OBL raid: 9 reasons why Seymour Hersh’s theory on Abbottabad raid is unbelievable

Hersh's reports have recently become less and less credible, and this story seems no different

Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh on Sunday released a story on which he was reportedly working for years: purportedly revealing the ‘real truth’ about killing Osama bin Laden.

However, there are numerous problems with the 10,000-word theory that he published in the London Review of Books. He had argued that the US tracing Laden to a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and taking him down in a secret raid angering Pakistan, and then ‘burying’ him at sea — was all a lie.

Here are nine problems with his report:

1. Hersh has produced no supporting documents to substantiate his point.

2. The allegations are supported by just two sources, an unnamed Pakistan military intelligence official and an anonymous second person. None of them appear to possess direct knowledge of what had taken place.

Read: Pakistan probably knew Bin Laden’s whereabouts, says former ISI chief

3. It is strange to argue that many officials from both Pakistan and the US would be capable of secretly planning the action, being able to uphold the conspiracy for years to come but then failing their competency to get on the same page for delivery of aid.

4. Why would Pakistan want a fake raid and insist for the same and risk their humiliation and letdown of military and intelligence leaders.

5. Why would Pakistan resort to a ‘fake raid’ when there are many, many other ways to execute the same; pretending, for example, that Bin Laden was killed in a fake US drone strike raid.

Read: Pictures of Bin Laden’s hideout in Afghanistan surface online

Bin Laden’s compound being demolished

6. Similarly, why would the US build a massive double of the compound in Abbottabad to train special forces even if the ‘real compound’ was to be unguarded totally and without a firefight.

7. It is a little outlandish to believe that small firearms could reduce a 6-foot-4 man into pieces. This would take an incredible amount of time and ammunition.

8. Despite Hersh claiming that there was a secret deal between both sides to enable  increased military aid and a "freer hand in Afghanistan”, the exact opposite took place with the US military aid cooperation in Afghanistan declining for years after the raid.

Read: ISI chief knew whereabouts of Osama bin Laden's hideout: NYT

9. In light of Hersh’s narratives, al Qaeda would have had to be in on this ploy too but similarly, there is no proof for this claim.

About a decade ago, Hersh was known as of the most respected investigative journalists around. However, recently, his reports have become less and less credible. This story in question, sadly, seems no different.

The article first appeared on Vox