main point. Former Secretary Gates, a Republican appointee and one of the most respected men in Washington- by both sides of the aisle-called Obama's decision to stage the raid the gutsiest decision he's ever seen by any American President. You seem to think that this praise is somehow not valid, reasoning that there was no political risk to Obama since the raids' failure would never have been reported. I say that Gates knows a hell of a lot more than you or me, or anyone else posting here, and this is good enough for me. Your assertion that the media would never have reported on a failed raid is absolute BS.