Navy Seals: A battle for the conscience
By Barbara Starr
(CNN) - Deep inside the military's special operations forces there is a crisis of conscience unfolding. The publication of "No Easy Day," a former Navy SEAL's account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, is forcing many to rethink a fundamental point of military honor. How much should America's commandos talk about what they do?
It's a debate that goes beyond disclosure of classified information, which is a crime. The discussion now centers on honor, ethics and cultural values inside the ranks.
"This is a battle for the conscience of the SEALs," a recently retired senior SEAL told me.
He served for decades in operational positions in the force, and has never told me any of the details of his missions. For years he did what every SEAL has done: Go on raids, find targets and, if necessary, kill them. It's what the nation asks of them.
Buzz ramps up over SEAL's bin Laden book
The question now: Is the SEAL community taking that Tom Clancy superman image and turning it into celebrity? "Was No Easy Day" indeed that last straw?
"It's a generational thing that is happening to some extent," the retired SEAL said. Some younger SEALs who have grown up in the age of the Internet and instant online communications simply feel it's their right to talk about their work, as long as they can claim it's not classified, he said.
This senior SEAL said he and his peers grew up in a generation where "we don't talk about what we do," and he feels it should be kept that way.
In fact, the chief Navy SEAL wrote a scathing e-mail to his 2,500 troops, which began with the fundamental SEAL ethos.
"We do NOT advertise the nature of our work, NOR do we seek recognition for our actions," said Rear Adm. Sean Pybus.
Pybus told the men he is "disappointed, embarrassed and concerned" that troops are now openly speaking and writing about what they do.
"Most of us have always thought that the privilege of working with some of our nation's toughest warriors on challenging missions would be enough to be proud of, with no further compensation or celebrity required.
"Today, we find former SEALs headlining positions in a presidential campaign; hawking details about a mission against Enemy Number 1; and generally selling other aspects of NSW training and operations."
Pybus continued: "For an Elite Force that should be humble and disciplined for life, we are certainly not appearing to be so. We owe our chain of command much better than this."
Every SEAL, indeed everyone in U.S. military special operations units, knows exactly what Pybus is saying. He's warning that fundamental trust is at risk. And the risk is on many levels, from the campfire to the Oval Office.
Matt Bissonnette wrote in his book about casual chatter among SEALs, which he portrayed as less than supportive of President Obama. An Army special operations guy who read that passage was shocked.
"That's just 'team talk' around the fire," he said.
Does anybody expect that to show up in a book? The men on these small covert units literally place their lives in the hands of each other. They trust that they'll keep each others' confidence. And confidence must be unshakeable at the highest levels.
Bergen: Sense and nonsense about Obama and Osama
Pybus' reference to a chain of command is read by some to mean only one thing: the president of the United States. A president has to fundamentally believe when he sends SEALs on a secret mission to kill the world's top terrorist that those in the rank and file aren't going to start talking.
Of course, there has been plenty of chatter about Obama administration officials themselves talking too much about the raid. Now there has been outright admission classified information was exposed.
Pentagon spokesman George Little acknowledged classified information about the raid did get out in the hours and days after bin Laden was killed.
"We were all deeply concerned, not just in this building, but elsewhere in the administration, about the disclosure of highly classified information that made its way out the door," he said. "I don't know precisely who did it, but it shouldn't have happened. And many of us tried to keep some of those sensitive details, particularly those involving sources and methods, from making their way to press reports."
Little was the CIA spokesman at the time of the raid.
But many believe there is a difference between Pentagon officials disseminating information and rank and file members of the military sharing it. If service members want to write a book, the material has to be reviewed before publication. If a service member believes he or she needs to bring wrongdoing to light, there are procedures within the military for whistle-blowing. Bissonnette did not follow the rules, the Pentagon said.
In fact, in the book's introduction, Bissonnette justifies his book, writing "It is time to set the record straight" and, "This book will finally give credit to those who earned it." It's odd phrasing, because so many, including Pybus and Adm. William McRaven, the head of all 65,000 special operations forces across the military, think the SEALs have received plenty of credit around the world for killing bin Laden.
Pentagon: SEAL's book has classified info, didn't follow protocol
Both admirals are agonizing over the emergence of SEALs as celebrities as well as political operatives.
McRaven is aiming squarely at a group of former SEALs actively opposing President Barack Obama. The admiral is referring to the Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund, which has sponsored a Web video featuring former special forces officers accusing the president of taking too much credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden and allowing classified information about the raid to become public.
