鈥淭here is the perception this was always a 鈥榢ill mission.鈥� I鈥檝e been around the community 30 years and never have I heard the words 鈥榢ill mission,鈥� 鈥� says Pfarrer. 鈥淭he words 鈥榢ill mission鈥� seem to constitute an unlawful order. We鈥檙e not stupid.鈥�
In his book, Pfarrer describes the two types of missions SEALs are generally given: to 鈥渋nterdict鈥� a high-value target or to 鈥渘eutralize鈥� him.
While the latter essentially amounts to a kill command, the 鈥渟tated plan鈥� of the bin Laden mission was to 鈥渋nterdict a high-value individual in a non-permissive environment,鈥� he says.
Of the 鈥渢housands鈥� of missions that have been conducted by SEALs 鈥渢he vast majority are capture missions,鈥� Pfarrer says. 鈥淚f the guy surrenders, he gets captured.鈥�
As an example of a "neutralize" mission, Pfarrer notes the order to kill Musab al-Zarqawi, bin Laden's operational commander in 2006. Mr. Zarqawi was killed after two SEALs hiding nearby used laser pointers to direct a guided bomb to the house where Zarqawi was staying.
