You dont want to miss this, just released documentary by
Special Forces and Navy Seals,
calling out Obama on his leaks, and
his bragging and deceptionsOn the campaign trail, Obama is emphasizing how
he presided over the killing of bin Laden, as well as
how he ended the war in Iraq.
OPSECTeam sets the record straight,
and if you ever wanted to hear someone speak up
this is the real deal!You really really dont want to miss this, and make
sure you watch to the end,
well at least till about 19:40Mr. President, shut the bleep up! QuoteIntelligence and Special Operations forces are furious and frustrated at how President Obama and those in positions of authority have exploited their service for political advantage. Countless leaks, interviews and decisions by the Obama Administration and other government officials have undermined the success of our Intelligence and Special Operations forces and put future missions and personnel at risk.
The unwarranted and dangerous public disclosure of Special Forces Operations is so serious -- that for the first time ever -- former operators have agreed to risk their reputations and go 'on the record' in a special documentary titled "Dishonorable Disclosures." Its goal is to educate America about serious breaches of security and prevent them from ever happening again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Xfti7qtT0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Xfti7qtT0
Special OPs group exposed Obama over bin Laden bragging, leaks;
http://news.yahoo.com/special-ops-group-attacks-obama-over-bin-laden-011757844.html
BTS, THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO. Anybody, with any sense at all, should easily understand how important it is to maintain operational secrecy, for actions such as described here.
Most any numbskull, that is even allowed access to U.S. classified information, must first obtain the required clearances, for the levels of classification. And to get those clearances, an individual must "swear" to meet all elements of security requirements. And, I am fairly certain that any intentional violations would come under Federal offense laws.
All of these people, including the President have violated the existing laws of this country, and should be charged with the maximum, for all of their intentional security violations. This president, or any other, is for sure not above the law, especially when he intentionally breaks the law.
We all should be sending this video out to everyone on our mailing lists!! The brave men pf our country deserve our help and our support. Their lives are at stake on a daily basis!!!
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I would have really liked to have liked Obama but I get the feeling that most presidents are already elected before their elected, its just the people that dont know.
Put em on the front line and tell them to go for it.
President Obummer did what? :o
Oh say it aint so!
If he had a half a brain he would keep his mouth shut.
I watched a doco the other night of a 19 year old British boy who got engaged just before he went to Afghanistan I think it was. Two weeks in and he was blown up and came back minus two legs and one arm.
Nineteen - in the end his fiancee couldnt carry him up the stairs anymore and left.
Now there are a lot of young soldiers returning home like this - for friggin what - their young lives destroyed because of pre elected politicians who have only one agenda in mind and it aint to our benefit.
This is what happened to a different 19 year old, happens everyday do the bloody politicians care............
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-B1F5izOIY
Quote from: rdunk on August 16, 2012, 05:24:16 AM
This president, or any other, is for sure not above the law, especially when he intentionally breaks the law.
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Rdunk, right on. I think you will approve of this message.
More new oppostion!
Quote"There's a lot of reasons you can release classified information, a lot of justifiable reasons, but making a movie for political gain isn't one of them," Mr. Zinke said.
According to Mr. Zinke, there are currently at least four other anti-Obama groups made up of former elite military operatives: Special Operations Speaks, Veterans for a Strong America, Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund Inc. and his group, Special Operations for America. He said he expects that number to climb. Because active-duty soldiers are barred from engaging in political activity, Mr. Zinke believes it is especially important for retired military personnel to speak up.
"It's really incumbent upon the retired guys to articulate a message. You look at the approval ratings of the president, Congress is in single-digits, the president is not far behind, and I think Americans still appreciate the credibility of our military," he said.
http://politicker.com/2012/08/seal-assault-just-beginning/
Quote from: biggles on August 16, 2012, 05:35:27 AM
Now there are a lot of young soldiers returning home like this - for friggin what - their young lives destroyed because of pre elected politicians who have only one agenda in mind and it aint to our benefit.
Biggles, I so much appreciate your comments, and agree.
I am not a pacifist, so defense in one thing. However this
game they are playing now is for keeps, and not in a fair sense.
And thats not even getting me started on the Drone wars.
:'(
Did you expect anything less from the leftist elitists in charge now...Scum of the earth....
fully agree! some things are best kept from the public AS WELL as TPTB!
as for that dumb ass nobama leaking sensitive info taking the credit also?what a tit.
Any one else would be locked up under the official secrets act or similar.
There all the same these politicians, if i had my way i would have the lot of them shot.
more and more are speaking out
Bin Laden Raid Book: First-Hand Account Of Navy SEAL Mission Will Be Released On Sept. 11
By HILLEL ITALIE and LOLITA C. BALDOR 08/22/12 06:43 PM ET
WASHINGTON — A member of the U.S. Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden has written a firsthand account of the operation, triggering more questions about the possible public release of classified information involving the historic assault of the terror leader's compound in Pakistan.
U.S. military officials say they do not believe the book has been read or cleared by the Defense Department, which reviews publications by military members to make sure that no classified material is revealed.
The book, titled "No Easy Day" and scheduled to be released next month on the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, comes amid a heated debate over whether members of the military – both active duty and retired – should engage in political battles.
"I haven't read the book and am unaware that anyone in the Department has reviewed it," said Pentagon press secretary George Little. White House and CIA officials also said the book had not been reviewed by their agencies.
The book announcement comes just as a group of retired special operations and CIA officers have launched a campaign accusing President Barack Obama of revealing classified details of the mission and turning the killing of bin Laden into a campaign centerpiece. The group complains that Obama has taken too much credit for the operation.
Their public complaints drew a rebuke from Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as other special operations forces, who called the partisan criticism unprofessional.
Dempsey said that such public political involvement by members of armed services erodes public confidence and trust in the military.
The author of the upcoming bin Laden book, who has left the military, is using the pseudonym Mark Owen. And in a news release from publisher Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), Owen describes the book as an effort to "set the record straight about one of the most important missions in U.S. military history."
He said the book is about "the guys" and the sacrifices that the special operations forces make to do the job and is written in the hope that it will inspire young men to become SEALs.
If the book sticks to his personal thoughts about the job and the mission, Owen may be in the clear. But often special operations forces must sign nondisclosure agreements. And they are not allowed to release classified information, such as intelligence data or military tactics and procedures used to ensure success of the May 2011 raid.
Christine Ball, a spokeswoman for Dutton, said the work was vetted by a former special operations attorney provided by the author.
"He vetted it for tactical, technical and procedural information as well as information that could be considered classified by compilation and found it to be without risk to national security," Ball said.
Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. James Gregory said that if the book reveals classified information about the raid, the Pentagon would "defer to the Department of Justice."
According to Pentagon regulations, retired personnel, former employees and non-active duty members of the Reserves "shall use the DoD security review process to ensure that information they submit for public release does not compromise national security."
The CIA also could weigh in because the agency ran the secret bin Laden mission.
If there is classified information in the book, the former SEAL could face criminal charges. And even if he donates the money to charity, for instance, that is unlikely to prevent the Justice Department from suing to collect any future book proceeds.
Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled a CIA whistle-blower had to forfeit future money he earned from a scathing book he wrote about the spy agency after he failed to get approval from his former employer before publication.
The CIA accused the officer of breaking his secrecy agreement with the U.S. The former officer, who worked deep undercover, published the book in July 2008 using the pseudonym Ishmael Jones.
The CIA said his book, "The Human Factor: Inside the CIA's Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture," was submitted to the agency's publications review board under a secrecy agreement that covers books written by former employees. But Jones, who published the book before the review process was completed, said it contained no classified information.
In 2010, the Defense Department claimed a former Army intelligence officer's war memoir threatened national security. The Pentagon paid $47,000 to destroy 9,500 copies of the book, called "Operation Dark Heart: Spycraft and Special Ops on the Frontlines of Afghanistan – and the Path to Victory."
The book was written by Anthony Shaffer, whose lawyer said the Army Reserve cleared the manuscript beforehand but the Defense Department later rescinded the approval, claiming the text contained classified information.
Shaffer and the publisher agreed to remove the material.
Dutton, which announced the book's pending release Wednesday, is planning a major first print run of 300,000 copies, Ball said. The co-author, journalist Kevin Maurer, has worked on four previous books.
___
Associated Press writers Ted Bridis, Kimberly Dozier and Adam Goldman contributed to this report. Italie reported from New York.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/22/bin-laden-raid-book_n_1822628.html
:(
Fox News said on Thursday that it had identified the real identity of the Navy SEAL who is writing a book about his participation in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The Associated Press later confirmed the report.
The forthcoming publication of the book, titled "No Easy Day," was announced on Wednesday. It will be released on September 11, and has not been vetted or cleared by the Pentagon. The author is using a pseudonym, Mark Owen.
But on Thursday, Fox News ran an item with what it claimed was the author's true name, Matt Bissonnette. It even named the town where he lives. The network cited "multiple sources" in its reporting. The AP later ran a similar report, citing current and former military officials.
The Navy SEALs who killed bin Laden have previously been left unidentified.
The Fox News report led to a rebuke from Nation magazine writer Jeremy Scahill — hardly a knee-jerk supporter of the U.S. military:
@jeremyscahill
jeremy scahill
Why on earth would FOX News publish the alleged identity of one of the ST6 members who was in the OBL raid? Seriously.
August 23, 2012 3:52 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite
And Gawker's John Cook linked to a Fox News report from 2011, chastising Gawker for attempting to uncover the identity of a CIA agent involved in the raid.
In response, Penguin, the company publishing the book, issued a statement to the New York Times. It said that the author faced "obvious risks to his personal security" by writing "No Easy Day," and that this was the only reason it was being published with a pseudonym.
"We respectfully request that all news organizations and all Americans consider these facts when deciding whether to pursue or publicize his real identity," the statement concluded.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/23/fox-news-navy-seal-bin-laden_n_1825146.html
Yet we have the story that seal team "6" had been killed in a Chinook helicopter
crash in Afghanistan? I read there was one member of the team killed.
conflicting reports.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CCwQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcoupmedia.org%2Fmiddle-east-unrest%2Fnato-helicopter-crash-cover-up-0808&ei=3TM3UL-yNezY0QXVi4DADg&usg=AFQjCNETCwjqQeYDTxZ_tGztwUa4eoBFsA&sig2=Xghu-zUsXfcsxDl6Vv6bWg (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CCwQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcoupmedia.org%2Fmiddle-east-unrest%2Fnato-helicopter-crash-cover-up-0808&ei=3TM3UL-yNezY0QXVi4DADg&usg=AFQjCNETCwjqQeYDTxZ_tGztwUa4eoBFsA&sig2=Xghu-zUsXfcsxDl6Vv6bWg)
Ex-Navy SEAL faces legal jeopardy for writing about bin Laden raid
By Pete Williams
NBC News
What legal consequences could a former U.S. Navy SEAL face for writing a book about the still-classified 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden?
Legal experts say the author could face trouble on two fronts -- a civil lawsuit for not seeking a military review before the book was published and possible criminal prosecution for revealing classified information.
But a former Justice Department national security lawyer, Pat Rowan, said the government might be reluctant to prosecute a man who helped kill America's No. 1 terrorist enemy, unless the book reveals highly valuable and sensitive intelligence secrets.
"What's more, if the government did decide to prosecute, the author's lawyer would be entitled to dig into the information that was disclosed by the White House and other officials, in both sanctioned and unsanctioned leaks," Rowan said.
Rowan was referring to the fact that President Barack Obama and other administration officials have been accused by Republicans of leaking details of the bin Laden raid for political gain.
Dutton, a subsidiary of Penguin Group USA, announced on Wednesday that the book, titled "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama bin Laden," would go on sale on Sept. 11. The author, who will be identified only by a pseudonym, "was one of the first men through the door on the third floor of the terrorist leader's hideout and was present at his death," it said in a statement.
A similar case arose in the 1970s, when a former CIA officer named Frank Snepp published a book about his activities in Vietnam.
The U.S. government sued on the grounds that he did not seek pre-publication review -- as he was obligated to do under an agreement he signed as a condition of employment -- and lower courts agreed to a demand that all the profits from the book be turned over to the government. By a vote of 6-3, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed, even though the government never claimed the book revealed classified information.
"When a former agent relies on his own judgment about what information is detrimental, he may reveal information that the CIA -- with its broader understanding of what may expose classified information and confidential sources -- could have identified as harmful," the court said.
These days, said former Homeland Security official Stewart Baker, most government non-disclosure agreements say that if pre-publication review isn't sought, the profits must be forfeited. Legal experts doubt, however, that the government could stop publication of the book.
The author could also be charged with violating federal laws that make it a crime for government employees to reveal classified information. Anyone given a security clearance is bound for life by its non-disclosure terms, so the fact that the former SEAL is no longer in the military would not free him from the obligation to keep government secrets to himself.
A DOJ official who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity on Thursday said he knew of no legal action against the former SEAL. That process would most likely start with a request from the Defense Department and, so far as the official knew, none had been made. DOD would have to verify that the book revealed government secrets before making such a request, the official said.
1155 comments
http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/23/13438291-ex-navy-seal-faces-legal-jeopardy-for-writing-about-bin-laden-raid?lite
yeah like this was unexpected...geeeeze
Al-Qaida linked websites threaten ex-Navy SEAL turned author with 'destruction'
By Mike Brunker and Jim Miklaszewski
NBC News
Users on several militant Islamic websites affiliated with al-Qaida have posted the name and photo of a former Navy SEAL identified as the author of an upcoming book on the commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The posts called for his "destruction" in revenge for the al-Qaida founder's killing.
"We pray to Allah for his destruction sooner rather than later," said one of the posts.
"Oh Allah, make an example of him for the whole world and give him dark days ahead," read another.
Among the website publishing the death threats was the "Al-Fidaa" web forum, which al-Qaida uses to distribute its media and public communications, said Evan Kohlmann, an NBC News consultant and a terrorism analyst at Flashpoint Partners, a global security firm.
