by David Axe | Sep 4, 2012 | Monitor
A National Reconnaissance Office rocket carrying a classified satellite launches from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base in April. Photo: NRO The U.S. has a vast constellation of spy satellites in orbit. But these surveillance spacecraft have traditionally...
by Noah Shachtman | Aug 30, 2012 | Monitor
Osama bin Laden films an undated propaganda video. Photo: CIA Before SEAL Team 6 was sent into Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden, the troops were given a cover story, in case the mission went south. They were supposed to say that they were deep in Pakistani territory,...
by Noah Shachtman | Aug 29, 2012 | Monitor
President Obama and his national security team watch the bin Laden raid unfold. Photo: Wikimedia Updated 6:21 p.m. The mission was twofold: first and foremost, kill Osama bin Laden. Then, once the deed was done and the troops were back safe, help re-elect the...
by Spencer Ackerman | Aug 24, 2012 | Monitor
Adm. William H. McRaven speaks at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, August 2011. Photo: USSOCOM/Flickr The leader of the U.S. Special Operations Command and architect of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden is seriously unhappy about a forthcoming book by a member of...
by Robert Beckhusen | Aug 14, 2012 | Monitor
A special forces soldier secures a perimeter during an exercise on Feb. 15, 2010. Photo: EUCOM Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is arguably the world’s most wanted criminal, supplanting Osama bin Laden after the terrorist...