1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser
Advertisement

Shep Smith Is Very Skeptical Of The Government Account Of Bin Laden Capture

video
» 42 comments

As is often the case with breaking stories — particularly those that come shielded from the fog of war — the very specific events often evolve, sometimes rather significantly, in the first few days that follow the breaking of the news. The story of how U.S. commandos captured and killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has been…an iterative one. Unfortunately, the variations of the stories have fueled a number of conspiracy theories and the skepticism of at least one respected news anchor: Fox News Shep Smith.

Smith opened his Studio B show just after the White House press briefing in which Press Secretary Jay Carney confirmed President Obama’s decision to not release the photo of a dead bin Laden. But Shep focused on a number of inconsistencies in the official narrative of how bin Laden died at the hands of U.S. military, and seemed to imply that bin Laden may have been executed by US forces.

In the midst of his questioning, producers turned to a report filed from Fox News Pentagon correspondent Jennifer Griffin who interrupted the Fox News anchor’s skepticism with a comment from the CIA spokesperson who specifically countered any claim that bin Laden had been summarily executed (perhaps after being interrogated) and that he was actually killed while resisting his capture.

To paraphrase the CIA spokesperson, the American people are left to believe either the accounts being reported in Pakistani outlets or the U.S. government. Why does that somehow feel like a lose-lose proposition?

Watch the clip below, courtesy of Fox News:

Follow us on Twitter.

Sign up for Mediaite's daily newsletter.

Email Twitter Facebook Digg Reddit Stumble Upon Yahoo Buzz LinkedIn Tumblr Delicious
  • jerrybobphil

    When the story changes five times in 24 hours I expect people to ask questions. I for one don’t really care if he had a gun or not or if he used a wife as a shield or not. He’s dead thats good enough for me. But I understand people having questions.

  • Cecelia

    I think there’s absolutely no conspiracy here.

    However, I don’t fault Shep Smith for acting like a journalist rather than an administration toady.

    That’s a rare commodity these days.

  • tatboy

    I believe he is dead now. I don’t care how or who gets credit.

  • Liberal Tormentor

    Which verson?

  • CAINtheBULL

    What polluted the story with bad information was the media getting bad information from their congressional sources. The media was so eager to be first that they put any fact out there. Maddow did a whole thing on it last night.

  • AngelPeters

    Cecelia said:
    I think there’s absolutely no conspiracy here.

    However, I don’t fault Shep Smith for acting like a journalist rather than an administration toady.

    That’s a rare commodity these days.

    My thoughts exactly.

  • MrTPar_taY

    We’re actually skeptical of Obama is what it is. On March 4 2009 Obama said it was a good time to own stocks. Oil has tripled in price since then but he then turns around the other day and says the Bush tax cuts are causing this.

    Obama said that in his 20 years as a patron of Jeremiah Wright’s church he heard never a disparaging word-and then the use of the dreaded “you are a racist” label became Obama’s political weapon of choice.

    From the start to now Obama has hidden behind his words. Obama thinks this country isn’t paying attention. Stay skeptical America.

  • Upper Plateau

    No fan of Obama here but I’ll tell you one thing. He gets credit for authorizing the take down. The CIA, DOD and all the collective National Intelligence Agencies did an outstanding job executing this mission. It didn’t matter who the President was; just that he had the courage to say “yes…do it”. This intel that provided the outline for this mission was years in development. No “op” is ready before its time. Thanks to Obama for saying yes and thanks to Bush for doing his job as Commander and Chief in spite of the relentless hate he had to put up with coming from the media. So Shepard Smith, just be happy Osama is gone and quit looking under every “Bush” for a story. If you want to see the pics join the Army Intel Corp or become a CIA employee, get the clearances, get smart after years of doing intelligence collection and analysis. You don’t have a need to know.

  • juan

    Obama, et al, have really MESSED-UP Big Time explaining this!

  • notsofast

    Which account, Shep?

    “But Shep focused on a number of inconsistencies in the official narrative of how bin Laden died at the hands of U.S. military, and seemed to imply that bin Laden may have been executed by US forces”

    I believe that was what happened. Brennen said originally that it was a “kill” mission and UBL was “shooting” at the seals. Next it was a “capture/kill” mission and UBL had no weapon.

    Which was it WH?

  • Paul G

    Is it just me? ,,,,but why do I wanna watch Al jazeera rather than Shep?

