CIA cops backlash after 'live tweeting' killing of Osama Bin Laden on fifth anniversary
The CIA in the US has marked the fifth anniversary of the killing of Osama Bin Laden in a controversial decision to live tweet the mission that brought down the terror mastermind as if it were happening today.
To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
Join us beginning at 1:25 p.m. EDT today as we tweet the #UBLRaid as if it were happening today. pic.twitter.com/x8EBpW571f
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
US military forces launched a strike on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in Operation Neptune Spear, killing al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on May 1 2011.
The official Twitter account started 'live tweeting' at 3am AEST, beginning with:
"To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid"
Late 2010, intel linked a courier to compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Compound & main house had security features unusual for area#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
The tweets step through the historical events that took place before Bin Laden was found and killed by CIA agents.
Features
High walls/barbed wire
Double entry gates
No internet/phone connection
Trash burned not collected#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/KyPIFPxA4d— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
Assault team trained on an exact life-size replica of compound w movable walls to prep for any internal layout they might encounter#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid
— CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016
The peculiar decision has copped criticism from Twitter users all over the world, with one user tweeting:
"You are celebrating killing the monster of your own creation".
Some have questioned the ethics of 'glorifying' the operation through the 'live' tweets, whereas other users simply thought it was 'weird'.
@CIA STOP THIS ITS WEIRD.
— sadie walton (@fickle_barista) May 1, 2016
@CIA pic.twitter.com/7sfTZTTcLX
— arky (@itsacheerocracy) May 1, 2016
this is completely inappropriate. pls reconsider or delete you account, @CIA
— kate nowak (@katherinejnowak) May 1, 2016
@CIA why are you live tweeting Zero Dark Thirty? It's a good film and all but why?
— Cartlon Cole (@_CarltonCole9) May 1, 2016
@CIA bro what are u doing
— Kendall Gender (@sknship) May 1, 2016
.@CIA pic.twitter.com/OnSQ079DXB
— Caroline Framke (@carolineframke) May 1, 2016
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