For most of my adult life, the investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has been exposing the more nefarious deeds and lies of the US military and its enabling government.
From My Lai to Abu Ghraib he has consistently found and told the truth about some of the more earth-shattering events that occurred in both the Viet Nam and Iraq wars.
When he says that the narrative surrounding the killing of UBL in Abbottabad, Pakistan was one big lie with not a word of truth in it, my ears pricked up. That whole narrative was always just that tad too pat. Apparently he's writing a book. Can't wait.
About the Twin Towers: Someone left the gate open. Half a dozen clowns with box cutters did NOT take those towers down.

Hi halduell

Yes I agree Seymour Hersh has that rare mix of horizontal thinking and ability to assemble facts. He also has the credibility given to American journalists but not to those Australian journalists who think outside the square. Hersh's "The Samson Option" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Samson_Option:_Israel%27s_Nuclear_Arsenal_and_American_Foreign_Policy is probably the best book written on the international assistance given to Israel's nuclear program.

In the case of the 6 year Abbottabad intelligence operation the "death defying" May 2011 raid on the compound by US Navy Seals provided just the right kind of patriotic theatre to make President Obama more popular. This won Obama "tough on terrorism" credits translating into votes from America's usually Republican voting conservatives (in the November 2012 election).

For the Pakistani leadership the feigned surprise and insult of the Abbottabad raid provided a nationalist, anti-American rallying point, which Pakistani politicians exploited.

So, the resultant stand-off of feigned antagonism between the US and Pakistan after May 2011 held popularist benefits for the Obama Administration and the peak Pakistani leadership.

Pete

Got a few live ones here...eh the moon landing was a con too guys.

This is a pathetic article, not so much for what it says, or more accurately speculates, but for what it doesn't say. Where has the author been hiding since 2001? Just by way of brief examples:

1. there are detailed accounts of UBL's acute renal failure (requiring regular dialysis) by 2001, at which time he was in the American Hospital in Dubai and visited by the local CIA head of station.

2. There were multiple accounts in the Asian media of his death and burial in November 2001.

3. Notwithstanding his death (or imprisonment as Coates would have it) he miraculously kept issuing videos between 2001 and 2010 (during which he grew younger and his face shape changed). some respected experts have labelled those videos manifest fakes, which raises some questions of its own.

4. There is no mention of UBL's career as a trusted agent of the US (nom de guerre Tim Osman) leading the mujihideen against the secular government of Afghanistan.

5. The official account of the Abbottabad venture is full of contradictions, inconsistencies, illogicalities and falsehoods. Shades of JFK most of the special forces soldiers involved were wiped out in a helicopter "accident" shortly afterwards.

There is much more for those actually interested in knowing what goes on, but one won't find it in this article which is little more than propaganda and should be viewed accordingly.

In answer to your question, Paul. Perhaps the pakis protected OBL because he is a hero to the Muslim world because he mass murders infidels like you and your mother? They can't turn their Robin Hood in, can they?

Instead they keep him safe and warm in the paki version of West Point where they can keep an eye on him and where they presume the yanks will never find him.

@James O'Neill

Such criticism is a Xmas pressie indeed - though your insinuation that JFK shot UBL is deficient in several respects.

@Cobber the hound

Am feeling somewhat dogged by your conflicting yelps.

@LEGO

While I think a small number in US intelligence and Obama's office were kept informed of bin Laden's whereabouts (from 2001) I reckon you're on the money.

Its unfortunate that the usual "heros" of anti-Americanism come out of the conspiratorial woodwork.

Cheers

Pete