Chapter 13: Bin Laden Slips Away

1 Not long … pakool caps. Kill bin Laden, p. 153.

2 They had been … from a Combat Talon. A Delta operator.

3 As for … called Tora Bora. Kill bin Laden, pp. 150–53, 167; a Delta operator.

4 As it turned … in Nangarhar. Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad, by Peter L. Bergen (New York: Crown, 2012), p. 42; Jawbreaker, pp. 239–40, 254.

5 In the first … stand in Afghanistan. The Longest War, by Peter L. Bergen (New York: Free Press, 2011), pp. 68–69; Manhunt, pp. 40–42; Growing Up bin Laden: Osama’s Wife and Son Take Us Inside Their Secret World, by Najwa bin Laden, Omar bin Laden, and Jean Sasson (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2009), p. 173.… Spin Ghar Mountains … Spin Ghar means “White Mountain” in Pashto; the range is also known as the Safed Koh (“White Mountains”) in Urdu.

6 As November … support operations. Kill bin Laden, pp. 72–74, 80–82. The description of Bagram draws on the author’s time there from February to May 2002.

7 A lead … before them. Jawbreaker, pp. 213–14; Kill bin Laden, pp. 69–71, 88.

8 … 1,500 to 3,000 … Kill bin Laden, p. 84.

9 (Indeed … the capital.) Not a Good Day to Die, p. 11.

10 But the Northern … in the process. Kill bin Laden, p. 114; The Longest War, p. 74.

11 Berntsen was about … to Jalalabad. Jawbreaker, pp. 213–15.

12 After linking … hours straight. Jawbreaker, pp. 225, 239–40, 249, 253–54, 265–74; Kill bin Laden, pp. 99–100.… December 4 … The date is drawn from Kill bin Laden. Jawbreaker puts the date about a week earlier. I have chosen to use Greer’s date because his operators said his book relied on thorough notes he made throughout the operation.

13 Once … remained in Bagram. Two Delta operators; Kill bin Laden, pp. 100, 138.

14 From the outset … to Washington. The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, by Henry A. Crumpton (New York: Penguin, 2012), pp. 258–59.

15 As a result … “Definitely not.” The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America’s Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11, by Ron Suskind (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006), pp. 58–59.

16 On December 3 … at Langley. Jawbreaker, p. 277.

17 Another team … infantry force. The Art of Intelligence, pp. 258–59.

18 … had told him a month previously … American Soldier, p. 309.

19 Franks was … later wrote. American Soldier, pp. 323–24.

20 For his part … autobiography. Known and Unknown, p. 403.

21 The attitudes … disagreed. Kill bin Laden, pp. 75–78, 142–43, 293; a Delta operator.

22 Mulholland’s orders … in front of them. Kill bin Laden, p. 100; USSOCOM 20th Anniversary History (an official publication of USSOCOM, 2007), p. 94.

23 Dailey was … “dream.” Kill bin Laden, pp. 79, 81.

24 … “the most formidable terrain…” Not a Good Day to Die, p. 19.

25 Left to … the day. Kill bin Laden, pp. 238–39.

26 It didn’t … overnight. Kill bin Laden, pp. 119–20.

27 “It was” … he wrote. Kill bin Laden, p. 209.

28 Greer had received none. Kill bin Laden, p. 123.

29 No Delta … the battle. Kill bin Laden, p. 292.

30 Having had … armor force. Kill bin Laden, pp. 133, 140.

31 But Greer’s … radio calls. Kill bin Laden, pp. 138, 187, 195.

32 In the unlikely … Greer wrote. Kill bin Laden, p. 81.

33 Meanwhile … away!!” Jawbreaker, p. 290.

34 On December … their fast. Kill bin Laden, pp. 173–75, 180.

35 At the same … “Warpath.” Kill bin Laden, pp. 166–78.… three-man JSOC team … One of the three was a Pashto- and Dari-speaking intelligence operative on loan to the CIA from another U.S. government agency, according to both Greer and Berntsen.

36 With night … was gone. Kill bin Laden, pp. 185–89.

37 To the Americans’ … resumed. Kill bin Laden, pp. 212–13.

38 By December … hours. Kill bin Laden, p. 246.

39 Berntsen made … “a box!” Jawbreaker, p. 307.

40 With bad … the bargain.) Kill bin Laden, pp. 243–47.

41 Sporadic … gotten away. Kill bin Laden, pp. 277, 289–91.

42 The U.S. military … not American. A Delta operator; Kill bin Laden, pp. 272–73.

43 When A … of victory.” A Delta operator; Kill bin Laden, pp. 270, 291.