Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Trip from Dakar to Johannesburg, SEAL attack on Bin Laden, and Dangers of Game
Reserves:
In Dakar we saw the new controversial statue of the working family that was erected in
view of the airport that turned out to be quite expensive. It is in true USSR style and made in
North Korea. On the flight from Dakar to Johannesburg we talked about the Seals Team 6 and
their attack on the Bin Laden compound.
The detailed report in the New Yorker described how the spy satellites were able to follow
a white rhino emblem on the back of a land cruiser's spare wheel belonging to one of the
couriers, and that is how they managed to track down the compound which was then put under
observation. The satellites also noted a tall person walking around on the roof of the tallest
building in the compound and that trash was never put out, but rather burned in the compound
raising further suspicion. Whether Bin Laden was there or not apparently was debated
extensively; with about a 50/50 chance that he was. Attempts to try and confirm that he was
there by DNA testing children during vaccinations failed since Bin Laden never allowed his
children to participate in a vaccination drive for kids in the area run by the CIA.
When the SEAL team and helicopters practiced the attack on the compound they built a
mockup of the buildings, but supposedly did not erect the wall around the compounds, which
was a mistake. The helicopters flew down, with refueling support from Chinook helicopters,
and maintained stealth by flying in the valleys and taking the longer path to get to the
compound. When the first helicopter hovered over the outer area of the compound the
backwash from the helicopter blades blew against the walls and that made the helicopter lose
altitude. They ended up dumping it across the one wall and then having to blow a hole in the
same wall to get into the compound. It could have been a close call because of the problem
with the helicopters and hovering over the compound, but fortunately the SEALS were quick to
adapt to the situation and were later evacuated successfully, including the dog that was with
them. Of note, there was quite a discussion whether the risk should be taken at all with some
alternatively suggesting hitting the compound with some 30 odd cruise missiles or bombs; but
that would likely have resulted in collateral damage and more innocent life loss. There is
another subtle, psychological difference. Bombing and cruise missiles would have been seen
as an act of warfare, whereas a strike force taking out Bin Laden was more like a hunting
expedition. Similarly, drone attacks are more hunting-like activities rather than acts of warfare
or frank assassinations. Robert Gates advised against bombing since he had been involved
with the original Iran attempted rescue by President Carter. A hunting expedition by SEALS or
use of drones was more acceptable because the hunting process implies either territorial
ownership, in this case with Pakistan, and territorial hunting permission, either written or
implied by the virtue of a “gift economy” (i.e., we give Pakistan $2 billion a year; we can hunt
terrorists on their land).
We also talked about wild dogs, leopards, and lions on our flight. My brother and I had been
in the Moremi Game Reserve last year and happened to be camping with fold-out tents on top
of our SUVs. We chatted to our camping neighbors, one of whom turned out to be Graeme, a
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