kill bin laden

Kill bin Laden

A few months ago I heard about the forthcoming book Kill bin Laden

from a former Delta Force operator and personal friend of mine. St.

Martin's Press picked it up. It should be out in the Fall of this

year. Perhaps a movie could accompany it.

Here's a quick description of the book:

In late November 2001 forty members of the U.S. Army's super secret

counterterrorist unit known as Delta Force were sent to the Tora Bora

Mountains in eastern Afghanistan to kill terrorist mastermind Usama

bin Laden.

The author, Dalton Fury, is a retired troop commander. (Delta Force is

divided into troops instead of battalion-like elements.) Of course, I

know more about "Dalton" (which isn't his real name) and his unit, but

those kinds of things are just not talked about. Speaking of taboo,

I've heard it straight from the mouths of other Delta Force operators

how much they loathe Eric Haney, a former Delta operator who went

public and wrote Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite

Counterterrorism Unit. The TV series The Unit is based on Eric's book

and he serves as its tactical consultant.

With all the personal struggles Dalton must have faced and with some

of his personal contacts who have blacklisted him (or who will), I'd

rather take a kinder approach and say, "Good for you, brother." Your

decision took A LOT of courage.

A while back I faced a similar struggle. After extensive consideration

and pondering, I felt I should write a book. I would talk about things

that weren't made public--secret things. To say that decision was a

struggle would be an understatement.

Back then I called a trusted advisor and personal friend--my special

operations mentor. He has seen more action, done more and knows more

secrets than anyone I know. He's the kind of guy that movies are made

about and who should have been awarded the highest honorary medals for

combat action in times of `peace', but he wasn't because he acted as a

true Quiet Professional. He's a deeply religious Christian and I trust

his opinion.

We talked at length. In the end, he suggested I should not write a

book.

I took my thoughts, feelings and decisions to fervent prayer. My

answer: Yes, and don't ask again.

I've done and have seen some pretty interesting things. I've been to

some interesting places and have learned a few things about life. With

deep respect to my friend's advice, I still plan to write. There are