ROBERT O’NEILL CONTROVERSIES MAR BREWERY APPROVAL IN NORFOLK
It’s safe to say that since the 21st century has come to be, the single biggest villain to the West, specifically the United States, has been Osama Bin Laden. A global manhunt would take place, wars broke out, and the ramifications are still felt following the September 11 attacks. Navy SEALs were authorized to take action on creditable intel that would bring about the end of al-Qaeda’s leader on May 2, 2011. Since those events, there has been much talk about Operation Neptune Spear and who delivered the fatal blow. However, a member of SEAL Team Six, Robert O’Neill, has claimed to have fired the shots. Since then, multiple unfortunate controversies continue to follow a man who brought justice to a nation. Suggested read: Is ISIS Still Around?
Who Is Robert O'Neill?
Author, Veteran, American hero, and source of controversy are all accurate descriptions of Robert O’Neill, depending on who you ask. Like anyone, there is good and bad and the man who lays claim to killing Bin Laden seems to have such notions pointed his way on a much larger, public scale. Born in Butte, Montana, on April 10, 1976, Robert J. O'Neill enlisted in the United States Navy in 1996, expressing a desire to become a Sniper. Joining the Navy SEALs, he completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) with class 208 at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Throughout his enlistment, O'Neill achieved significant accolades, including two Silver Stars, four Bronze Star Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal (with "V" device), three Presidential Unit Citations, and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (with "V" device). O'Neill served with distinction in SEAL Teams Two (1996–2001), Four (2001–2004), and Six (2004–2012), rising to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. Notably, playing roles in missions such as the rescue of SEAL Marcus Luttrell in Afghanistan and the Maersk Alabama hijacking. Robert O’Neill as a Navy SEAL has clearly served the United States with honor in some of the most daring modern missions over the last few decades. But it’s some of the activity that has occurred since that is raising eyebrows. Especially as a part-owner and spokesperson of a Veteran-owned brewery. Related read: Update: Government Documents Leaked On Discord
Allegations of Racism, Tweets Deemed Homophobic, Craft Beer, and Making Sense of It All
2023 has been an eventful year for O’Neill, but not all of it has been good. In May, Robert O’Neill was associated with a social media post on X which many deemed homophobic:
Alright. The U.S. Navy is now using an enlisted sailor Drag Queen as a recruiter. I’m done. China is going to destroy us. YOU GOT THIS NAVY. I can’t believe I fought for this bullshit.
— Robert J. O'Neill (@mchooyah) May 3, 2023
Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley identifies as non-binary, is a Digital Ambassador for the U.S. Navy, and a drag queen by the name of Harpy Daniels. The post was directed at this designation, despite it coming months after the Navy gave Kelley the role. This was divisive among audiences and the perfect story for many news outlets to run. This alone would be enough to draw ire among people, but O’Neill’s controversies weren’t over. The Robert O’Neill arrest for assault and public intoxication is embarrassing enough for a man deemed a hero. Yet, the real source of contention came after the Frisco hotel security officer he allegedly assaulted claimed O’Neill used a racial slur. Since O’Neill's arrest, he has denied the allegations, but the issue stuck—a big problem for your PR efforts when you’re a prominent figure opening up a brewery. Despite public outcry, Norfolk's City Council voted 6-1 to approve permits allowing the Armed Forces Brewing Company's taproom and distribution facility to be built. Past controversies were at the heart of the opposition to a brewery with strong military ties located only miles from the largest U.S. naval base. The brewery insists that everyone is welcome and while it’s never an excuse, O’Neill’s controversial beliefs are his to hold. Just as it is the right of the public to draw their own conclusions.
Did Robert O'Neill Really Kill Bin Laden?
There has been some dispute about who really did fire the fatal shot, but what we do know is that O’Neill’s claims in his memoir continue to be plausible. There are Internet detectives who all have their theories, but the truth is, only those in the room when it happened may truly ever know. What we do know is that Robert O’Neill fought for the equality of man, the pursuit of happiness, and freedom of us all. That includes people we, or he, disagrees with. The he-said, she-said cancel culture of our time is a tricky one to navigate. Regardless of what happened, hopefully, our nation’s hero can avoid trouble in the future and choose his words more wisely.
Source: Gage Skidmore (Wikimedia Commons)
Read next: Need For Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment Rises Among VA Patients