During the critical planning moments of the strike on Osama bin Laden the president was surrounded by a posse of Irish American advisers who helped him make the key decisions.
The Washington Post reported that; “ It wasn’t until 8 a.m. Friday that Obama, in a meeting with national security adviser Thomas E. Donilon, his deputy Denis McDonough, chief of staff William Daley, and White House counterterrorism adviser John O. Brennan, told the group to move ahead.
Thomas Donilon is National Security Advisor, John Brennan is Counterterrorism czar, Chief of Staff is Bill Daley and Deputy National Security advisor is Denis McDonough.
Brennan, whose parents were born in Roscommon and Galway chaired all the critical meetings.
It has been known for some time that he is Obama’s most influential aide on terrorism issues.
Brennan’s parents are still living in New Jersey, no doubt basking in the glow of their successful son.
Describing the moment in the situation room waiting for the mission to succeed or fail Brennan stated “The minutes passed like days. It was very tense, with a lot of people holding their breath.”
McDonough, one of a family of 11 who has a brother a priest, was Obama’s point man on foreign policy during the election campaign where his responsibilities included Northern Ireland.
Bill Daley is brother of the former Chicago mayor Richard Daley.
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READ MORE:
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He has headed many mission to Ireland for president Clinton and became involved in the Irish peace process when he was Commerce Secretary.
Thomas Donilon is a brother of Mike Donilon the counselor for Vice President Joe Biden, another key Irish American figure in the Obama inner circle.
Donilon works closely with yet another Irish staffer , the Irish-born Samantha Power who is considered the key architect of the Libya policy.
A photograph taken in the Situation Room as the raid unfolded shows Biden, Clinton, Chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen sitting closest to the president.
It is hard to imagine, with the exception of the Kennedy era,more Irish Americans in senior positions in a White House administration especially when you include Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who, while not Irish American, has long played a key role on Irish issues.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.canadianirish | Sep 09, 2011, 09:33 PM EDT
In my opinion, the Irish are THE smartest race. I would ask the American intelligence community to consider asking the RIRA to assist them in wiping out Al Qaeda. As the saying goes: How do you fight terrorism? Answer: With terrorists.
IrishTinker | May 06, 2011, 11:35 PM EDT
Word is out, the SAS trained this Seal team, thank our top allies again!
McNamara31 | May 04, 2011, 06:39 PM EDT
OldSarge.. I guess some people walk around arrogantly with bravado telling people how "they would get things done" or declare "mission accomplished" while others, plan, think, possibly sit in the corner, and "truly get things done". Obama quietly increased the drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and then sent in a small amount of Navy Seals to finish the task. Obama works smart, with less, and doesn't have a need to name his missions “shock and awe”. He knows the results will speak for themselves.
FallsRNat | May 04, 2011, 06:38 PM EDT
sirpeter - where r u - SHOOT TO KILL
OldSarge | May 04, 2011, 04:05 PM EDT
All you need to do is look at the official photo of the National Security Team. Obama is in the corner with the look of a scared puppy. He's no leader, no courage, no backbone. thank God we'll vote him out in 2012.
antoman | May 04, 2011, 02:29 PM EDT
President Obama's task now should be to wrestle control of America's military back from the manufacturers of death and destruction and return control of it back to the people.
Gearoid4 | May 04, 2011, 02:05 PM EDT
The biggest array of irish talent on display in a U.S cabinet since the JFK years. To be sure, to be sure.
Kilsally | May 04, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT
Yup, wondering much the same IronMountainMovies - the SAS shot IRA in Gibraltar who were scouting for targets to blow up and apparently its a `human rights` abuse. Numerous others where they had guns and rocket launchers in Northern Ireland and shot outside police stations as they were about to commit terrorism against Northern Irish policemen (propaganda released was careful to say `British occupying Crown Forces` or some such to raise images of hordes of Englishmen - what was the difference between a Northern Irish policeman then and Northern Irish Catholic policeman killed by dissidents last week?)
IronMountainMovies | May 04, 2011, 09:29 AM EDT
Were these wonderful 'Irish Advisers' the same people who severely criticised the UK for its shoot to kill policy in Northern Ireland? Ronan Gallagher
Helen Ferone | May 04, 2011, 08:46 AM EDT
Thank our Navy Seals for a job well done. Now, show us the pictures of him for proof.
bogsidebunny | May 04, 2011, 03:20 AM EDT
Dear newnation, Takes one to know one....Nah, nah, yah, nah, hah!...Sanctamonious Mick douchebag.
SeamusRua | May 03, 2011, 08:15 PM EDT
Jeremiah O Brien. Google it.
antoman | May 03, 2011, 05:39 PM EDT
Then again the photograph accompanying this article might have been taken as they were reading the replies to articles left on this site.
newnation | May 03, 2011, 04:58 PM EDT
HA! no proof at all and an american government who are known to be full of crap and everyone buys it straight away! Has the whole world forgotten the saying "don't believe everything you read"? WAKE UP RETARDS!!!!
