OBJECTIVE

 

The operation was said to be a "kill-or-capture mission," since the U.S. doesn't kill unarmed people trying to surrender", but it was clear from the beginning that whoever was behind those walls had no intention of surrendering. 

 

White House counterterrorism advisor John O. Brennan said after the raid that "If we had the opportunity to take bin Laden alive, if he didn't present any threat, the individuals involved were able and prepared to do that."

 

A U.S. national security official, who was not named, told Reuters that "'this was a kill operation', making clear there was no desire to try to capture bin Laden alive in Pakistan". "They described the reaction of the special operators when they were told a number of weeks ago that they had been chosen to train for the mission. 'They were told, "We think we found Osama bin Laden, and your job is to kill him." The SEALs started to cheer."