The source of the photo, which appears to show a special operations soldier in leveling an automatic rifle during a training exercise, was not immediately clear.
"Here is the first picture of the dog who murdered the martyr Shaykh Usama Bin Laden," wrote one of the posters, using an alternate spelling of bin Laden's name. "May Allah have mercy on him."
Fox News on Thursday identified the author of the book, which is titled "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama bin Laden," as a 36-year-old former SEAL from Wrangell, Alaska. The Associated Press later said it had confirmed the author's identity. (NBC News is not identifying the former SEAL.)
Penguin Group (USA)'s Dutton imprint, the publisher, asked news organizations Thursday to withhold his identity.
"Sharing the true story of his personal experience in 'No Easy Day' is a courageous act in the face of obvious risks to his personal security," Dutton spokeswoman Christine Ball said in a statement to the AP. "That personal security is the sole reason the book is being published under a pseudonym."
In addition to death threats, the author faces legal jeopardy over his decision not to seek pre-publication review by Pentagon officials of his account of the May 2, 2011, raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, as he was obligated to do under an agreement he signed as a condition of employment.
Related stories
Ex-Navy SEAL faces legal jeopardy for writing about bin Laden raid
Bin Laden in hiding: Hatching horrific plots despite crippling attacks on al-Qaida
On Thursday, the ex-SEAL's former commander, special operations chief Adm. Bill McRaven warned his troops, current and former, that he would take legal action against anyone found to have exposed sensitive information that could cause fellow forces harm.
"We will pursue every option available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where appropriate," the four-star commander wrote, in an open, unclassified letter emailed to the active-duty special operations community Thursday, and obtained by The Associated Press.
The author of "No Easy Day" is slated to appear on the CBS News program "60 Minutes" on Sept. 9, though it is not clear whether he will identified by his real name. The book is already listed as one of the top 10 books on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/24/13458745-al-qaida-linked-websites-threaten-ex-navy-seal-turned-author-with-destruction?lite/&ocid=ansmsnbc11
and on top of all the other threats..the seals want to hang him out to dry...poor guy can't win for losing..the title seems verrry apt, doesn't it
'No Easy Day': Ex-Navy SEAL Behind Osama Bin Laden Book Faces Threats, Investigation
Reuters | Posted: 08/24/2012 9:34 pm Updated: 08/25/2012 8:10 am
* Military pledges "to hold members accountable"
* Name, photograph posted on al Qaeda website
By Andrea Shalal-Esa and Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The former U.S. Navy SEAL who authored a soon-to-be-published book about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden is now facing threats against his life in addition to possible criminal prosecution.
An official al Qaeda website on Friday posted a photograph and the name of the former Navy commando responsible for the book, calling him "the dog who murdered the martyr Sheikh Osama bin Laden."
The head of U.S. Special Operations Command told current and former troops that the military would take legal action against anyone found to have exposed sensitive information that could cause harm to fellow forces.
"We will pursue every option available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where appropriate," Admiral Bill McRaven wrote in an open, unclassified letter emailed to the active-duty special operations community, and obtained by Reuters on Friday.
"As current or former members of our special operations community, authors have a moral obligation, and a legal duty, to submit their works for pre-publication security review," the admiral wrote.
Fox News made public on Thursday what it said was the real name of the former SEAL who, with a journalist co-author, wrote "No Easy Day," using the pseudonym Mark Owen. The book is due to be released next month on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
By early on Friday, the man's name, photograph and age had been posted on the "the Al-Fidaa Islamic Network" online forum, one of two websites officially endorsed by al Qaeda, according to Evan Kohlmann, founder of the New York-based security firm Flashpoint Global Partners.
It was followed by comments that called for the man's death, including one response that said, "O' Allah, kill every one of them," and another that said, "O' Allah, make an example of him for the whole world and give him dark days ahead."
The Navy SEAL was also identified by other U.S. media. Reuters has confirmed his name but is not publishing it, given concerns about his safety.
U.S. military officials have said the former Navy SEAL could face investigation because he failed to clear the book with the Defense Department before publication, even if it does not disclose specific classified details.
'DISTINCT LINE'
McRaven's letter said books and films about special operations teams could be useful educational tools, and the military would work with potential authors, but current and former service members would be held accountable if they endangered the safety of U.S. forces.
He said there was "a distinct line between recounting a story for the purposes of education or entertainment and telling a story that exposes sensitive activities just to garner greater readership and personal profit."
Kohlmann said the former Navy SEAL could now be in physical danger from al Qaeda sympathizers seeking revenge for bin Laden's death, or hoping to gain prestige for themselves.
"They have a photo of the individual, they have his name, his age," Kohlmann said. "I wish that all this was bluster, but there are a lot of would-be jihadists out there, including some in North America. This is the ideal opportunity for those kind of people."
The book's publisher, Dutton, said the author was "one of the first men through the door on the third floor of the terrorist leader's hideout and was present at his death."
It is not known whether "No Easy Day" contains details of commando operations that the U.S. government considers secret, but U.S. government officials said the account had not been submitted for a required pre-publication review.
"Even if there is nothing classified disclosed, it should have been reviewed, and it was not," said one official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
On Wednesday, the publisher said the book had been vetted "for tactical, technical, and procedural information as well as information that could be considered classified by compilation" by a former "special operations attorney."
Jeffrey Carr, a cyber security expert, said al Qaeda officials were adept at using the Internet for recruitment, training and other searches, and he fully expected them to target the former Navy SEAL now that his identity had been disclosed.
"He's going to become the poster child for recruitment and assassination," Carr said, noting that the case underscored the need for anyone in a high-risk profession to take great precautions with any information available on the Internet.
Carr said the man's relatives and former Navy SEAL colleagues could also be in danger if they could be traced through the Internet. (Additional reporting by Jim Finkle and Mark Hosenball; Editing by Peter Cooney)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/no-easy-day_n_1829416.html
SEAL book about bin Laden mission coming out early
Release date for 'No Easy Day' has been moved up a week to Sept. 4
By Kimberly Dozier
updated 8/29/2012 11:28:06 AM ET 2012-08-29T15:28:06
Due to heavy demand, the release date for a firsthand account of the Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden has been moved up a week, from Sept. 11 to Sept. 4. The book contradicts previous accounts by administration officials, raising questions as to whether the terror mastermind presented a clear threat when SEALs first fired upon him.
"No Easy Day" was due out Sept. 11, but Dutton announced the book would be available a week early, Sept. 4, because of a surge of orders due to advance publicity that drove the book to the top of the Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com best-seller lists. The Associated Press purchased a copy of the book Tuesday.
'Fifty Shades Of Grey' loses top spot on Amazon's best sellers' list
Bin Laden apparently was hit in the head when he looked out of his bedroom door into the top-floor hallway of his compound as SEALs rushed up a narrow stairwell in his direction, according to the former Navy SEAL writing under the pseudonym Mark Owen in "No Easy Day." Owen says he was directly behind a "point man" going up the stairs in the pitch black hallway.
"Less than five steps" from top of the stairs, he heard "suppressed" gunfire: "BOP. BOP." The point man had seen a "man peeking out of the door" on the right side of the hallway.
