2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThe one thing I learned from NBC's show in the bin Laden killing...
The famous photo, you know, this one...
...didn't actually take place in the real situation room. Instead, Obama was in the bigger situation room waiting for information that came from this room and decided he wanted it first-hand, so he got up, told everyone he was going and they were free to join him and entered the room in the photo above. There, he found Brigadier General Webb seated and in communication with those doing the operation.
So, it explains why Obama was tucked away in the corner.
Also, to clarify: Every aspect of this is technically the Situation Room, however, there is a far bigger room used by the President and his staff - this room is not it. It's a smaller one off to the side, which, as you can see, was being used prior to Obama's, and his staff's arrival by Brigadier General Webb.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)I didn't know any of the info in your OP. I don't have TV so I appreciate being able to catch up.
Julie
Beaverhausen
(24,469 posts)watch some of the videos.
The show brought up a lot of emotions for me, mostly pride that we have a president who is so smart, so cool under stress. The various interviews were all really fascinating to me.
Zorro
(15,722 posts)The detailed descriptions of the main and surrounding events gave the viewing audience great insight into the mindset of the participants.
Highly recommended viewing. It will serve as a key reference of those events for many years to come.
blue neen
(12,319 posts)I'm glad I had the opportunity to watch that very excellent report. It explained many interesting things about the whole chain of events, the decision making process, etc.
One really has to wonder how the President maintained his cool throughout the Correspondents' Dinner.
I also enjoyed listening to the interviews of the others, especially Hillary and Biden.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)That was very nice of you, thanks.
Julie
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I'm outside the US and will spread it on the Obama Expats email list.
tishaLA
(14,176 posts)That neither FLOTUS nor Bill Clinton was aware of this until after it was already done. I don't know that it should be so surprising, but it was.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)There was no reason that they would know.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)but no way they can say that publicly or they would get extreme hell from the RW assholes (and other mixes of assholes) for that. So a little white lie to the public in this case is understandable to me.
bluerum
(6,109 posts)Beaverhausen
(24,469 posts)care to elaborate?
bluerum
(6,109 posts)I think I was pretty clear about my opinion.
braddy
(3,585 posts)I have never seen a negative in that photo, it would be creepy and negatively revealing if a boss tried to impose himself in some grand way within the seating arrangement, or to jockey for a more aggressive, imposing position, when all he wanted to do was observe and stay on top of the operation without disrupting the people at their duty stations, he placed himself right next to his General, who was the center of things at that moment, which is where he should have been.
People looking for something to attack Obama for there, are being worse than petty, they are seeing something that isn't there, actually, they are getting it wrong.
Cosmocat
(14,558 posts)Just kind of highlights him in the way I think he really is.
He gets in front of the camera and crowds and is amazing, but I think this reflects his leadership style, where he is not all full of himself and lets the people who know what they are doing provide imput and do their jobs.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)he is not a show off egotistical chest puffer at all. It's good that he has a healthy dose of self respect (and respect for others) tho
grantcart
(53,061 posts)took the folding chair.
flamingdem
(39,308 posts)He cares more about content than form.
Rhiannon12866
(204,687 posts)Fascinating stuff and surprisingly candid discussions with both the president and SoS Clinton. Hope they repeat it again, since I missed the beginning.
Raven
(13,877 posts)just killed Osama." Interesting that spouses were not told. Also, watching that program last night gave me a new appreciation of The SoS. She's one tough lady!
Shrek
(3,975 posts)The guys in IT are not amused.
GOTV
(3,759 posts)... they are likely just the laptops of the people sitting near then for their convenience.
GOTV
(3,759 posts)Is it a camera on the helmet of a Navy Seal? Is it people in a control room on an aircraft carrier nearer the action? Is it live updated maps and charts? Twitter?
janx
(24,128 posts)ran into difficulty. If I remember correctly, they were indeed able to watch real time video of the operation from cameras on the Seals' helmets.