In one of the most detailed accounts yet of how the White House agonised over the decision to move against the world's most-wanted terrorist, the Telegraph reports on how VP Joe Biden had actually advised President Obama not to launch the controversial raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.



Biden explained during remarks made at a Democratic congressional retreat lat weekend that when it came time to make the final decision, he had some lingering uncertainties about whether the 9/11 mastermind was in the suspected compound in Pakistan:
"He got to me. He said, 'Joe, what do you think?' And I said, 'You know, I didn't know we had so many economists around the table.' I said, 'We owe the man a direct answer. Mr. President, my suggestion is, don't go. We have to do two more things to see if he's there,'" Biden recalled.

"He knew what was at stake, not just the lives of those brave warriors, but literally the presidency," Biden said.
The following morning, the president came to a decision and gave National Security Adviser Tom Donilon the "go" to launch the SEAL raid of the compound, which ultimately killed Osama bin Laden last spring.