The Year in Special Operations 2011-2012 Edition

May 2, 2011 - As the sun rose over America this day, it shone on a nation celebrating the news of the successful mission that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. To say that the members of the U.S. special operations forces (SOF) community were obsessive in their desire to be the ones to bring him to justice is a vast understatement. Even before the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed on 9/11, U.S. SOF leaders knew they would lead the fight against al Qaeda worldwide, and that they would be tasked by America to avenge the nearly 3,000 dead of that day as well as previous attacks. It took almost a decade, far too many casualties, and involved a search many thought would never end in success, but May 1, 2011, U.S. SOF warriors and professionals of the intelligence community got him.