The author writes that bin Laden ducked back into his bedroom and the SEALs followed, only to find the terrorist crumpled on the floor in a pool of blood with a hole visible on the right side of his head and two women wailing over his body.
US officials checking SEAL raid book for secrets
Owen says the point man pulled the two women out of the way and shoved them into a corner and he and the other SEALs trained their guns' laser sites on bin Laden's still-twitching body, shooting him several times until he lay motionless. The SEALs later found two weapons stored by the doorway, untouched, the author said.
In the account related by administration officials after the raid in Pakistan, the SEALs shot bin Laden only after he ducked back into the bedroom because they assumed he might be reaching for a weapon.
White House spokesman Tommy Vietor would not comment on the apparent contradiction late Tuesday. But he said in an email, "As President Obama said on the night that justice was brought to Osama bin Laden, 'We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country.'"
The account is sure to again raise questions as to whether the raid was intended to capture or simply to kill bin Laden. Owen writes that during a pre-raid briefing, a lawyer from "either" the White House or Defense Department told them that they were not on an assassination mission. According to Owen, the lawyer said that if bin Laden was "naked with his hands up," they should not "engage" him. If bin Laden did not pose a threat, they should "detain him."
In another possibly uncomfortable revelation for U.S. officials who say bin Laden's body was treated with dignity before being given a full Muslim burial at sea, the author reveals that in the cramped helicopter flight out of the compound, one of the SEALs called "Walt" — one of the pseudonyms the author used for his fellow SEALs — was sitting on bin Laden's chest as the body lay at the author's feet in the middle of the cabin, for the short flight to a refueling stop inside Pakistan where a third helicopter was waiting.
NYT: Navy SEAL's book will describe raid that killed bin Laden
This is common practice, as troops sometimes must sit on their own war dead in packed helicopters. Space was cramped because one of the helicopters had crashed in the initial assault, leaving little space for the roughly two dozen commandos in the two aircraft that remained. When the commandos reached the third aircraft, bin Laden's body was moved to it.
Owen writes disparagingly that none of the SEALs were fans of President Barack Obama and knew that his administration would take credit for ordering the May 2011 raid. One of the SEALs said after the mission that they had just gotten Obama re-elected by carrying out the raid.
But he says they respected him as commander in chief and for giving the operation the go-ahead.
Owen writes less flatteringly of meeting Vice President Joe Biden along with Obama at the headquarters of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment after the raid. He says Biden told "lame jokes" no one understood, reminding him of "someone's drunken uncle at Christmas dinner."
Beyond such embarrassing observations, U.S. officials fear the book may include classified information, as it did not undergo the formal review required by the Pentagon for works published by former or current Defense Department employees.
Fallout over Navy SEAL who wrote book about Bin Laden raid
Officials from the Pentagon and the CIA, which commanded the mission, are examining the manuscript for possible disclosure of classified information and could take legal action against the author.
In a statement provided to The Associated Press, the author says he did "not disclose confidential or sensitive information that would compromise national security in any way."
Owen's real name was first revealed by Fox News and confirmed to The Associated Press.
Jihadists on al-Qaida websites have posted purported photos of the author, calling for his murder.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/48827546/ns/today-books/
............................................
Mark Owen, Navy SEAL In Bin Laden Raid, Condemns Those Who Politicize Raid: 'Shame On Them'
Posted: 08/30/2012 11:25 am Updated: 08/30/2012 11:25 am
The retired Navy SEAL whose first-hand account of the killing of Osama Bin Laden contradicts official accounts of the operation and who has expressed tough words for President Obama, tells CBS News' "60 Minutes" that his book "No Easy Day" was not intended to score political points but rather to honor his fellow soldiers on the mission.
Mark Owen, the pseudonym for the former SEAL Team 6 member, said that the book, the original September 11 release date of which was pushed to Sept. 4, was timed to commemorate the 9/11 terror attacks. He recounts the Bin Laden operation in detail in the book, describing how a point man for his team shot Bin Laden as the terror leader peeked his head out of his bedroom. When Owen and his fellow SEALs entered the bedroom, Bin Laden was gravely wounded and unarmed, as previously reported by The Huffington Post, which obtained an advance copy of the book on Tuesday.
Asked about the book's release date amid an intense presidential campaign, Owen tells CBS News' Scott Pelley that he wasn't trying to make a political statement. Though he praises President Obama for green-lighting the raid, he says in the book that he and his team members were not fans of the president and he criticizes the instant politicization of the operation's success.
Owen tells Pelley:
"My worry from the beginning is, you know, it's a political season. This book is not political whatsoever. It doesn't bad mouth either party, and we specifically chose September 11th to keep it out of the politics. You know, if these --crazies on either side of the aisle want to make it political, shame on them. This is a book about September 11th, and it needs to rest on September 11th. Not be brought into the political arena, because this-- this has nothing to do with politics."
At the end of the book, he justifies his decision to write the account by citing the leaks coming out of Washington in the wake of the raid: "If my commander in chief is willing to talk, then I feel comfortable doing the same."
At the end of the book, he justifies his decision to write the account by citing the leaks coming out of Washington
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/29/no-easy-day-osama-bin-laden-book_n_1839789.html
in the wake of the raid: "If my commander in chief is willing to talk, then I feel comfortable doing the same."
video at link
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/mark-owen-navy-seal-in-bi_n_1843043.html
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'No Easy Day': Pentagon Threatens Legal Action Over Bin Laden Book
Reuters | Posted: 08/30/2012 8:12 pm Updated: 08/30/2012 8:49 pm
WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The Pentagon warned on Thursday in a letter to a former U.S. Navy SEAL that he was in material breach of non-disclosure agreements with his book detailing his first-hand account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, also said the Pentagon was considering legal action against the SEAL and all those "acting in concert" with him.
"In the judgment of the Department of Defense, you are in material breach and violation of the non-disclosure agreements you signed," the letter by Jeh Johnson, the Pentagon's top lawyer, said. "Further public dissemination of your book will aggravate your breach and violation of your agreements." (Reporting by Phil Stewart)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/no-easy-day_n_1845025.html
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Sky thanks for all of the links, great post.
We like this:
Quote from: sky otter on August 31, 2012, 02:37:08 AM
in the wake of the raid: "If my commander in chief is willing to talk, then I feel comfortable doing the same."
The men have cojones....and big ones. (pardon me :D)
In fact they could lose a few and still have plenty.
;D
you are welcome bts...but you started it..lol
i am reading in disbelief most of this....and it continues
'No Easy Day': Navy SEAL Who Wrote Bin Laden Book Denies Spilling Secrets
Reuters | Posted: 08/31/2012 3:00 pm Updated: 08/31/2012 4:16 pm
By Mark Hosenball and David Alexander
WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - A day after threatening to take legal action against a former U.S. Navy SEAL for an unauthorized book about the commando raid which killed Osama bin Laden, U.S. officials are still debating whether there are sufficient grounds for doing so.
But a lawyer for Matt Bissonnette said on Friday that the former SEAL took his obligations to keep government secrets "seriously" and had made sure the book did not contain secrets.
