Since the days of the Iran hostage crisis, when a botched Delta Force raid cost President Jimmy Carter reelection, US officials have recognized the risks of ground raids.
What鈥檚 more, Gates argued that an air strike would be less of an invasion of Pakistan鈥檚 sovereignty, according to Bissonnette.
But an air strike came with its own risks and costs, requiring 32 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds each. The bombing would create a crater dozens of feet deep, in the event that the compound had a bunker system.
This in turn meant that 鈥渢he possibility for collateral damage was high,鈥� and the possibility of finding identifiable remains was 鈥渓ow.鈥�
鈥淚f we were going to conduct this mission either with an air strike or raid,鈥� he writes, 鈥渢hey wanted proof it was bin Laden.鈥�
