Buried at sea? No pictures? Entire Seal Team dies shortly after so they can’t talk? I didn’t buy it when it supposedly happened and I still ain’t buying it!
Osama had been dead for a good while before this Hollywood production.
Obama talks bin Laden in rare sit room interview
By DYLAN BYERS and JOSH GERSTEIN |, 4/27/12 2:20 PM EDT
Brian Williams of NBC News held a rare interview with President Barack Obama about the killing of Osama bin Laden in the White House Situation Room yesterday.
The interview, which will air on Rock Center with Brian Williams on May 2, comes at the one-year anniversary of bin Laden’s killing, an event the Obama campaign is touting in a new ad that goes after Mitt Romney.
"One year ago, they brought down Bin Laden. Now, for the first time, the main players are talking -- only to Brian Williams," a 15-second promo of the interview, which aired this morning on the Today show, said. "Exclusive access inside the situation room. Rock Center, Wednesday, 9/8 Central on NBC."
(Also on POLITICO: Bin Laden operation, Part Two)
White House deputy press secretary Josh Earnest resisted questions regarding rumors of the interview this morning, as well as the suggestion that Obama was politicizing Bin Laden’s killing by holding an interview in the Situation Room.
“What I can tell you is that the President has conducted a couple of interviews over the course of the last year about the successful mission against Osama bin Laden,” Earnest said during a press gaggle on the way to an event in Georgia. “What the President did yesterday and what he has done many times before over the course of the last year is talk about that mission and talk about the success of that mission.”
White House officials did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Of note: In a 2011 interview with Wolf Blizter, host of CNN's Situation Room, Obama said Blitzer could come to the White House situation room, but couldn't bring cameras.
"I hope you'll be coming and joining me in my Situation Room," Blitzer said. "And if you invite me to yours, I will be happy to come to yours as well."
"Thank you, Wolf. You can visit any time," the President said. "Just you can't bring cameras. That's the only difference."
"I will come by myself," Blitzer replied.
(Also on POLITICO: Judge keeps bin Laden photos under wraps)
UPDATE: NBC News sent out the full press release late Friday afternoon, noting that Williams has also interviewed Vice President Biden; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; Admiral Mike Mullen, USN, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (from 2007 to 2011); Tom Donilon, National Security Advisor; Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor; and John O. Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.
UPDATE 2: Late Friday afternoon, National Security Council spokesperson Tommy Vietor explained the White House's decision to open up the situation room. Read his comments here.
The NBC News release in full:
April 27, 2012 – New York, NY – In a first for network television, NBC News has been granted unprecedented access to the most secret and secure part of the White House, the Situation Room. In a “Rock Center with Brian Williams” exclusive airing on Wednesday, May 2 at 9p/8c, President Obama and his national security and military teams, relive the pivotal moments of the raid targeting Osama bin Laden.
The iconic photograph taken inside the Situation Room offered the world the first glimpse of a national security team at work during the Special Operations mission. Now, we will hear from many of the people in that photograph about what was taking place on that historic night.
“We want to present the definitive account of what took place leading-up to and during the tension-filled hours of the mission targeting Osama bin Laden. The NAVY Seals Special Operations teams executed an ambitious, dangerous mission months in planning. Our viewers will hear details never before revealed and see the nerve center of the White House Situation Room in this special broadcast,” said Steve Capus, President of NBC News.
On “Rock Center with Brian Williams,” Williams interviews President Obama in the Situation Room about one of the country’s greatest military missions, which until now, has been shrouded in great secrecy. Williams also interviews Vice President Biden; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; Admiral Mike Mullen, USN, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (from 2007 to 2011); Tom Donilon, National Security Advisor; Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor; and John O. Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.
Donovan Slack contributed to this report.
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