On Thursday, Jeh Johnson, the Defense Department's top lawyer, sent "Mark Owen" -- a pen-name used by Bissonnette -- and his publisher, Penguin Putnam, a letter advising them that the book, "No Easy Day" had been published in violation of non-disclosure agreements Bissonnette signed while a SEAL.
The letter advised the author that he was in "material breach" of such agreements and that the Pentagon was "considering" legal action against the former SEAL and "all those acting in concert with you."
However, Bissonette's lawyer, Robert Luskin, who represented former President George W. Bush's adviser Karl Rove in the Valerie Plame leak case, claimed that a non-disclosure agreement signed by the former SEAL "invites, but by no means requires Mr. Owen to submit materials for pre-publication review."
Bissonnette "remains confident that he fulfilled his duty," Luskin said in a letter in response to Johnson.
While his client did sign an additional agreement in 2007 requiring pre-publication review "under certain circumstances," it was "difficult to understand how the matter that is the subject of Mr. Owen's book could conceivably be encompassed by the nondisclosure agreement that you have identified," Luskin said.
Luskin also claimed that Owen had "earned the right to tell his story."
U.S. defense and intelligence officials familiar with internal government deliberations about the book acknowledged that legal and factual issues surrounding the book's content were complex.
As a consequence, they said, it is still unclear if the U.S. government would proceed with legal action against the author or publisher, which is owned by Britain's Pearson Plc. Even if such action were launched, the officials said, it might well fail.
LETTER DOES NOT DIRECTLY ACCUSE
One U.S. official familiar with an array of recent leak-related investigations noted that Johnson's letter did not directly accuse the author of disclosing classified information, an allegation which would signal a possible criminal investigation.
"Also interesting is that according to the letter, to sue for (civil) damages, they would have to show that he not only violated his agreement, but that he did reveal classified information. I think that will be difficult for a lot of reasons," the official said, adding: "Maybe they are just trying to scare him."
At a news briefing on Friday, George Little, a Pentagon spokesman, said that an official, post-publication review of the book was continuing.
"I'm not aware that we have reached any final conclusions about, or conducted or finalized a security review of the book... We're reviewing all the options ... I'm not ruling in or out any future action. That's not for me to determine today," Little said.
Acknowledging the possibility of political fallout from any legal action against someone who could be portrayed as a hero for his role in the bin Laden raid, Little said: "I would note that we of course applaud anyone who participated in one of the most successful military and intelligence operations in U.S. history."
But he added: "Even those who participated in such a mission have a very serious and enduring obligation to follow the process and to help protect classified information."
Little also insisted that Johnson's letter was "not meant to be any kind of measure of intimidation ... It is meant to very strongly signal the requirement to uphold agreements that a former service member has made."
Mark Zaid, a lawyer who has represented a variety of former military and intelligence officials in disclosure and leak cases, said the Johnson letter looked like a signal that the Pentagon was "contemplating a test case against the publisher or media for disclosing classified information."
Zaid said it might be easier to file such a criminal case against the publisher than the author of the book, though a civil case against the author for violating secrecy agreements would be, in Zaid's opinion, a "slam dunk."
Given U.S. media laws, including the First Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression, Zaid said the result of any criminal prosecution against a publisher would be uncertain. "I'm not saying they're going to win ... I don't know if they'll do it. (But) They've been waiting for a good factual case to bring it."
Representatives of both the book's publisher, as well as the author's lawyer, have asserted that the book was carefully reviewed before publication to ensure it did not contain any secrets. But U.S. officials said the book was not submitted for official pre-publication review, and that the author therefore had exposed himself to potential legal risks.
While the Defense Department is taking the lead in investigating the book's contents, the Central Intelligence Agency, which played a major role in laying the groundwork for and in carrying out the bin Laden raid, is conducting its own review. Some officials said Bissonnette may technically have been operating under the authority of the agency during the operation, further complicating the legal picture.
Little said the Defense Department had "consulted" with the Justice Department about the Bissonnette book, though he would not comment on whether an "official referral has taken place."
The Justice Department declined to say if it had received a referral
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/31/no-easy-day_n_1847593.html
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-maurer/no-easy-day-seal-raid-osama-bin-laden_b_1847528.html
The Blog
Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributorsHot on the BlogGary HartRep. Kevin Maurer.Co-author, 'No Easy Day'
GET UPDATES FROM Kevin Maurer
One of the first things Mark Owen and I talked about when we started working on No Easy Day was the book Men with Green Faces.
The novel, written by former SEAL Gene Wentz, is an action packed story full of ambushes and firefights in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Owen read the book in junior high for a book report, but to this day he still remembers it. The book set him on the path that would eventually, after 13 combat deployments, lead to Osama bin Laden's door.
I've heard this kind of story before.
Many of the Special Forces point to The Green Berets by Robin Moore as the book that inspired them to join the Army and complete the grueling selection course.
Both books and the many like them are essential tools in inspiring the next generation of special operations soldier. Better than even the best commercial or recruiting poster, these books let aspiring SEALs and Green Berets experience the world first hand.
Even Admiral Bill McRaven, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, praised these kinds of books.
"Few senior (special operations forces) officers have benefited more from reading about the exploits of our legendary heroes than I... Most of these books were wonderful accounts of courage, leadership, tough decision making, and martial skill all of which benefited me as I tried to understand our past and how it could affect missions in the future," McRaven wrote in an August 24 email message to his troops.
While McRaven cautions against revealing secrets and classified material, he said movies also "provide the public insights into life in special operations or the service that can't be garnered anywhere else."
As Owen and I worked on the book, we had an eye toward the next generation of operators. The book was never going to be an expose on the mission to Abbottabad. This wasn't a gotcha book for the political season. Owen had no intention of revealing classified information, and he stressed from the start the book was about his teammates and that portions of the proceeds would be donated to SEAL charities. The book he wanted to write was a celebration of what the SEALs had done not only in Abbottabad, but around the world since Sept. 11, 2001.
One of the first things we had to do was make the SEALs human, and we set about doing it by telling the truth. We tried to capture the mood at the historic moment. SEALs use crass language, mercilessly tease one another, and gripe about their bosses. Their workplace is no different than any other. In the unit, pranking is an art form. Bombing someone's equipment with glitter is common. One time, a bunch of Owen's teammates inflated a rubber raft inside a teammates "cage," a room-sized locker used to store gear.
The pranks, the teasing, and even the complaining are essential for the reader to understand the team. It was important for the book to show the human side of the SEALs. It is their brotherhood that is the foundation for any successful mission. SEALs are well know for taking care of their own. When the story broke about the book and names were being broadcast over cable news, Owen was on a charity skydive raising money for the families of fallen SEALs.
The most important objective was to give readers a chance to go on the mission with some of America's best.
Before the SEALs even got involved, the CIA and other intelligence agencies tracked Bin Laden to Abbottabad. As Owen tells one CIA analyst before the mission, he and his teammates were coming in at the last minute to finish the job. The hard work of hundreds of men and women put everything in place for the SEALs to take the final step. Owen reserves his highest praise for the helicopter crews, many of whom had worked with the SEALs in the past, and two of which saved his life that night in Pakistan.
Sitting in his office, decorated with mementos from his years as a SEAL (he still has a picture of his training class on the wall), Owen relived the whole crash in his chair. Leaning forward as the helicopter started to lose altitude and mimicking how his teammate, Walt, pulled him back inside. By the time the helicopter hit the ground as he retold his story, he was leaning way back in his chair.
But then he stopped talking and leaned forward.
"If it wasn't for that pilot, I'd be dead. We'd all be dead," Owen said. "Those pilots are the best in the world. If he doesn't do that crash just right, the whole mission is over. Talk about a hero."
No Easy Day is full of heroes, but odds are none of them think of themselves that way. Mark Owen will admit that he just felt lucky to be on the team who carried the burden that night. He says that any other team in the unit would have performed just as well.
The public deserves to hear Mark Owen's account of the Bin Laden raid for many reasons. Chief among them is that though Bin Laden is dead, others will plot to attack the United States. We will need more men like the SEALs who answered the call in Abbottabad last May.
If just one person is inspired to follow in their footsteps, "No Easy Day" has accomplished its mission.
Kevin Maurer is the co-author of No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden. He has covered special operations forces for nine years. He has been embedded with the Special Forces in Afghanistan six times, spent a month in 2006 with special operations units in east Africa, and has embedded with U.S. forces in Iraq and Haiti. He is the author of four books, including several about special operations.
This Blogger's Books from Amazon dot com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-maurer/no-easy-day-seal-raid-osama-bin-laden_b_1847528.html
Ah, yes I did start it. ;)
The most compelling aspect of the book is that
bin Laden was not taken out in the manner in
which has been previously disclosed by the current
administration.
This makes me think that these Seals know more than
they can say, and even the thought of them talking
is making more than a few on edge.
This also reminds me of the Helo that was "shot down" with
many members on board right after bin Laden was "taken out".
I know this sounds dumb, but I am a tad confused about this whole killing of Bin Ladin.
I thought he was alive and well and in cohorts with the Bush family; or was that just another conspiracy theory.
Was he really taken out on the day this Seal said or not.
Quote from: biggles on September 01, 2012, 04:37:25 AM
Was he really taken out on the day this Seal said or not.
Good question, one I have asked many times.
According to various news sources, bin Laden had
been reportedly dead for many years.
He also had many body doubles, but you would
have thought that the "wife" would know.
;D :o
please dont hate on me but this soldier is admitting to a crime of murder.
you can wrap this in the american flag all you want but this was cold blooded murder.
if given the opertunity ,i would arrest these guys and put them on trial at the hague.
there is no evidence ob was involved in 911.just jibber jabber from the msm.wasnt there dancing israelies at the wtc?what about him getting on tv and saying he wasnt involved in it? you would think he would have bragged.maybe the cia hired him with mexican drug money,to start alqueda.the word is alqueda didnt exist until the cia started helping the taliban.remember bush inviting them for dinner?remember we support the rebels in syria?remember the un admitting that the rebels are alqueda?alqueda is now our ally.lmfao to infinity.my what a twisted web we weave,when we practice to deceive.
i didn't want to add an opinion here..but i think i will now
really more of a side note
so in my opinion soldiers are following orders ..unless they go rogue
and therefore not committing murder, per se..only following orders as a soldier
you want to get someone..get the old fat dudes giving the orders to the young cannon fodder
i am not going into the right or wrong of it because that would take years
as for; if bin launden was alive or not..that's still up in the air as the stupid story of his body being dumped at sea..was stupid..imo
as far as secrecy.. i would like to see everything out in the open and visible..because i think that would stop some serious bullpoop from happening and alert anyone watching to just who was
masterminding what.. but i know that will never happen
so i am mostly just posting these news blurps as the story unfolds..just for the heck of it...sigh
there are several vids at the link
Ex-Navy SEAL sought advice before publishing book about bin Laden raid, lawyer says
By Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube, NBC News
Updated at 2 p.m. ET -- The lawyer for "Mark Owen" -- the pen name of the former Navy SEAL who wrote "No Easy Day," a book describing the Osama bin Laden raid -- on Friday said that Owen did, indeed, seek legal advice before publishing the book and he disputed other claims made by Pentagon.
"Mr. Owen sought legal advice about his responsibilities before agreeing to publish his book and scrupulously reviewed the work to ensure that it did not disclose any material that would breach his agreements or put his former comrades at risk," Robert Luskin wrote in a letter addressed to Pentagon General Counsel Jeh Johnson. "He remains confident that he has faithfully fulfilled his duty."
Furthermore, Luskin said a non-disclosure agreement Owen signed -- which the Pentagon claimed he was "in material breach" of -- doesn't require Owen to submit his book for review. "As you are well aware, the Classified Information Non-Disclosure Agreement, which you attached in your letter, invites, but by no means requires Mr. Owen to submit materials for pre-publication review," the letter said.
A Pentagon spokesperson on Friday said it is unclear if the book actually contains damaging classified information. "I'm not going to say whether the book has classified information in it," spokesperson George Little told reporters.
On Thursday, Johnson said in a letter that Owen is in violation of the non-disclosure agreement.
The letter, sent via the attorney at Penguin Putnam publishing, explained that Owen signed two separate non-disclosure agreements on Jan. 24, 2007, and that he has an obligation to "never divulge" classified information.
"This commitment remains in force even after you left the active duty Navy," Johnson wrote.
He also signed a "Sensitive Compartmented Information Debriefing Memorandum" when he left the Navy around April 20, 2012, according to the letter.
"The Department of Defense has obtained and reviewed an advanced copy of the book ... In the judgment of the Department of Defense, you are in material breach and violation of the non-disclosure agreements you signed," the letter said. "Further public dissemination of your book will aggravate your breach and violation of your agreements.
"The Department is considering pursuing against you, and all those acting in concert with you, all remedies legally available to us in light of this situation."
A senior Defense official on Thursday said, "There has to be consequences" for someone who violates the non-disclosure agreements prohibiting the release of classified information.
The official also suggested that by revealing "tactics, techniques and procedures" employed by the Navy SEALs during the raid, "it could put other operators at risk and future operations in jeopardy."
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/30/13576488-ex-navy-seal-sought-advice-before-publishing-book-about-bin-laden-raid-lawyer-says?lite
Quote from: robomont on September 01, 2012, 05:36:12 AM
there is no evidence ob was involved in 911.just jibber jabber from the msm.wasnt there dancing israelies at the wtc?what about him getting on tv and saying he wasnt involved in it? you would think he would have bragged.
The Bin Laden family were (are?) business partners with the Bush family. Osama was a black sheep in that family. Osama was NEVER wanted in connection with 911.... that was made clear both the FBI and the CIA. He was however responsible for several deadly attacks before 911
You really should get your facts straight before launching attacks :D
During the crisis when planes were grounded across the nation, it seems somehow Bin Laden's family in Las Vegas managed to make arrangements to be flown out of Vegas then out of the country for safety... you can google all that
yes my old mind forgot about the other bombings.
he should have had a public trial.
it would have done more damage to the alqueda cause than making him a martyr.
not only that,it shows our sf dont have the self discipline to hold their fire.
anybody can run in guns blazing,true courage is not killing everything that moves.they could have gassed the whole house with chloroform or co2
i guess they are not so special forces.
damn.. i guess this is my week to take stuff personally..
robomont
you are of course more than entitled to your opinion..regardless of what i think of it
and golly gee maybe you ought to thank our special forces and maybe..just maybe any who served
for the ability to mouth off in your disparaging way without someone tossing your butt in a cell and forgetting you exist
i totally respect you guys opinion .thankyou sky otter for stepping up to the plate.
in my life i have stood up to cops with guns pointed at me on many occasions.i have shamed judges and cop in court while they threaten me with contempt.i hate cops and will take them down the road to hell if they try to drive me there.i may drown but they will drown along with me.
this goes for all my enemies.
one thing ive learned in life is this world shows very little mercy.
better to be a live coward than a dead hero.
our military and cia are mostly not that smart.
i think its mad cow actually.
being a tower hand taught me alot.
i would risk my life each day in poophole little towns for almost no pay.
no different the sf.
only i didnt have a bunch of weapons to back me up.
most of the guys were doped all day
long on every drug imaginable.
and i never had to kill a singe person.
i was a bouncer for three years an never hit a single guy even though i had to put them down
brains before brawn.
i dont think our gov or military have much brains,but i could be mistaken.
Quote from: zorgon on September 01, 2012, 09:17:11 PM
The Bin Laden family were (are?) business partners with the Bush family. Osama was a black sheep in that family. Osama was NEVER wanted in connection with 911.... that was made clear both the FBI and the CIA. He was however responsible for several deadly attacks before 911
You really should get your facts straight before launching attacks :D
During the crisis when planes were grounded across the nation, it seems somehow Bin Laden's family in Las Vegas managed to make arrangements to be flown out of Vegas then out of the country for safety... you can google all that
Just FYI. the Bin Laden family is highly highly respected family in Saudi Arabia. It is a very large family, with Osama being just one of the many. Osama was disowned by his family in 1994, and his Saudi citizenship was taken away. There were no U. S. problems with any others of the family, and they likely were free to travel as they desired - relative to your descriptive comment about the Bin Ladens leaving the country.
zorgon, as you said, one can read a lot about this family on the internet. It is too bad that just one member of the family's actions has so hurt the reputations of the rest, for people in the U.S. It is little sad that we cannot retain a little more composure in our thoughts, with situations, because the "rest of the family" are not guilty of any actions against the U. S./us.
FWIW, I had a small direct working relationship with one of the direct bin Laden brothers several years ago, here in the U. S. He was a fine gentleman, and a good businessman.
Quote from: rdunk on September 02, 2012, 12:36:23 AM
There were no U. S. problems with any others of the family, and they likely were free to travel as they desired - relative to your descriptive comment about the Bin Ladens leaving the country.
The POINT was that they got to fly when NO ONE ELSE could :P
QuoteFWIW, I had a small direct working relationship with one of the direct bin Laden brothers several years ago, here in the U. S. He was a fine gentleman, and a good businessman.
Cool can ya hit him up for sponsorship? :P
::)
Quote from: robomont on September 02, 2012, 12:06:24 AM
i dont think our gov or military have much brains,but i could be mistaken.
Well considering all the secrets they keep.. they must ave some brains :D
Either that or there is nothing going on and we can close shop :P
Quote from: zorgon on September 02, 2012, 12:52:18 AM
Cool can ya hit him up for sponsorship? :P
::)
lol, that is funny!! No, can't do, as I wasn't THAT CLOSE to him. But for him, most any sponsorship would be just small peanuts/pocket change! :))
and yet another angle
Navy SEAL wrote 'No Easy Day' after being pushed out of SEAL Team 6 (+video)
A group of Special Ops veterans released its own e-book, 'No Easy Op,' suggesting 'No Easy Day' author Matt Bissonnette wrote his book in part due to 'bad blood' with his former unit.
By Husna Haq / September 4, 2012
As retired Navy SEAL Mark Owens's (a.k.a Matt Bissonnette) "No Easy Day" hits shelves today, a new e-book on Special Operations offers fresh insight into why Bissonnette broke his code of silence with his tell-all account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
A group of Special Ops veterans released its own e-book Monday, "No Easy Op: The Unclassified Analysis of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden," which suggests Bissonnette "was willing to break the code of silence honored by many commandos because of 'bad blood' with his former unit, the elite SEAL Team 6," writes The New York Times.
According to the NYT, the e-book claims Bissonnette was "effectively pushed out of SEAL Team 6 after he expressed interest last year in leaving the Navy and starting a business."
16 books set to be adapted into 2012-2013 movies
"How was he repaid for his honesty and 14 years of service?" the Special Ops writers ask in the e-book. "He was ostracized from his unit with no notice and handed a plane ticket back to Virginia from a training operation." After that treatment, Bissonnette "felt less compunction" about writing "No Easy Day."
"No Easy Day" was published as scheduled Tuesday despite a storm of controversy about the firsthand account of the top-secret raid and threat of a government lawsuit. The Pentagon has threatened to sue Bissonnette for breaching his contract by not submitting the manuscript for review early enough in the publication processs.
The publication of "No Easy Op" further complicates the debate over Bissonnette's account. The e-book was produced by sofrep.com, a website about the news, culture, and weaponry of the Special Ops produced by former commandos. Brandon Webb is a founder of the site and a former SEALs sniper, according to the NYT. In the NYT article, Webb says the e-book is based on "conversations
that he and his co-authors had with current members of SEAL Team 7, none of whom are identified."
(Incidentally, Webb also wrote his own account of his military experience, "The Red Circle," which was also not submitted for review. But he was not penalized, he says, because the book came out years after missions it describes, and included details already made public.)
"No Easy Op" is largely sympathetic to Bissonnette, according to media reviews. It describes the former Navy SEAL as "an operator's operator" and says it is highly unlikely "No Easy Day" revealed any vital information about SEAL tactics and procedures. Nonetheless, the e-book does scold Bissonnette for not submitting the book for review, suggesting that move would have placated government officials and put to rest concerns about security breaches. And it emphasizes the point that Bissonnette was less likely to abide by protocol after having been slighted by his former unit.
Whatever Bissonnette's motivation may be, the former Navy SEAL's co-author in "No Easy Day," Kevin Maurer, said in a statement that Bissonnette's account has nothing but praise for other SEALs and military personnel. "After spending several very intense months working with Mark Owen on this book, I know that he wrote this book solely to share a story about the incredible men and women defending America all over the world," the statement reads. "Any suggestion otherwise is as ill informed as it is inaccurate. What's more, Mark has an unshakable respect for the U.S. military, in particular the men he served with. That's why not one negative word was written about anyone he served with."
