Was the Navy SEAL mission to capture Osama bin Laden, or to kill him? That question has been raised by the Associated Press, which obtained an early copy of the book "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden," written by former Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette under the pen name Mark Owen.
According to the official version of Bin Laden's death, Navy SEALs shot and killed the terrorist because they believed he was armed. But the Associated Press reports Bissonnette wrote Bin Laden was shot in the head as he peeked out from his bedroom doorway:
The author writes that bin Laden ducked back into his bedroom and the SEALs followed, only to find the terrorist crumpled on the floor in a pool of blood with a hole visible on the right side of his head and two women wailing over his body.
Meanwhile, Department of Defense officials are also now examining the book for the first time. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told Reuters:
"We have obtained a copy and are reviewing it."
The National Security Council was also tight-lipped about the contents of the book, with spokesman Tommy Vietor saying only:
"As President Obama said on the night that justice was brought to Osama bin Laden, 'We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country.'"
The book was originally supposed to be released on September 11th, but will be available through Amazon.com on September 4th. It is currently the bestselling book on that website.