Trealach | May 03, 2011, 04:18 PM EDT
It was just another day at the office for the Irish. Remember it was an Irish Army Lt. Col., on secondment to the US Military who found Sadam - Lt. Col Hickey. America would be a third world country, but for the Irish - but it's ok, we don't expect any credit.
oldboreen | May 03, 2011, 03:07 PM EDT
It's genetic-we're a smart race!
antoman | May 03, 2011, 02:40 PM EDT
@paddyRanger-Well said.I am the equal of two Americans..three if I'm sober.
bootsjoyce4 | May 03, 2011, 02:35 PM EDT
We're all over the place!
paddyRanger | May 03, 2011, 02:22 PM EDT
Colkelly, "This reminds us that the Irish used to be a race of warriors". What do you mean USED to be, we still are, I did 22 years in uniform
manhattan | May 03, 2011, 01:21 PM EDT
Forget the Priest scandals for a moment and think about the catholic schools that educated so many Irish americans who went into goverment,military,police, fire dept. etc. John Brennan graduated Fordham, when my cousin who by the way was Paticia Murphy who became a full colonel in the Air Force, was working in one the the security centers in D.C. She said every one of the men there were Irish american graduates of catholic schools. So, lets give credit where credit is due.
PhlutiePhan | May 03, 2011, 12:48 PM EDT
The word "posse" definitely has "gang" connotations. It also insinuates the "mindless Irish" following like sheep to the slaughter. It would appear that the reelection of Obama is a done deal. Now, what do you think that he will do with the Irish after his election. They will be replaced by "radical feminist women" who would destroy the very meaning of what it means to be Irish in support of "God, country, family". That is what the socialism of the words of Malachi Brendan Martin is all about.
HAIRgod | May 03, 2011, 12:35 PM EDT
No more money to Pakistan!!! He wasn't "hiding" right under their noses, they took the billions of dollars we sent over there and laughed all the way to their Sweedish bank account. Stupid infidels
Scrivner | May 03, 2011, 12:22 PM EDT
Would this story make Ireland more of a target for Al Quaida?
Parents | May 03, 2011, 12:01 PM EDT
This is what was going on while Trump was still shooting off his mouth about Obama birth certificate. How insane is that? Bad for Trump and bad for the country all that stupidity. Trump did have a place in financial planning maybe but he blew it....lost all respect. It's a dangerous world out there and we need serious men like Obama looking after the important things. Quiet, serious, smart and gets the job done.
feeneycj | May 03, 2011, 10:49 AM EDT
good for the Irish! but you have to wonder what took the Pakistanis so long.
antoman | May 03, 2011, 10:45 AM EDT
No wonder Presidents seem aged after four or eight years in office when you have to watch people being slayed in real time.
antoman | May 03, 2011, 10:35 AM EDT
@Jbraftree-What better place to conceal someone or something then right under the nose of those doing the seeking.
JBRAFTREE | May 03, 2011, 10:24 AM EDT
Seems like this Gobshiite was hiding in plain sight!!!!
mikilomikilo | May 03, 2011, 10:02 AM EDT
The team delivered - a good result. Now let the far more important battle for hearts and minds REALLY commence. C'mon Samantha, you tell them. This isin't a High Noon situation where the bad guy gets nailed and the closing credits start rolling. This is an ongoing war involving thousands of human beings whose brains have been turned in "religious" madrassas run by evil men. Only when you tackle the source of the poison have you begun to address the problem.
cillowen | May 03, 2011, 09:55 AM EDT
the irish always serve a master well - here is no exception.
Hannah1879 | May 03, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT
I think it is a very historic picture. You can see the look in the eyes are extremely intense and concerned. While we really need to give credit to all the the Troops involved in the 2 wars, as they are on the front lines putting their lives on the line, I think we still need to remember that none of this could have been done without Pres. Obama's approval. Maybe people will take him a little more serious now. In particular the nay sayers birthers, republicans, Christian right. Good job President Obama and everyone involved. I am proud that so many Irish people had a hand in this.
colkelley | May 03, 2011, 09:42 AM EDT
This reminds us that the Irish used to be a race of warriors.
AengusOg | May 03, 2011, 09:40 AM EDT
What were the momentous decisions that had to be made? Should we schedule the Presidential announcement to interfere with the conclusion of Donald Trump's TV show? Certainly using Team 6 is a big boost to the Armed Forces, not the politicians in the photo, which harkens back to Bill Clinton's Normandy photo op. Three cheers for our boys at the front. Just a bit of cuynicism re: politcal announcements. If Team 6 took casualties, would that remain classified. After all, no one knows the identities of these brave men, and the President passed on the bombing option. Shame on me for such thoughts.
billyjustin | May 03, 2011, 09:30 AM EDT
she looked the same when Bill confessed about Monica.....
LoyalCitizen | May 03, 2011, 09:16 AM EDT
Where is the helmet cam??????????????????????
antoman | May 03, 2011, 08:36 AM EDT
Its a fascinating picture.Do you folks think they were able to watch the raid in real time via helmet cam?Looking at Hillary with her hand over her mouth you might suppose she had witnessed someone's demise.