while the white house describes a risky call for the attack by the president and even riskier mission by the s.e.a.l.s when no one knew bin laden was there. >> carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. >> reporter: hersh says pakistani airspace and guards around the prisoner were cleared ahead of the advancing american team. after all, he says -- >> 24 25 guys go into the middle of pakistan take out a guy with no air coverage, no protection no security no trouble. are you kidding me? >> reporter: still, former s.e.a.l.s on that mission have sworn they met armed resistance and had limited knowledge of what they would find inside even as a firefight raged. >> we could be careful doing different things, going around different corners, entering different rooms. >> reporter: all of that and more is why former cia deputy director mike morel went on cbs to dispute the article. >> it's all wrong, every sentence i was reading was wrong. >> reporter: and the white house has issued a statement saying there are, quote, too many