  • Upper Plateau

    notsofast said:
    Which account, Shep? “But Shep focused on a number of inconsistencies in the official narrative of how bin Laden died at the hands of U.S. military, and seemed to imply that bin Laden may have been executed by US forces” I believe that was what happened. Brennen said originally that it was a “kill” mission and UBL was “shooting” at the seals. Next it was a “capture/kill” mission and UBL had no weapon. Which was it WH?

    I’m not sure matters in the end game. Had it been Bush it would have been murder. Its Obama. He will always be “cut a huss” my the Media. Bottom line OBL is dead. Not that it really has anything to do with stopping terrorism, because it won’t. But still kinda feels good that he is gone. We shouldn’t hold our breath about was it a “kill mission” or not. We will never know.

  • http://politicallyincorrectlibertarian.wordpress.com PoliticallyIncorrectLibertarian

    Obama had to say yes, if he had said no someone at the DOD would have leaked the information and it would have caused a national embarrassment. However, I won’t give credit to a man who needed 16 hours to say yes.

    HOW TO FIGHT TERRORISM LIKE A LIBERAL.
    http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/2011/05/lessons-from-liberals-in-fighting.html

  • notsofast

    Upper Plateau said:
    We will never know.

    You are too skeptical. After all, Barry said this will be the most transparent admin, ever!

  • Upper Plateau

    notsofast said:
    You are too skeptical. After all, Barry said this will be the most transparent admin, ever!

    Maybe.

  • TampopoLoco

    And so it begins. The next chapter of “America! Batshit crazy is our middle name”.

  • valkyrie101

    The Seals likely had every aspect of the assault fully audio/video taped, including the sighting and targeting of Usama. Shep needs to make sure they include that in FOX’s FOIA request, and get a court order for a piece of Usama’s DNA, I mean photos, videos, they can always be doctored, but DNA, that’s pretty conclusive.

  • TangledThorns

    Just shows how little trust we have in the administration. Sad times.

  • Probably NOT wrong

    All Barry had to do was announce that an Operation by one of
    our Elite brave Navy Seal teams in Pakistan resulted in the death of
    Osama Bin Laden, got all he photos and DNA results to prove it, and
    all other information classified. Hip Hip Hooray! END of Story. Instead they have tried to milk it
    for the last three days, can’t get the stories straight within the
    Administration,(Photos, weapons, human shields, etc) now have
    confused it to the point, there are about 10 different versions out here.
    Going to milk it a little more by his visit to Ground Zero tomorrow!
    This Adminisration is giving Incompetence a bad name.

  • Liberal Tormentor

    Val, stop acting like you don’t know that Shep is a loony lib.

  • TampopoLoco

    And now Obama will all string you along like the birther stuff because making republicans look stupid and crazy is what he does best.

  • TeaPartyPatriot

    “On economy, Obama approval hits new low”

    Do you now understand why “You Lie!” hussein and the d-crat socialists will string out the osama bit as long as they can?

    Interesting fact: although “You Lie!” hussein has been in office for more than two (disastrous) years, and the suspected location of osama has been known for months (he’s lived in that compound for more than six years), osama is killed ONLY AFTER “You Lie!” begins his re-election campaign, ensuring maximum campaign publicity.

    Anybody wanna buy an “obozo killed osama” tea-shirt? All proceeds go to “You Lie!”‘s re-election campaign.

    “Counter Terrorism Chief Brennan Explains Rationale Behind Sea Burial Of Bin Laden”

    When you dispose of the evidence, nobody can then get ALL the facts or all the TRUTH….

    It’s the same trick used when ruby assassinated oswald, when the feds quickly executed mcveigh, when the Roswell and Kecksburg remains were removed immediately and hidden….

  • TeaPartyPatriot

    “Obama’s Reasoning For Not Releasing Bin Laden Death Photo: ‘That’s Not Who We Are’”

    Here’s how disgusting and repugnant the lunatic-left d-crat socialists are: THEY ALLOW THEIR STOOGES IN THE SOCIALIST MEDIA TO PHOTOGRAPH EACH AND EVERY COFFIN OF AN AMERICAN SOLDER KILLED OVERSEAS, BUT THEY WON’T RELEASE A SINGLE PHOTO OF AMERICA’S REAL ENEMY.

    Hey, TRUMP: once again do your thing and get them to release the photos.

  • ndanielson

    Besides the downed Helo, isn’t it amazing how the Special Ops and military portion of Osama’s killing was executed flawlessly? No American lives lost. A perfect Muslim burial at sea…Most of it probably set in motion by G.W. Bush.

