Publication

In May 2011 a US Special Operations Forces (SOF) team crossed over 100 miles into Pakistan without informing the host government, infiltrated a residential compound that stood in proximity to a military academy, and killed Usama bin Ladin, the leader of al‐Qa’ida and the individual ultimately responsible for the deadliest terrorist attacks on US soil. In deciding to approve the raid, President Barack Obama had the potential to produce important strategic and operational gains in combating terrorism. A failed raid, on the other hand, had the potential to produce among the worst losses or negative outcomes in combating terrorism.