Paintball Reenactment of OBL Kill Mission

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/201 ... c=obinsite



In New Hope, Minnesota, a former SEAL has created a reconstruction of the Abbottabad compound and runs roleplay scenarios where you can pay $315 to reenact the SEAL Team 6 raid and shoot a roleplayer dressed as Osama Bin Laden.


I can understand the sentiment, and I think that would actually be kind of cool to do if done right, but I can't get away from the feeling that it is in kind of poor taste.

What does everyone think? Cool or stupid?

From the article: "The experience is also available as part of a romantic couples package, so fear not if it's date night and you're jonesing for a targeted killing fix." OH SO ROMANTIC.

It does sound pretty distasteful, but I can see why he's done it. Unfortunately, subbing in a no-name threat wouldn't have had the same impact that putting "OBL" in there has. Still gives me the creeps though.

Hey, what do you know... someone else for fundamentalist Muslims to riot over. Which embassy is next?

Nikachelle wrote:From the article: "The experience is also available as part of a romantic couples package, so fear not if it's date night and you're jonesing for a targeted killing fix." OH SO ROMANTIC.

LOL yeah I saw that.

The thing I don't understand about this concept is that, to be honest, from the descriptions the OBL wasn't particularly exciting.
They breached the compound, shot a couple bewildered teenagers, and then shot OBL in the face when he poked his head out. It's not like it was some kind of epic Jason Bourne moment or something.

Malthrax wrote:Hey, what do you know... someone else for fundamentalist Muslims to riot over. Which embassy is next?

You would think by now that 'somebody' might have realised that while as a country the USA might be very careful protecting its borders now, it can't always protect its servants overseas to the level required even if it thinks it can.

I mean seriously, in light of all what has happened you are giving more slights to an area with a high level of political/religeous unrest. Surely someone should have said, actually, that's just not a good idea so we aren't letting you do that.

Hate to break it to you, but you aren't the only country dealing with the shit that is going on in that part of the world and yet you still let things destabilize because of stunts like this?

1 step forward, 5 steps back.

You say that like we can control what every single idiot redneck does.

Or what every idiot islamist does, for that matter.

Brekkie wrote:You say that like we can control what every single idiot redneck does.

Or what every idiot islamist does, for that matter.

Yeah and I agree obviously you can't control people being idiots but for things like this where there is obviously an opportunity to say 'This isn't going to end well considering the current climate so please don't do this' then something has to be said. The guy running it is a former SEAL and he thinks this is ok? I can't get my head around that sorry.

I just see no reason to provoke volatile people when the only gain is financial.

Weeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllll....

As really stupid as it sounds, Bara, I can see said idiot also deciding to do this now, to inflame this situation to try and 'prove' that President Obama has a precarious hold (whether you agree or not he does).

"Oh look, another flare in the Middle East, he can't handle that blah blah blah."

Either that, or for some reason, these SEALs are a lot dumber than I anticipated.

Amirya wrote:Weeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllll....

As really stupid as it sounds, Bara, I can see said idiot also deciding to do this now, to inflame this situation to try and 'prove' that President Obama has a precarious hold (whether you agree or not he does).

"Oh look, another flare in the Middle East, he can't handle that blah blah blah."

Either that, or for some reason, these SEALs are a lot dumber than I anticipated.

Well in that case my dearest Ami Queen of Cool all I can say is that is just plain old batshit crazy. The SEAL needs to smell the coffee and get a reality check. I can't believe that anyone could in these times use peoples well being and safety as potential vote swingers.

We had it in this country with Tony 'Why does no-one like me' Blair when he lied about WOMD's and he is now one of the most despised men in the country along with his money grabbing shewitch of a wife who lined her own pockets very nicely with the human rights act.

As I said, Batshit Crazy.

Barathorn wrote:I can't believe that anyone could in these times use peoples well being and safety as potential vote swingers.

