Annie Jacobsen

You know, he began working under the Carter administration, right, and was responsible for the torture memos, was responsible for legally making sure the president's ass was covered, and then got thrown under the bus.

And so he was very forthcoming, not in a bitter way, but in a very earnest way about a lot of how these programs are made to be legal, because if the president of the United States says they're legal, they're legal. Executive Order 12333, you know, it says we don't assassinate, but it can be overwritten by another order. That's straight out of Rizzo's mouth, right?

And so he was very forthcoming, not in a bitter way, but in a very earnest way about a lot of how these programs are made to be legal, because if the president of the United States says they're legal, they're legal. Executive Order 12333, you know, it says we don't assassinate, but it can be overwritten by another order. That's straight out of Rizzo's mouth, right?

And so he was very forthcoming, not in a bitter way, but in a very earnest way about a lot of how these programs are made to be legal, because if the president of the United States says they're legal, they're legal. Executive Order 12333, you know, it says we don't assassinate, but it can be overwritten by another order. That's straight out of Rizzo's mouth, right?

Also really important to keep in mind is that the military operates under what's called Title 50. It's part of the National Security Code that gives like sort of, you know, rules and etc., how you must behave in a war theater, right? Well, the CIA is under no such rules. It operates under what's called Title 50.

Also really important to keep in mind is that the military operates under what's called Title 50. It's part of the National Security Code that gives like sort of, you know, rules and etc., how you must behave in a war theater, right? Well, the CIA is under no such rules. It operates under what's called Title 50.

Also really important to keep in mind is that the military operates under what's called Title 50. It's part of the National Security Code that gives like sort of, you know, rules and etc., how you must behave in a war theater, right? Well, the CIA is under no such rules. It operates under what's called Title 50.

And, you know, it's interesting to me as a reporter, because before I wrote the book and reported openly about Title 50, it was not really discussed. And now you even see operators themselves on podcasts talking about Title 50, which is kind of great, because it's like the cat's out of the bag, guys. That's what it's called, and that's how it works. It means what we say goes.

And, you know, it's interesting to me as a reporter, because before I wrote the book and reported openly about Title 50, it was not really discussed. And now you even see operators themselves on podcasts talking about Title 50, which is kind of great, because it's like the cat's out of the bag, guys. That's what it's called, and that's how it works. It means what we say goes.

And, you know, it's interesting to me as a reporter, because before I wrote the book and reported openly about Title 50, it was not really discussed. And now you even see operators themselves on podcasts talking about Title 50, which is kind of great, because it's like the cat's out of the bag, guys. That's what it's called, and that's how it works. It means what we say goes.

It says what the president wants, the president gets. Right. And so, I mean, the best example is the killing of bin Laden. Right. We were not at war with Pakistan. So Title 50 doesn't apply. You can't have a military operation in a country. You're not at war with – I mean, the lines, my God, now they've really blurred. But even then, they were a little more honored, right? And so what do you do?

It says what the president wants, the president gets. Right. And so, I mean, the best example is the killing of bin Laden. Right. We were not at war with Pakistan. So Title 50 doesn't apply. You can't have a military operation in a country. You're not at war with – I mean, the lines, my God, now they've really blurred. But even then, they were a little more honored, right? And so what do you do?

It says what the president wants, the president gets. Right. And so, I mean, the best example is the killing of bin Laden. Right. We were not at war with Pakistan. So Title 50 doesn't apply. You can't have a military operation in a country. You're not at war with – I mean, the lines, my God, now they've really blurred. But even then, they were a little more honored, right? And so what do you do?

Well, Leon Panetta was the CIA director. And you work out a scenario whereby the SEALs – and by the way, it wasn't – the SEAL – there was a rotational on that one. killer capture mission, which was really just a kill mission. SEALs were practicing, Delta was practicing, and Special Activities Division was practicing. They were all practicing at a secret facility in North Carolina, right?

Well, Leon Panetta was the CIA director. And you work out a scenario whereby the SEALs – and by the way, it wasn't – the SEAL – there was a rotational on that one. killer capture mission, which was really just a kill mission. SEALs were practicing, Delta was practicing, and Special Activities Division was practicing. They were all practicing at a secret facility in North Carolina, right?

Well, Leon Panetta was the CIA director. And you work out a scenario whereby the SEALs – and by the way, it wasn't – the SEAL – there was a rotational on that one. killer capture mission, which was really just a kill mission. SEALs were practicing, Delta was practicing, and Special Activities Division was practicing. They were all practicing at a secret facility in North Carolina, right?

And it was just like, you know, they're ready until they get the go order, and it just happened to be the SEALs, okay? So the SEALs operate under Title X. So they had to get what I call sheeped dip, because that's what the insiders call it, right? And that is a term that comes from, interestingly, Area 51. The U-2 pilots were Air Force pilots.

And it was just like, you know, they're ready until they get the go order, and it just happened to be the SEALs, okay? So the SEALs operate under Title X. So they had to get what I call sheeped dip, because that's what the insiders call it, right? And that is a term that comes from, interestingly, Area 51. The U-2 pilots were Air Force pilots.

And it was just like, you know, they're ready until they get the go order, and it just happened to be the SEALs, okay? So the SEALs operate under Title X. So they had to get what I call sheeped dip, because that's what the insiders call it, right? And that is a term that comes from, interestingly, Area 51. The U-2 pilots were Air Force pilots.

They needed to be sheep dipped over to the CIA so they could do things that defied the law. OK, so you can see how these all entwine and you become more and more informed and you go, aha. Right. So that's how Title 50 worked. So the night of that mission, it was a CIA mission because the CIA is allowed to go into Pakistan and kill someone and the military can't.