaining information is next to impossible..but in this social media driven society we live..leaks were inevitable..and slowly the details began pouring out..and for the most part..all were false..so much misinformation was being reported..so many people trying to take credit..so many people claiming to know the "real story"..the SEAL community was both alarmed and amused..less than 50 people on the planet knew exactly what happened in abbottabad in the wee hours that fateful and historic night..less than 5 hours after the news broke..it was reported that it was in fact the elite SEAL team 6 that killed bin Laden..and soon the rumor mill was churning..the SEAL community was advised to become stealth..a media blackout was ordered..yet the same leaders who commissioned the mute button were popping up on news sites..magazines and countless TV appearances..in other words..they were hardly practicing what they preached..so Owen made the extremely difficult decision to come forward and set the record straight..his reasoning was solid and true..the american citizens had the right to know the factual aspects of the mission..it was an agonizing resolution..but he felt the correct decision..count me as one that applauds his choice..it was a story that needed to be told.....

some criticism leveled at Owen were the fact he included classified information..not true...he put his fellow SEALs in danger..not true..he was defying confidentiality elements of his profession..maybe...but in the end he told the accurate story..for this..he should be thanked..and as for the pundits who insist he did this for money..so what?..what if he did?...the Navy SEALs are the greatest fighting group on the planet..they endure an endless cycle of difficult training and dangerous assignments..they literally put themselves in harms way on a constant basis..it's what they do..it's what drives them..it's also what keeps us safe and able to sleep at night..with the SEALs (as well as the other special ops forces in other branches of the military) on the case..our nation can rest..we go about our safe and privileged life..the SEALs do the dirty work..work that most cannot even begin to comprehend..and for this..most make under 50K per year..peanuts in the real world..so if a former special ops forces warrior wants to cash in..why not?..i say more power to em..they deserve it..they earned it..and our appetite for information is cured..i applaud Owen's decision to come forward..especially to correct the villains who are passing uneducated and wrong facts..this is a book that was necessary..a book to allow the country to understand what took place..and the measures that our military players portray in keeping these shores safe..as stated earlier..i sleep better at night knowing there are brave combatants out there inflicting justice..the cowardly bin Laden was eliminated..check out the book and learn how he died..how he chose his demise..and the valor of the brave souls who killed him for the good of mankind..

there is nothing "free" about "freedom"..it's bought and paid for by the blood and sweat of the daring fearless and unselfish men in our military..and in the end..if they want to cash in..who are we to stop them?..or especially condemn and question their motives....bravo Mark Owen..a job well done..on two fronts.....