The real hero of the bin Laden raid

This week marks the seventh anniversary of the raid that killed mass murderer Osama bin Laden. On the evening of May 2, 2011, President Barack Obama announced the Islamic terrorist had been located in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and a U.S. Navy SEAL team sent there had killed him. In what was to be a capture or kill operation, a SEAL opted for the latter when bin Laden resisted, "bravely" using his wife as a shield as he reached for a weapon. The SEALs disposed of bin Laden's body at sea to deny his supporters a land-based memorial to worship.

During his announcement, Obama gave some credit to our special operations forces but seemed to give much more to himself. When he finished, one was left with the impression, based on the extensive number of first-person references made, Obama had been an army of one, obtaining intelligence on bin Laden, locating him, painstakingly organizing the raid and ordering its execution. One was surprised to hear Obama actually did not accompany the SEALs on the operation!

One name, however, was never mentioned in that announcement—and rightfully so at the time. Absent this one individual's help, the raid never could have occurred. Yet, sadly, seven years later that individual continues paying a heavy price personally for helping rid the world of an evildoer who murdered thousands of Americans.

The individual in question is not an American, but a Pakistani physician named Shakil Afridi. He worked with the CIA to set up a fake hepatitis vaccine program in Abbottabad. Pursuant to this program, bin Laden's children were enticed to participate. Obtaining DNA samples from these children enabled the CIA to confirm the identity of a rather tall "mystery" man observed walking around inside a nearby compound was, in fact, bin Laden.

Afridi's role in the operation was uncovered only after Obama boastfully went public with more details about the it, enabling Islamabad to identify the physician and launch an investigation. Obviously, Pakistan was humiliated by a U.S. raid on its territory about which it received no advance notice. But, since Pakistan – allegedly an American ally in the war on terrorism – was also supporting terrorism, the U.S. fostered concerns senior level Pakistanis knew exactly where bin Laden was hiding. Thus, any advance notice would have put the operation at risk. Pakistani support for bin Laden was obvious after the raid as posters of the terrorists were plastered around Islamabad to commemorate his memory. Many bin Laden posters remain up today.

Soon after the raid, as Afridi attempted to cross the border into Afghanistan, he was arrested by Pakistani authorities.

Afridi's defense he had no prior knowledge about the operation fell apart in the face of Obama's boasts. The physician was found guilty of treason. His prison sentence of 33 years was reduced in 2014 to 23 years. While his conviction was later appealed, overturned and a retrial ordered, he continues to be held on an additional charge – the murder of a patient eight years earlier.

As Afridi languishes in prison today, it is clear the Pakistani government will continue to manipulate charges against him to ensure he is punished for colluding with the United States. Pakistan's judicial system pretty much represents a stacked deck against the accused. In Afridi's case, he has only been allowed visits by his lawyer twice since 2012, and hearings are closed, held without the defendant even being present.

The system's manipulation of Afridi was most recently evidenced by his removal from a less secure jail to a high-security prison – the move triggered by trumped-up charges he was planning an escape with the help of outsiders, allegedly including U.S. assistance as well.

How relations play out in the near future between the U.S. and Pakistan may well determine whether a ray of hope exists for Afridi's release.

Last year, President Donald Trump did something his predecessors have been reluctant to do: He called Pakistan out for supporting terrorists by turning a blind eye to various domestic safe havens from which attacks were launched against U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, for a decade now, Pakistan has been among the top five US foreign aid recipients. Thus, while we give Islamabad financial assistance, it harbors terrorists who kill American soldiers. Trump's tough stand with Pakistan was long overdue.

Trump justifies terminating aid to Pakistan – a supposed major non-NATO ally – as it has "given us nothing but lies and deceit." Undoubtedly, losing over $2 billion in U.S. aid is a major financial blow for Islamabad. While China may move in to fill that gap, if it does not, and should Trump reconsider his current hardline approach, no flow of aid should begin without first obtaining Afridi's release.

This year has seen the U.S. freeze Pakistani foreign aid – of which only a partial payment of $33 million is made contingent upon Afridi's release and being cleared of all charges. Afridi's help, however, was worth far more than the meager $33 million price tag his release is given. Meanwhile, Islamabad must weigh his release against appearing not to be caving in to U.S. pressure.

Even in prison, Afridi's life is in danger from Pakistanis still angered by the raid. Two people advocating for his release – his first lawyer and a prison guard – have been assassinated for their efforts.

Afridi is the silent and long-suffering hero of the bin Laden raid. The Pakistani physician clearly believed enough in American ideals to help hold a mass murderer accountable for his actions. Sadly, as many Americans ignore Afridi's courage in having helped us at the risk of his life, liberals praise the faux courage of their "hero" – former San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick – who, at little risk to his person, denigrates America by refusing to stand for our national anthem.

Too bad we cannot make the ultimate NFL trade: Islamabad, give us Afridi; in return we will give you Kaepernick!