Extortion 17 – What Questions Remain?

Did leaks from the Osama bin Laden raid factor into the largest loss of life since the inception of the Naval Special Warfare? This is just one of many questions congressional members will be asking as they begin to probe into the circumstances surrounding the 6 Aug, 2011 helicopter crash known by its call sign Extortion 17.

“We’re going to dive into this,” said U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on National Security. During his recent interview with The Hill, a Washington newspaper focusing on the U.S. Congress, Rep. Chaffetz told of his meeting with the families of the fallen and the possibility of his subcommittee holding hearings on this matter.

Other points of contention between family members and the Pentagon include; why were all the bodies cremated? In spite of the flash flooding that occurred at the crash site could have the helicopter’s black box been recovered? Why weren’t the last minute personnel changes concerning the Afghani nationals that accompanied the SEALs reflected on the flight manifest? Where was the air escort on insertion?

In spite of the Vice President Biden’s address on 3 May 2011 during a Washington D.C. dinner event where he revealed the SEALs were responsible for bin Laden’s death the Pentagon doesn’t believe the SEALs were specifically targeted on 6 Aug crash. Whatever the outcome, just having congress taking a closer look into the events of Extortion 17 might prevent similar circumstances from reoccurring.