See, I'm the other way. I'm not surprised when people use well being and safety as potential vote swingers. (Bear in mind, I don't know that this clown is actually doing that, he could just be in it for money or notoriety.)

My roommate was joking the other day that I should run for office in four years, and I'd only need one term to get Republicans and Democrats to unite in their efforts to get rid of me.

Unfortunately, punching the idiots is severely frowned upon and the politicians would look bad with broken noses.

well msot of them have thier heads so far up their asses that you wouldnt be able to tell anyway
and if you do run for office, let me know and i will move to AZ to vote for you!

Although I agree that something like this is in poor taste, Somehow I don't think that this will invoke quite the same reaction as things like the danish comics a few years back or the more recent inflammatory video posted a few months ago.

Those specifically attacked and insulted Islam, its founder and followers. If I'm remembering things correctly, the "Innocence of Muslims" video was made with an intent to incite violent reactions in the middle east.

Arnock wrote:Although I agree that something like this is in poor taste, Somehow I don't think that this will invoke quite the same reaction as things like the danish comics a few years back or the more recent inflammatory video posted a few months ago.

Those specifically attacked and insulted Islam, its founder and followers. If I'm remembering things correctly, the "Innocence of Muslims" video was made with an intent to incite violent reactions in the middle east.

I agree I don't think its 'as' bad. However in this case,

Barathorn ROL no 11 applies - Do not add fuel to an existing fire unless you wish to curtail your eyebrow growth. And get a nice tan.

Barathorn wrote:The SEAL needs to smell the coffee and get a reality check. I can't believe that anyone could in these times use peoples well being and safety as potential vote swingers.

Welcome to American politics, where absolutely nothing matters as far as life/liberty/happiness except making sure your party/you win the election next year.

Nikachelle wrote:It does sound pretty distasteful, but I can see why he's done it. Unfortunately, subbing in a no-name threat wouldn't have had the same impact that putting "OBL" in there has. Still gives me the creeps though.

I suppose the vanilla version ("enact your murderous fantasies of hunting down a live human target with automatic weapons!") was deemed to be too niche for general public*, so they had to add OBL for extra incentive.

(*) Which, I guess, says something good about humanity.

Aubade wrote:

Barathorn wrote:The SEAL needs to smell the coffee and get a reality check. I can't believe that anyone could in these times use peoples well being and safety as potential vote swingers.

Welcome to American politics, where absolutely nothing matters as far as life/liberty/happiness except making sure your party/you win the election next year.

The funny part is, if the government told this guy "hey, this is a bad idea, please stop", there would be headlines all over saying OBAMA DESTROYS SMALL BUSINESS WITH BIG GOVERNMENT MANDATE - VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR NOW UNEMPLOYED

and if something happens in which this is cited as a cause/reason, the same veteran will be thrown under the bus as an insensitive redneck (despite being a former seal)

bldavis wrote:and if something happens in which this is cited as a cause/reason, the same veteran will be thrown under the bus as an insensitive redneck (despite being a former seal)

Have you ever met a SEAL?
"insensitive redneck" is a not-inaccurate description of most of them. Awesome guys, but care about feelings they do not.

seal? no
ranger? yes
green beret? yes
someone who refuses to talk about just what he was in Nam? yes

so if seals are like any of those other guys....you have a point
my point was not that he wouldnt be an insensitive redneck, but that they would gloss over the fact that he was a former spec ops solider and claim he was just some AMURIKA FUCK YEA idiot

bldavis wrote:someone who refuses to talk about just what he was in Nam? yes

99% of the time in those situations, the answer is "a civilian".

my point was not that he wouldnt be an insensitive redneck, but that they would gloss over the fact that he was a former spec ops solider and claim he was just some AMURIKA FUCK YEA idiot

I don't really understand what you're saying. Why would his former military service matter or even be relevant.

most ppl are more sympathetic when a vet is involved
as for the nam guy, all i know is he was spec ops...but you do have a point

ranger is my cousin, green beret is a former neighbor