I hope this reaches something of an audience. Sorry for the lengthy post, and again, spoilers here to Zero Dark Thirty (film), No Easy Day (book by Matt Bisonnette), and The Operator (book by Robert O'Neill):
I just read through Robert O'Neill's account of UBL's death. O'Neill is the self-identified shooter (and I have no reason to doubt this, nor do I). However, it is quite a bit different, at the moment of truth, from the account given by Matt Bissonette (writing as Mark Owen). Note that Bisonnette's description was used for Zero Dark Thirty.
What they Agree on:
Flight in with basic setup.
Bisonnette's chopper crashed. O'Neill was on the other chopper. Fact that chopper crashed and when (in sequence of events).
Sequence of deaths of the other players in the compound.
What they Disagree on:
Both claim to be the second man in the stack headed to the "third deck."
Both claim to have tapped the point man to start the assault onto the third deck.
Bissonnette seems to say there were 3 SEALs on the third deck.
O'Neill believed there were only two (with himself as the second) entering the third deck at that moment, with others to follow later.
Bisonnette believes UBL was shot once in the head, according to his account.
O'Neill states that he shot UBL three times in the head - twice in rapid succession, third once the body hit the floor for insurance.
Bisonnette states that the point man called out to UBL, but O'Neill doesn't mention this, but both agree that the point man (same person who is credited with killing Khalid) called out to Khalid. This could have happened as Bisonnette described.
Bisonnette has point man hitting UBL from stairs as he peaked out of a door, then tackling wives with himself second into the room to hit the body, already on floor, to ensure kill.
O'Neill says point man got a shot off after a mere glimpse of a man (UBL, but unidentified at that moment), missed (and hit one of the wives in the leg), tackles the wives.
O'Neill then specifically describes entering the room UBL ducked into and spotted him standing behind another wife (3rd found on site, I don't remember if there was a 4th on site) and clearly knew who he was shooting as he fired twice. All happened in an instant.
O'Neill does not state that anyone else shot the body, and further describes the wife in front of UBL (who had the ankle wound, actually) as falling on top of him. He moved her to the bed and moved one of the kids before noticing any other SEALs enter the room.
Possibilities:
O'Neill could have been second, Bisonnette third, but somehow Bisonnette didn't see the first guy.
When Bisonnette entered the room, he agrees that UBL was shot in the head. Helps support O'Neill somewhat, and could have heard the first shot. I don't think he mentioned the first shot O'Neill described (which would have grazed the wife's ankle).
Bisonnette agrees that someone tackled the two wives, but believes it to be the shooter (O'Neill). Perhaps everything just moved so quickly that his memory faltered here after not seeing the actual point man?
I welcome thoughts on this and find it very interesting if a bit concerning that the details are so different. Sorry for the rant. I'll comment again later, if any discussion starts.
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