Central Intelligence Agency

Ray McGovern: My Take

Putting Out Contracts on Folks, Sans Contract

08-21-2009 Ray McGovern

CIA operative Gary Schroen said Cofer Black sent him to Afghanistan with orders to "Capture bin Laden, kill him, and bring his head back in a box on dry ice." As for other al Qaeda leaders, Black reportedly said, "I want their heads up on pikes."

Schroen had been stunned that, for the first time in 30 years of service, he had received orders to kill targets rather than to capture them.  Black would not confirm the exact words of the order to Schroen, but did not dispute Schroen’s account.