    Then look at the bungled aftermath. No plan. No one even seems to know where the intel came from. Differing accounts of actual events. Hourly. Not even a plan to deal with the “photo”. Wow, that 0bama, what a mental powerhouse.

    This helps put it in perspective: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P0M2ZSaGDw For all you Sesame Street lovers. Skypets. This guy gets his own funding, too.

  • goldmind

    This is what I hoped would be avoided…conspiracy theories. I can’t take no more of them, or the people that bleed them for every drop of miserable speculation they can. Assholes in Washington…Assholes in Media…get it right! Simply share the DNA samples with OUR COALITION PARTNERS around THE WORLD, and let them do their OWN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS of this scumbags DNA…and let’s move on goddammit! I’ll pay for the %$#&*@# analysis! Get this wretched bastard out of our faces!

  • BR

    TampopoLoco said:
    And now Obama will all string you along like the birther stuff because making republicans look stupid and crazy is what he does best.

    Don’t you remember when the leftists and the media (which are leftists) wanted pictures when US forces killed Saddam’s sons?

  • TampopoLoco

    BR said:
    Don’t you remember when the leftists and the media (which are leftists) wanted pictures when US forces killed Saddam’s sons?

    Was that before or after we found out that we had been lied to and there were no WMD’s? i forget…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Samuel-T-Nelson/1396756275 Samuel T Nelson

    Osama’s Last Words: But my friend George W. Bush said nothing would happen to me!!

    BAM!!

    Thanks Obama for doing what George W. Bush avoided his entire Presidency.

    Now, I don’t mind the questioning of what went down. I’m cool with that. However, I wish Fox News had asked some questions after 9/11.

  • TampopoLoco

    Samuel T Nelson said:
    Osama’s Last Words: But my friend George W. Bush said nothing would happen to me!!

    BAM!!

    Thanks Obama for doing what George W. Bush avoided his entire Presidency.

    Now, I don’t mind the questioning of what went down. I’m cool with that. However, I wish Fox News had asked some questions after 9/11.

    Obama’s decision to go in their Navy Seals style and take him out and make sure there’s plenty of proof instead of just blowing the place up and only wonder if Bin Laden was killed is slowly eating away at Republicans like a cancer. It’s humiliating for them because afterall Obama’s the guy that doesn’t have any balls. LOL!!!

  • Jitney

    Pictures or no pictures – who cares? OBL is fish food. Questions about capture then shooting, time between them, weapon or no weapon. I don’t care. OBL is dead. By the brave work of Navy Seals or by a smart weapon from a bomber or a drone – OBL is dead. By a cruise missile – OBL is dead. The only difference concerning how he died is the assurance we have that he is dead and the intelligence gathered from his sty. Americans were targeted by the likes of OBL before, and we will be targeted in the future – there is just one less to do it. And the others trying to harm us are more in our sights. The rats are running and a running rat is easier to find and kill. So, move on to something more important than the picture of a dead man – he is dead whether or not anyone sees a picture. If you have any doubts send him and letter and it will be returned; call his cell and it will just keep ringing. What a great week!!

  • BatBoy

    I am shocked Shep, there are about 6 different stories you can choose from. One of them must be correct…or be creative, you make up your own scenerio.

    This is no different then interviewing multiple perps to the same crime…they all have a different idea of what happened.

    BUT this is the first time I have ever heard many different stories coming from one source…Hey….MAYBE, just MAYBE they are lying and trying to cover something up. Hmmmmmmm!

  • TeaPartyPatriot

    Okay, what do we have here:

    1) There was a firefight.
    2) There was no firefight.
    3) Bin Laden was “resisting.”
    4) Bin Laden wasn’t armed. (Makes the concept of “resisting” interesting.)
    5) He used his wife as a shield.
    6) His wife was killed too.
    7) He didn’t use his wife as a shield. She ran at a SEAL who shot her in the leg, but she’s fine.
    8 ) Some other woman — the maid? — was used as a shield. By somebody. Downstairs.
    9) That other woman — downstairs — was killed.
    10) Maybe not. She was killed unless she wasn’t — and who was she, anyway?
    11) Bin Laden’s son was killed.
    12) Unless it was some other guy.
    13) Bin Laden’s daughter saw him get killed. She’s undoubtedly traumatized, poor dear.
    14) They were going to capture Bin Laden until the problem with the helicopter, which was:

