When terror kingpin Osama bin Laden was killed in a navy seal raid, details of the plan remained a closely guarded secret.
But five years on, spy agency the CIA has live tweeted the events of the day to mark the anniversary of his death.
As you do.
To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
The only problem is the twittersphere didn’t think it was such a great way to mark the event.
.@CIA pic.twitter.com/OnSQ079DXB
— Caroline Framke (@carolineframke) May 1, 2016
.@CIA pic.twitter.com/isJs0zhE8r
— Vann R. Newkirk II (@fivefifths) May 1, 2016
.@CIA pic.twitter.com/fVTpRJapcD
— Freddie Campion (@FreddieCampion) May 1, 2016
The 9/11 mastermind was killed in a 2011 special ops raid at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan on May 2, 2011.
At the time the CIA claimed it spent years on surveillance and gathering intelligence before tracking a courier to what was thought to be his top secret hide-out.
A team of 23 Navy Seals in two Black Hawk helicopters, one of which crashed on landing, was then sent in on the orders of President Barack Obama.
After the Seals blew their way through doors and exchanged gunfire bin Laden was killed with the US leaving the compound in a blaze of glory.
The event was met with much fanfare in the US with many left feeling vindicated after the September 11 tragedy.
Five years on, it remains a major victory for US intelligence agencies who don’t seem shy about letting the world know all about it by live tweeting the event as it happened.
The tweets begin as if events were happening live.
1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad.#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/YhvuJVrMVc
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
1:51 pm EDT – Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
There’s even mention of one of the helicopters crashing upon landing.
3:30 pm EDT – 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
Not to mention the obligatory picture of the POTUS watching the events unfold.
3:30 pm EDT – @POTUS watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
3:39 pm EDT – Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
3:39 pm – 4:10 pm EDT – Team retrieves large quantity of materials from compound for intel analysis#UBLRaidhttps://t.co/yl1FjRA0qk
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
4:05 pm EDT – First helicopter leaves the area to go back to Afghanistan#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
4:10 pm EDT — Backup helicopter picks up remaining team members & materials & leaves Abbottabad#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
They then go on to mention how the CIA had tracked him down and how successful they were.
#OTD 2011: US military raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan killed Usama Bin Ladin.#UBLRaidhttps://t.co/rklCIS2W8d pic.twitter.com/o2Ym4vM7ri
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
Success of mission was culmination of years of complex, thorough & highly advanced intel ops & analyses led by CIA w support of IC.#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
Late 2010, intel linked a courier to compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Compound & main house had security features unusual for area#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
Features
High walls/barbed wire
Double entry gates
No internet/phone connection
Trash burned not collected#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/KyPIFPxA4d— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
While live tweeting historical world events such as the Tiananmen Square massacre have been done before, some were questioning the logic behind the CIA doing the same to mark bin Laden’s death.
@CIA deactivate your account
— Jono Yates (@jonoBLITZ) May 1, 2016
@CIA You've lost the plot mate
— luke o'neil (@lukeoneil47) May 1, 2016
*Osama bin laden turn up on beach with golf ball in his mouth*
"IS ANYONE HERE A MARINE BIOLOGIST??"
— chris michael (@smellslikelemon) May 1, 2016
this is completely inappropriate. pls reconsider or delete you account, @CIA
— kate (@katherinejnowak) May 1, 2016
It also sparked the usual theories that perhaps all wasn’t what it seemed.
@touseefahmad are you implying that the CIA's narrative will be truthful?
— Juan Pablo Romero (@1jpablo1) May 1, 2016
@1jpablo1 I'm hoping that will be truthful
— Touseef Ahmad (@touseefahmad) May 1, 2016
This was originally published on news.com.au