While McRaven said former SEALs have the right to express their opinions, he wants any link to the active duty force to be kept out of it. "By attaching a special operations moniker or a unit or service name to a political agenda, those individuals have now violated the most basic of our military principles," McRaven said in his e-mail message to the troops.
McRaven and Pybus know their worries are raising eyebrows. That's because the Pentagon itself has encouraged worldwide commercial interest in SEAL lore. In one case, top Pentagon and CIA officials offered their support for the upcoming "Zero Dark Thirty," a movie that Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow is making about the bin Laden raid.
Some in Congress have complained that the Pentagon and CIA should not have offered the filmmaker background briefings.
Active duty Navy SEALs also were given permission to perform in the Hollywood thriller "Act of Valor."
Also, Pentagon sources told CNN, SEALs are also working on two other Hollywood movies.
The recently retired senior SEAL summed up the problem for his brothers in arms since the Bin Laden raid: "We swallowed the golden egg. But now we can't get rid of it."
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
I spent 27 years in the military – 14 in the SOF. And, there is one thing that you shouldn't have to depend on signing a NDA to know. That is that you NEVER talk about anything you were involved in – EVER. The reason is that your former comrades are still out there doing their jobs and you don't know where they are or what they're doing. The enemy is not stupid. They piece together some information that you thought was unimportant or unclassified along with others pieces that other people thought were unimportant or unclassified and develop a picture of a classified operation or capability. And, that gets people killed.
THANK YOU, WELL STATED
No, politicians get people killed. Get your story straight. And mind you, special ops is voluntary. If they have a problem with OPSEC, then perhaps it's time to go do something else. The way I see it, this guy is more honorable than the whole lot of you.
Over what, a "code of silence"? Are you kidding me? I thought you guys were smarter than that. It's not like this is WWII or something. This is not a popular war either. Most of us want it over with. And now we have a SEAL that wants to expose how the American people are being gang-banged by a bunch of suits and ties, and you want to hang him out to dry? Do you SF guys fight wars for America, or for yourselves? Because I see a serious case of tunnel vision going on here.
have a SEAL that wants to expose how the American people are being gang-banged by a bunch of suits ...
By writting a book that puts your fellow seal in danger ?
Even you cant be that stupid........or can you ?
I come from another country, my family has been a military family for over 200 years, the military in my country is highly professional, and they trained with the US army as well as the Canadian forces. If a especial forces soldier would do as this guy did, it would not take long for the soldier to be court martial, and soon after someone would be making lamp shades out of his skin, they treat traitors in a different way I guess…
Thank you very much for your service.
I have read the book and do not see anything in there that would be considered leaked classified info. This just happens to be one of the many bios of a SEAL and this one happened to be in on the Bin laden Raid. Did he delve deeper into some minor training details and OPs than others? Maybe, I haven't read them all. But there are no real names or locations, tactics or such that would give the enemy any advantage. I found it all very interesting. These guys have been through some serious crap in the past dozen years, more than any other SpecOps soldiers in history and if writing about it helps them cope, who cares. Besides, he claims that the majority of the money made will go to SEAL related charities.
Didn't realize the book was released yet. Where did you get your copy?
It came out on Tuesday, I got mine at Barnes & Noble yesterday. The first store was sold out, but the second one had one left.
Thanks Shawn... I'll have to pick up a copy ASAP.
That's the point I've been trying to make for days. If you take the time to read the book – you'll see this SEAL is not a dishonorable piece of crap that everyone is ready to hang. The dude won 5 Bronze Stars in 13 combat deployments in 10 years. At no other time in our military history have we sustained a fight/war this long, and with only a volunteer force. Praise the guy – don't slam him.
You can't raise finger on President Obama who has done more to help veterans coming from war than any of his predecessors. I am appalled by some pseudo-patriot nuts that call Obama a Muslim. It is unamerican not to recognize what the president has done for military families.
You can stuff the phony "what about honor" arguments, I am sure that any one of you would have cashed in on your experiences given the opportunity. This guy has a chance to make truckloads of cash, please don't tell me that you would pass that up in the name of honor because I simply don't buy it.
In other words, you're a corrupted individual and thus all other should be as well? That sounds like nothing more than unchecked cynicism. There are plenty of people who have enough honor in them to resist selling out their principles or oaths. So, you might do best to just start referring to yourself to keep things simple.
Fortunately for American, 99% of us serving still believe in HONOR...
Semper Fi!
I'll keep saying this, thank you for your service.
I need to just paste this reply to all of these crayz posts. READ THE BOOK. Especially if you were/are in the military and post on here if you learned any secrets or new tactics or training locations or new weapons. Then Google Operation Neptune Spear and what the White House released. You get the same story. Everyone is jumping on their high and mighty horse and calling this guy a dishonorable traitor based on a Press Release. I saw a press release recently that said Elvis is still alive – do you believe that one too? Instead of depending on other people for your facts – why don't you investigate them yourself.
Pretty tough talk from two people who are not in this guys situation.
Chris, is it honorable to call people names when they state an opinion different than yours? Is that what they taught you in the military? This is the type of phony behavior I am talking about. Don't pretend like you are above everyone else just because you were in the military.
Calling people names? Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? You began the conversation by calling out every American as just another dope waiting for their cash cow to arrive. I countered that not everyone should be lumped into your point of view. I don't agree that everyone is just corrupt. Calling you cynical for feeling that way isn't disparaging you, it's stating a fact. Cynical means you assume the worst in people, and your post fits that description pretty darn well.
Congratulations, you sound just like the used car salesman who will sell that lemon of a car [in a state with no lemon laws] to the little old lady who barely has two nickels to rub together...and then will reply I didn't do anything illegal. Less than honorable sure but illegal no...and why so I could make a few bucks. We clearly see what idle you bow down to...it is green and has President's faces on it.
Welcome to America! You must be new here.
PATHETIC that you are so proud of that.
You sir apparently are not related to a military or clandestine service family, I guarantee you, there are many who have gone and are going to the grave with information even their wives never knew, and some are reading this.
And your point would be?
These families bear a heavy burden and this American is grateful for their service.
I come from a military family.. over 200 years of tradicion.. !! A man without honor is not a man..!!
You can stuff the phony "what about honor" arguments,
Just because you have no honor, doesnt mean the rest of us dont.
You sad little boy.
I don't see the big deal. The politicians told the their version of the story for their own gain. Now he's telling his.
He was there. He has a story to tell and an audience that wants to hear it. The criticism seems pretty phony and politically motivated to me. If it was still Bush in office, most of these hacks calling him a traitor would be hailing him as a hero.
Well said!
Lack of class and enormous stupidity just can't be fixed...
It depends on your stance regarding Assange. Do you think he is right to expose classified information? If the answer is no, then it is a big deal. The difference between the two instances is not that deep. If Bassionette took an oath not to speak about it, then he is obligated to keep it. Besides, I don't see this book as setting straight any records. It sounds equally motivated by politics, and I really doubt that any truths leaked within it will change the way this government smells.
First of all, you are NOT an expert on CLASSIFIED INFORMATION!
Secondly, Assange is NOT a Navy SEAL!
Assange is an entirely different challenge, with completely different metrics...
I think you mean Manning, but there's still no comparison. Manning intentionally divulged active secrets while on active duty. This guy is a free man telling his own version of something that's already been released and reported.
It's unfortunate, but yes, there already is a superior elite secret force in development to replace these loose cannon bozos, we will NOT no their names , NOR any other name their group or operations are called by. Our Commanders rely on those forces for their secrecy as much as they rely on stealth technology, and if I were an Admiral watching these loose cannons fly around on deck, I'd be more than a little concerned that a Marine or Army Commander could argue me out of the room as to why his team is superior for the mission, think about it.
If you were an admiral I would hope that you could string a complete thought together.
At: Milky Pirate
If I was an admiral I would be very concerned. I would also look at replacing all the seals I can with more professional individuals. It would be a total restructure of the seals..
Osama bin laden is dead and a group from the Navy Seals killed him during a top secret raid–this is not confidential information after the fact. The name of the actual Seal unit should have remained confidential. The location of that attack, especially since it was in a country of which we are not at war should have never been admitted even after Pakistan said that it happened in their land, since it is act of war to carry out an attack on another country's soil without their permission. Any secret equipment used should be considered confidential. Saying that training for months took place to prepare for an attack is not confidential after the mission is complete while the type and location of that training is confidential. And camp fire talk, chatter or pillow talk is not confidential as those types of conversations are not relative to the operation. These type of conversations are no different than those enjoyed among friends, and real friends know what they can and cannot repeat from these conversations. Sources of info used in the attack should always remain classified and vehemently denied if the names surface. We still have confidential operations that took place in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, I would consider it dangerous and an insult to all involved if any of the the people, from the participating troops to the President, where to start releasing this information during the lifetime of the participants.
Except that the US left one of those helicopters behind, all crashed up. At that point any chance of keeping things secret was blown out of water.
There was still no reason to admit that it was of a stealth design or that it was involved with any attack on Pakistan's land, it was just a helicopter crash.
WeDon'tMatter
There was still no reason to admit that it was of a stealth design or that it was involved with any attack on Pakistan's land, it was just a helicopter crash.
Pakistan released photos, your move.
Well said. I concur.
I've sat around many campfire b/i/t/c/h/i/n/g about my bosses. I trusted my friends to keep their mouths shut. They did, and it was not even military. Just a b/i/t/c/h session.
Frankly this was bound to happen and is a reflection of our current society. We are in a "reality tv" world where many seek out their 15 minutes coupled with a few bucks, even Elite Navy Seals. Not too mention although Navy Seal training is still hard as heck, politicians have sought to reduce overall military personnel and increase special forces personnel, as a result you are gonna attract a few more bad apples. I mean in all organizations you are gonna have a few bad apples BUT when the stated goal is to increase special forces presonnel, you are bound to get a few more bad apples.
Here's the problem. If these guys start putting out books, etc and are able to become celebrities off their work, you will start to attract a very different type of person to the job. These people will be there for the different reasons than the older generation, where book deals and celebrity status will become a sizable motivation for them. Don't fool yourselves: people with questionable morals can be just as competent as the other guys, but there are longer reaching problems with employing them for highly sensitive tasks.
Sebastian2,
I think that idea is overblown. For starters, many young men are already drawn to the SEALS program because it is already seen as romantic and prestigious. They find out quickly whether they can make the cut or not. No one making the cut is doing so thinking that he can become rich and famous on a book deal. There are easier ways to make a living if that is all one wants. No one with that thinking would really work that hard.
Celebrity status?? hardly, more a gun for hire, or a do anything for a buck, including exposing his teammates to danger.. he is a traitor..
Does anyone know what kind of pants they wear in their work? My friend and I teach survival to local civilians and want to dress like the seals. We mostly wear 550's right now but also have some of the camo jackets the marines wear. The classes we have taught so far have been so awesome that the people said we should train people in the government.
Come up with your own uniform design, one that is functional for the type of training you are doing. Maybe have a couple of different uniforms to fit a specific scenario during training. Trying to copy a covert military units uniforms or outfits is rather childish if you are trying to run your own tactical training course.
You like to play war, GI Joe ?
I like how everyone seems to think they're some sort of a subject-matter expert on what it's like to go to war or be a Navy SEAL.
The American people deserve to know what their government is up to. The information that he has provided in this book does not endanger anyone. You morons talk about "honor" and "disgrace", as if you've uprooted your asses from your La-Z-Boys and walked a mile or two in his boots. You people are spectators. Nothing less, nothing more.
He's taking a lot of flak right now to bring you distasteful and disillusioned bigots the truth. THAT is honor. And he's doing so because it's painfully obvious that very few, if any people "back home" have the faintest idea of what's going on.
It's funny that you wasted all this wind to explain this to us, when in truth, he's writing the book to earn a buck....and that is it!
God forbid he should earn a buck. It's a damn wonder he's even alive right now. And I seriously doubt that's his primary motivation anyway. If you have a problem with people earning money, then go on down to GM and tell them you want your money back.
Before this is over he is going to take a lot more flak, as well as his family – if he has one – his comrades and the SEALS.
Yeah, this guy is a real poster child for the SEALs!
The information that he has provided in this book does not endanger anyone.
B.S.
How do you know what is dangerous? 'Tells' are important and don't think our enemies aren't combing this book for all the intell they can get. This country is at war, a former military officer is writing about his contemporaries. Are they still in the service? We have no way of knowing what our enemies know so my personal opinion is to err on the side of caution.
THEY SHOULD KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT AND THE NAVY SEAL THAT WROTE THIS BOOK SHOULD BE "SPOKEN" TO
This Navy Seal is a traitor and an opportunist. He is on the same level as Bush and Cheney outing an American CIA agent to "punish her husband" for speaking the truth about our infamous and unwarranted attack on Iraq and Saddam. Cheney was clearly behind that and should be behind bars. This guy belongs in a military brig, or maybe some of his old teammates whose lives he endangered should pay him a housecall, just like he did for Osama. Our military should be 100% apolitical. Anyone who allows their partisan views to cloud their judgement is a danger to American democracy. Republicans have no morals and zero patriotism, and yet they have the nerve to accuse Democrats and our President of the same. This "seal" is a dangerous, rabid animal. His publisher is equally guilty – anything to make a profit, even if it involves publishing a load of info and lies that make our special forces less safe, and our country look bad. Neocons are the enemy of state, and the planet, in general. All they want is power and $$.