    A) It had mechanical trouble
    B) It did a hard landing
    C) It crashed
    D) It clipped a wall with a tail rotor, effectively a crash

    15.) They were never going to try to capture him; it was always a kill mission.
    16.) No, it wasn’t.
    17) The chopper blew up.
    18) The SEALs blew it up.
    19.) Panetta said yesterday the world needed proof and the photo would be released.
    20.) Obama said today in an interview he taped with Steve Kroft for “60 Minutes” to be broadcast Sunday that it won’t be released. It’s too gruesome, would offend Muslim sensibilities (something he worries about a lot — I personally do not give a warm fart on a wet Wednesday about Muslim sensibilities), and how would Americans feel if Muslims released pictures of dead Americans?
    21.) Kroft — who’s not a total idiot — pointed out that ever since “Black Hawk Down” days, Muslims have been doing precisely that, filming American bodies being dragged through the streets, filming Daniel Pearl’s head being cut off, filming any and everything.
    22) Obama gets pissed at CBS, the tape gets cleaned up, that question disappears. (Inside info.)
    23.) We got a “treasure trove” of stuff from hard drives, etc.
    24.) There were no phone lines, and no internet access at the “mansion,” they didn’t even have TV — what “treasure trove?”
    25.) There is obviously in the pictures of the place a large satellite dish. I guess they used it for making salads.
    26.) And now, just today: apparently the idea was to capture him, but only if he was naked.

    Thanks to bookworm for this.

  • Barack Must Go

    While your at it big boy how about request Barack’s school records and who, what, where and when about his pilgrimage to Pakistan as a teenager with a ” friend ” for starters. If everything checks out there ( it won’t ) then we can request the Barack Hussein Obama ll early years on the mainland including full disclosure of his whereabouts and activities as they pertain to A.C.O.R.N. and mortgage fraud which led to the housing bubble that is still wreaking havoc on this country.

    Along with the housing bubble debacle ( of Obama’s doing ) the continued to this day funnelling of billions in taxpayer funded hush ( flush as in down the toilet is more like it ) money by this administration to guarantee the future silence and cooporation of the top executives of Fannie & Freddie.

    Don’t even get me start on Barack’s supposed ‘ Lost Years ‘ in the front row of Rev. Wright’s church.

    This is ” One Bad Mutha Shaft’in America ……. here’s some hush money…so Shut Your Mouth ” kinda dude.

    How the _____ did this guy ever swindle his way into our White House and the position of president of the United States of America is beyond me…….well actually with all that cash ( our hard earned money ) to spread around and the morally bankrupt mindset of his fellow liberal / socialist crowd, along with constant cover from the equally degenerate MSM nothing it was rather easy.

  • TampopoLoco

    Barack Must Go said:
    While your at it big boy how about request Barack’s school records and who, what, where and when about his pilgrimage to Pakistan as a teenager with a ” friend ” for starters. If everything checks out there ( it won’t ) then we can request the Barack Hussein Obama ll early years on the mainland including full disclosure of his whereabouts and activities as they pertain to A.C.O.R.N. and mortgage fraud which led to the housing bubble that is still wreaking havoc on this country.

    Along with the housing bubble debacle ( of Obama’s doing ) the continued to this day funnelling of billions in taxpayer funded hush ( flush as in down the toilet is more like it ) money by this administration to guarantee the future silence and cooporation of the top executives of Fannie & Freddie.

    Don’t even get me start on Barack’s supposed ‘ Lost Years ‘ in the front row of Rev. Wright’s church.

    This is ” One Bad Mutha Shaft’in America ……. here’s some hush money…so Shut Your Mouth ” kinda dude.

    How the _____ did this guy ever swindle his way into our White House and the position of president of the United States of America is beyond me…….well actually with all that cash ( our hard earned money ) to spread around and the morally bankrupt mindset of his fellow liberal / socialist crowd, along with constant cover from the equally degenerate MSM nothing it was rather easy.

    You’re just a racist. My guess is some black dude fcuked your girl once and she’s never looked back. lol

  • Rusty Shackelford

    In two weeks the people will realize gasoline is on its way to five bucks a gallon,the public sector is’nt producing any jobs and home sales still suck.Osama who?

  • BatBoy

    TampopoLoco said:
    You’re just a racist.

    No, you are the racists and you just proved it.

