CIA 'live-tweets' Osama bin Laden raid 5 years later
Twitter re-enactment of operation called 'contrary to … good judgment'
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency posted a series of tweets Sunday to mark the fifth anniversary of the raid in which American service members found and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a>
—@CIAThe tweets were posted as if the raid were happening live, the CIA said. Members of the U.S. Special Forces carried out the raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed bin Laden on May 2, 2011.
1:25 pm EDT-<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS">@POTUS</a>, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a> <a href="https://t.co/YhvuJVrMVc">pic.twitter.com/YhvuJVrMVc</a>
—@CIA1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a>
—@CIA3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a>
—@CIAThe posts included the famous photo of President Barack Obama, then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton and others in the White House Situation Room watching the team's progress live.
3:30 pm EDT - <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS">@POTUS</a> watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a> <a href="https://t.co/59KPF7eUTr">pic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr</a>
—@CIA3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a>
—@CIA3:53 pm EDT - <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS">@POTUS</a> receives tentative confirmation of positive identification of Usama Bin Ladin<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a>
—@CIASome people on Twitter praised the CIA for their 'live tweets' of the raid
Watching the <a href="https://twitter.com/CIA">@CIA</a> relive on Twitter the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a> today reminds me of how proud I am of the men and women who do what they do. Thank you.
—@tkradio5th Anniversary of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a>. We continue to remember & commend the hard work & sacrifice of our .<a href="https://twitter.com/us_navyseals">@us_navyseals</a> .<a href="https://twitter.com/CIA">@CIA</a> <a href="https://t.co/qcOCs0GHoF">pic.twitter.com/qcOCs0GHoF</a>
—@NYPDCTHowever, many people found the commemoration to be in poor taste
I get <a href="https://twitter.com/CIA">@CIA</a> desire to take victory lap but tweeting <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a> seems contrary to Intel Community ethos & good judgment <a href="https://t.co/QJ2hnMQs7j">https://t.co/QJ2hnMQs7j</a>
—@Carter_PEImagine what the <a href="https://twitter.com/CIA">@CIA</a> are planning for the 10th anniversary - Puppets? Opera? Pixelated animated gifs? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a>
—@JimbolinosWe'd like to see a reenactment of the Communications meeting when this idea was discussed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a> <a href="https://t.co/hxZQv7dTzP">https://t.co/hxZQv7dTzP</a>
—@ContactIgnisThere were some wry suggestions for other CIA operations that their Twitter account could recreate
If you live tweet the Bay of Pigs invasion, call us. Otherwise, stop it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a> <a href="https://t.co/RJ7gwLbh1P">https://t.co/RJ7gwLbh1P</a>
—@TheDailyShowyou should do Iran Contra next <a href="https://twitter.com/CIA">@CIA</a>
—@AaronCampeauThe tweets were roundly mocked with replies posting memes, including Crying Jordan and Spongebob Squarepants urging the CIA to just get off Twitter already
<a href="https://twitter.com/CIA">@CIA</a> <a href="https://t.co/JoPtaY7ntw">pic.twitter.com/JoPtaY7ntw</a>
—@PineconeExpert<a href="https://twitter.com/CIA">@CIA</a> who runs this twitter account? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBLRaid?src=hash">#UBLRaid</a> <a href="https://t.co/1GFA7RWiBz">pic.twitter.com/1GFA7RWiBz</a>
—@HanzalaOfficial