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| Navy Seal author credits 'wicked smart' CIA agent with role in Bin Laden raid | Navy Seal author credits 'wicked smart' CIA agent with role in Bin Laden raid |
| (7 months later) | |
| A "wicked smart" female CIA agent who had been tracking Osama bin Laden for five years was central to the US's assassination of the terrorist leader, according to one of the Navy Seals who took part in the attack. | A "wicked smart" female CIA agent who had been tracking Osama bin Laden for five years was central to the US's assassination of the terrorist leader, according to one of the Navy Seals who took part in the attack. |
| "Mark Owen" the pseudonymous author of No Easy Day, a controversial first-person account of the killing, said the agent, whom he referred to as "Jen", was convinced Bin Laden was hiding at the compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan, where he was found. | "Mark Owen" the pseudonymous author of No Easy Day, a controversial first-person account of the killing, said the agent, whom he referred to as "Jen", was convinced Bin Laden was hiding at the compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan, where he was found. |
| She travelled with the Seals to Afghanistan ahead of the raid and briefed them on what they were likely to find. "I can't give her enough credit. In my opinion she kind of teed up this whole thing," Owen told CBS's 60 Minutes in an interview to be broadcast Sunday. | She travelled with the Seals to Afghanistan ahead of the raid and briefed them on what they were likely to find. "I can't give her enough credit. In my opinion she kind of teed up this whole thing," Owen told CBS's 60 Minutes in an interview to be broadcast Sunday. |
| Owen described Jen as "wicked smart, kind of feisty". She was 100% sure that bin Laden was hiding in the Abbotabad compound, according to Owen. President Barack Obama, defence secretary Leon Panetta and others have said they were only 70% sure Bin Laden would be found at the compound. Owen told 60 Minutes that all of her predictions proved to be exactly right. | Owen described Jen as "wicked smart, kind of feisty". She was 100% sure that bin Laden was hiding in the Abbotabad compound, according to Owen. President Barack Obama, defence secretary Leon Panetta and others have said they were only 70% sure Bin Laden would be found at the compound. Owen told 60 Minutes that all of her predictions proved to be exactly right. |
| In the interview Owen denied suggestions that the timing of his book had anything to do with November's election. Obama and other Democrats made numerous mentions of the assassination at last week's convention. But Owen said the book had always been planned for release around the anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks and had nothing to do with the election. | In the interview Owen denied suggestions that the timing of his book had anything to do with November's election. Obama and other Democrats made numerous mentions of the assassination at last week's convention. But Owen said the book had always been planned for release around the anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks and had nothing to do with the election. |
| The Pentagon and the White House have declined to comment on the new account but have said they are weighing disciplinary or legal action against the author. | The Pentagon and the White House have declined to comment on the new account but have said they are weighing disciplinary or legal action against the author. |
| The account contradicts some elements of the official telling of Bin Laden's death. The US government accounts say Bin Laden was killed after he ducked back into his bedroom, raising fears he was reaching for a weapon. | The account contradicts some elements of the official telling of Bin Laden's death. The US government accounts say Bin Laden was killed after he ducked back into his bedroom, raising fears he was reaching for a weapon. |
| According to Owen, Bin Laden was shot when he looked out of his bedroom door. When Seals entered his room he was on the floor, clearly badly injured. They then shot him again. | According to Owen, Bin Laden was shot when he looked out of his bedroom door. When Seals entered his room he was on the floor, clearly badly injured. They then shot him again. |
| Owen says he was charged with taking the photographs to prove the Al Qaeda leader was dead. "I figured these were probably some of the most important photos I would take in my life, so make sure I do it right, get good angles and all this other stuff," he said. He said he had to clean Bin Laden's face, using a sheet off a bed, to make sure he was clearly recognizable. He said the photographs were "pretty gruesome". | Owen says he was charged with taking the photographs to prove the Al Qaeda leader was dead. "I figured these were probably some of the most important photos I would take in my life, so make sure I do it right, get good angles and all this other stuff," he said. He said he had to clean Bin Laden's face, using a sheet off a bed, to make sure he was clearly recognizable. He said the photographs were "pretty gruesome". |
| During the programme, the Navy Seal's voice and face were disguised mask his identity. | During the programme, the Navy Seal's voice and face were disguised mask his identity. |
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