  • avoidswork

    Barack Must Go said:
    While your at it big boy how about request Barack’s school records and who, what, where and when about his pilgrimage to Pakistan as a teenager with a ” friend ” for starters. If everything checks out there ( it won’t ) then we can request the Barack Hussein Obama ll early years on the mainland including full disclosure of his whereabouts and activities as they pertain to A.C.O.R.N. and mortgage fraud which led to the housing bubble that is still wreaking havoc on this country. Along with the housing bubble debacle ( of Obama’s doing ) the continued to this day funnelling of billions in taxpayer funded hush ( flush as in down the toilet is more like it ) money by this administration to guarantee the future silence and cooporation of the top executives of Fannie & Freddie. Don’t even get me start on Barack’s supposed ‘ Lost Years ‘ in the front row of Rev. Wright’s church. This is ” One Bad Mutha Shaft’in America ……. here’s some hush money…so Shut Your Mouth ” kinda dude. How the _____ did this guy ever swindle his way into our White House and the position of president of the United States of America is beyond me…….well actually with all that cash ( our hard earned money ) to spread around and the morally bankrupt mindset of his fellow liberal / socialist crowd, along with constant cover from the equally degenerate MSM nothing it was rather easy.

    You probably voted for SilverSpoon Bush and Daddy’s High Up in Military brat McCain, so, really? Bush’s full National Guard record is still incomplete as well…

    Trump’s son in law’s Harvard education was bought by Daddy.

    What is the smoking gun you’re expecting?
    You may just want to be ca

  • Azarkhan

    There might have been things I missed
    But don’t be unkind
    It don’t mean I’m blind
    Perhaps there’s a thing or two

    I think of lying in bed
    I shouldn’t have said
    But there it is…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3epPMa5rq0U&feature=related

  • Gasket

    TeaPartyPatriot said:
    20.) Obama said today in an interview he taped with Steve Kroft for “60 Minutes” to be broadcast Sunday that it won’t be released. It’s too gruesome, would offend Muslim sensibilities (something he worries about a lot — I personally do not give a warm fart on a wet Wednesday about Muslim sensibilities), and how would Americans feel if Muslims released pictures of dead Americans?

    This post alone shows the obtuse and convoluted logic of a teabagger. Do you not understand that one can be a Muslim and an American at the same time? It’s NOT a mutually exclusive concept. The WH does NOT want to release the photos because of “Muslim sensibility” reasons. They don’t want to do it since it will incite jihadists/extremists/terrorists who identify themselves as Muslims (in this specific context w/OBL) and have them use those images for propaganda purposes. (It’s the very same scenario as the Q’uran burning BS — which ended up killing people.) There are MANY Muslims who are American who want the images of the dead OBL released. He after all has killed thousands of their fellow innocent Muslims as well. You are simply…..dumb.

  • TinaFromTampa

    Sorry but Shep is nothing more than a punk.
    (NotTinaFromTampa) but I feel that she would agree.

  • Dem4Ever

    If I was a Muslim in Asia or the Middle East (and America too) I would be terrified of BO. 

    Everyone knows that BO has no problem throwing anyone and everyone under the bus if it gets him what he wants. Just ask his spiritual leader, mentor and minister of 20+ yrs, Jeremiah Wright. Or ask his grandmother, the woman who sacrificed everything for him when his own parents abandoned him (may she rest in peace) or the Democrats in the House of Representatives who gave him everything he asked for or the MSM that has protected him for years. Ask Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the hero of Iraq and Afganistan. Or David Paterson, Gov. of New York…just to name a few.

    But, now he’s trying to get re-elected and because he’s been soft on terror guess who’s going under the bus next.  He just invaded Lybia and is trying to kill Qaddaffi (and infants if they get in the way) now he invaded Pakistan and assasonated OBL.

    Muslims of the world…you are next.  O-Bomb-A is coming after you next…just say’n.

  • fghfgvgdfg

    ★★★★★Something unexpected surprise
    welcome to http://www.bestworldstore.com

    happy year, give family, friends, love, his own gift ready?

    website for many kinds of fashion shoes, like the jordan, also including the jeans,

    shirts,bags,hat and the decorations.We have good reputation, fashion products,

    favourable price. And delivery is free. Good opportunity not to be missed!

    jacket 45$
    hangdbags price 35$ ,sunglasses 15$ belt 15$
    90X Extreme Fitness System ONLY ONLY 40$$$$$$$ jeans 35$
    welcome to http://www.bestworldstore.com

© 2012 Mediaite, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Power Grid FAQ | Contact | Archives | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram