CIA mocked for 'live-tweeting' bin Laden raid on fifth anniversary
The the CIA has been mocked for "live tweeting" the military raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan five years ago.
Bin Laden was killed in a US commando operation on 2 May, 2011 in a raid on his compound in Abbottabad.
The US spy agency decided to use Monday's fifth anniversary of his death to re-live the raid on Twitter, providing the official rundown of the operation and posting several diagrams and maps of the compound.
The military raid - dubbed "operation Neptune spear" - lasted nine minutes and ended with the death of al-Qaeda's leader. The commandos were out of the operation area within an hour, according to the CIA's Twitter timeline.
The series of Twitter posts concluded with praise of a “daring... team effort”, and linked to a story "wrap" and a more detailed timeline on the CIA’s website.
But the decision to "live tweet" was criticised by Twitter users as weird, a "victory lap" and "grotesque".
The Daily Show added to the criticism.
Speaking to ABC News a CIA spokesman, Ryan Trapani, defended the operation and the decision to "live tweet" it, arguing that the "takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time".
He said: "On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honour all those who had a hand in this achievement."
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