Still, the ongoing controversy over "No Easy Day" has the authors of "No Special Op" predicting Bissonnette's book may be a game changer in the field. As Americans' interest in commando culture swells and more retired Special Ops veterans consider sharing their accounts in books, movies, and more, the Pentagon will likely crack down on tell-all revelations like this – making firsthand accounts like these rarer, suggests the e-book. "No Easy Day" it writes, "will result in blowback that will drive policy change across the entire Special Operations community regarding operators' ability to write books in the future. Hollywood and media access will be virtually impossible for the foreseeable future."
Husna Haq is a Monitor correspondent.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2012/0904/Navy-SEAL-wrote-No-Easy-Day-after-being-pushed-out-of-SEAL-Team-6-video
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Content Section
Special Ops Veterans Respond to Navy SEAL Book 'No Easy Day'
by The Daily Beast Sep 3, 2012 5:29 PM EDT
One day before Mark Bissonnette's controversial tell-all on the bin Laden raid is released, his colleagues have published their own e-book response to what they call the "greatest betrayal."
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/03/special-ops-veterans-respond-to-navy-seal-book-no-easy-day.html
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No Easy Day: Pentagon Says Navy SEAL Book On Bin Laden Raid Contains Classified Information
Reuters | Posted: 09/04/2012 5:52 pm Updated: 09/04/2012 6:15 pm
video at link
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/no-easy-day-pentagon_n_1855783.html
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Elite SEALs taken off duty to deal with aftermath of Bin Laden book as whole command is 'put on the bench'
By Daniel Bates
PUBLISHED: 13:18 EST, 3 September 2012 | UPDATED: 02:38 EST, 4 September 2012
Comments (12) Share
..Several Navy SEALs have been pulled off active duty and are 'on the bench' to deal with the fallout from the controversial book about the killing of Osama bin Laden.
An expert and former SEAL has claimed that 'No Easy Day' has caused such a storm among military leaders they have moved men away from combat posts.
Brandon Webb also said that the entire command of SEAL Team Six, which carried out the raid, has also likely been told to temporarily stand down.
The claims are the most serious consequence yet of the decision by Matt Bissonnette to publish his first hand account of the mission to kill the Al Qaeda leader - as they could have a grave impact on national security.
Were a conflict to break out, having men from such an elite unit sitting around doing nothing could impair the nation's ability to fight back.
Webb's analysis appears in an e-book published by his website Sofrep.com, which is for former and serving Special Operations team members and those involved in its culture.
He writes: 'The sad part is that SEAL teams in general will see a decrease in operational activity and 'choice' missions.
'We are already aware of several operators at SEAL Team Six who have been pulled from regular deployment cycles in order to deal with the aftermath of No Easy Day'.
Speaking to MailOnline, Webb added: 'These are guys that should be deployed in combat that are now sitting, waiting for the fallout from this book.
'They are just sitting there on the bench. This will affect the way that the SEALs plan operations.
'In our opinion the whole command will be on the bench as well because the consequences of this are so serious'.
In Webb's analysis, Bissonnette's book is a 'PR stunt' that should have been cleared with the Department of Defence before hand and was put out now to make as much money as possible.
He claims that classified material is bound to leak out as Bissonnette is no expert at what should be kept private.
Publication also put not only him in danger but his relatives and neighbours, especially as Islamists have already vowed to kill him.
Other factors at play are the Navy's 'unhealthy relationship with Hollywood' which encourages people to sell out rather than respect the code of silence that existed for years.
Webb questions how Bissonnette, who writes under the pseudonym Mark Owen, did not think it would become political given that it is being released before November's election.
He writes: 'No one can seriously think that this book will not be seen as a political statement as America gears up for a presidential election.
'Mark Bissonnette's intentions, we believe, were noble but shortsighted.
'His desire to keep the book becoming political is impossible when the text is politically charged'.
Ultimately however, Webb lays the blame for the whole debacle at the door of Bissonnette's commanders who should have shown him more respect for wanting to quit the Navy after 14 years of hard service.
Webb writes that Bissonnette was asked to leave his beloved Red Squadron once he had the temerity to raise the issue of retiring - but was soon 'ostracized' and sent back home to Virginia.
Webb says: 'What do you do when you find yourself pissed off at your former employer, out of a job and in need of a paycheque?
'You start cashing in your chips.'
He also quotes a former SEAL who says: 'Mark (Bissonnette) is a legend. He's the operator's operator.
'He's a leader and a perfectionist. He's the quiet professional, completely dedicated to God and country.
'Which is why it makes what he's done so devastating'.
Webb was a sniper with the SEALs who went on to become its sniper instructor.
He has written two books, The 21st Century Sniper: A Complete Practical Guide and The Red Circle which detailed the gruelling training sessions SEALs have to go through.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2197764/No-Easy-Day-Elite-SEALs-taken-duty-deal-aftermath-Bin-Laden-book-command-bench.html#ixzz25YzaXn00
.........................................
this is already old
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3htYMBD84vQ
Consider this: Many were beginning to question if Osama was
actually killed in this raid..Mark's book proves that he was..
Mark Owens is the ultimate soldier.He is putting his reputation
and life on the line in this his last mission for his commander in chief..
This book was ordered writen to prove beyond any doubt that Osama
was indead killed as ordered by president Obama. This is my opinion.
08rubicon
'60 Minutes' Mark Owen Interview Scores Huge Ratings
Posted: 09/11/2012 4:31 pm Updated: 09/12/2012 12:37 pm
Scott Pelley's "60 Minutes" interview with former Navy SEAL Mark Owen drew huge ratings, the network announced on Tuesday.
Owen penned the book "No Easy Day," giving an inside account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Sunday's "60 Minutes" interview was rare in that Owen's interview took up the entire hour of the show. A total of 12.32 million viewers tuned in, making the program the most-watched, non-football program of the week. Compared to this time last year, "60 Minutes" ratings were up 52 percent in total viewers, and 55 percent in the coveted A 25-54 demographic.
Owen is not the Navy SEAL's real name, as the book was published under a pseudonym. The CBS News production team called in some of Hollywood's most skilled makeup artists to further conceal Owen's true identity. His voice was also manipulated.
Pelley said that Owen, whom he met in meetings preceding the "60 Minutes" taping, was unrecognizable when he walked on set.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/11/60-minutes-mark-owen-huge-ratings_n_1875106.html?ref=topbar
Although Owen's real identity was out there, the CBS production team used some of Hollywood's most talented makeup artists to disguise Owen during his on camera interview for "60 Minutes." According to Pelley, Owen was unrecognizable when he sat down on set.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/scott-pelley-fox-news-60-minutes-navy-seal-mark-owen-_n_1870153.html?utm_hp_ref=media
Protecting sources in the age of video journalism
The broadly built man whom Scott Pelley interviewed on CBS' 60 Minutes last Sunday night was called Mark Owen. He had heavy black eyebrows, deep brown eyes, and a gravelly voice.
Only, no such man exists
http://www.editorsweblog.org/2012/09/12/protecting-sources-in-the-age-of-video-journalism
Scott Pelley talks about "astounding transformation" behind SEAL interviewhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57503214/scott-pelley-talks-about-astounding-transformation-behind-seal-interview/