"This Navy Seal is a traitor and an opportunist. He is on the same level as Bush and Cheney outing an American CIA agent to "punish her husband" for speaking the truth about our infamous and unwarranted attack on Iraq and Saddam."
No friend. You are a traitorous piece of crap. Stuff your liberal BS talking point sup your hole.
You are simply beneath contempt...
What I don't understand is why everyone is assuming this Seal is telling the truth to begin with. He's willing to endanger other Seals and their operation for money. Seems reasonable that he's also willing to slant HIS version anyway he can to make it more attractive to his audience.
Believe him above everyone else?? Why?
Obviously you have not read the book. This is a memoir / autobiography about a SEAL who happened to take part in an historical operation. He doesn't disclose tactics or special weapons or names or training locations, he talks about the operation and how he felt – his emotions. When Bill Clinton or George Bush released their memoirs and talked about specific war situations and what happened and how they felt when they made their commander in chief decisions – congress didn't come out and say "Presidents need to stop writing memoirs". In fact – Bissonette's version of the OBL raid falls almost directly in line with what the White House released (and leaked). The big difference is that Bissonette's version of how OBL died and how his body was treated on the helo back differs from what the White House said. So instead of talk about how great the book is as they did with Marcus Luttrell's LONE SURVIVOR (which does the same thing as NO EASY DAY – talk specifically about an operation) – they cite a protocol that is not a law. The wording in the non-disclosure agreement is "invited" – if you publish something you are 'invited' to submit it for review. IF you don't and they can prove that classified information was released – they can claim the royalties – that's it (See Snepp vs. United States). Is it smart to publish a book that describes how Bin Laden was really killed and treated in light of the current war in Afghanistan? Probably not – this will give them motivation – but it won't give them secrets.
I think this is worse than what Bush/Cheney did to Valerie Phlame. They exposed a covert operative, the author exposed his whole team to scrutiny.
This is a function of our entertainment-driven society, and in very stark contrast to the men who fought in WWII and Korea–men who waited the fifty years they'd been told to keep their mouths shut before writing about "What really happened." As for "not knowing where our tax dollars are spent," does anyone really think we ever have? People just want to be entertained in the New Roman Circus, (a.k.a. The Internet), and the juicier and more secret an expose is, the better the crowds love it. It is disappointing that this one individual broke that code of silence; his doing so does not diminish the reputation of the SEALS as far as I am concerned.
In the USMC, we used to "take care" of these type of issues internally. I am sure that other SEALS will be better able to express themselves once they have the opportunity to speak with this aspiring author.
The Osama killing is still a recent event with unknown repercussions out there. This nonsense needs to stop!
I am certain it is the same with the Marines, sir. It was drilled into our heads from day one: "Loose Lips Sink Ships". Say no more.
A USN Cook
Yes we can and yes we do... you may see something far sooner than you think... if al Qaeda doesn't take care of it first...
Hopefully it is 'handled' internally. We don't need any more international incidents. Besides, I'm sure his former team mates have a lot to say to this idiot! (Personal note: 'idiot' is the worst thing I will ever call a person. Who needs profanity when this simple word expresses it all?)
Well the record has been set straight. The Navy Seals are just another bunch of glory hungry, celebrities. Not soldiers. No pride in their job or mission. No allegiance to their oath or country is near as important as the chance to get their own 15 minutes of fame. Regardless of what damage they do to the future Seals or the operations or their country.
Old Seals = Valor, honor, loyalty to their commander in chief and camaraderie
Young Seals = It's all about me. To hell with our service and dignity.lets make it political and get on Rush Limbaugh.
I hope he enjoys the blood money he's going to make with this book. Because most likely the blood will be from those that follow him and find their mission compromised by tell all books from guys that are supposed to on their side.
Read the book and tell everyone here exactly how anyone was compromised. Are they compromised because we learn that they train a lot, fly to where they're going in helos, have the latest and greatest equipment and pull pranks on each other? The true problem with mass media is that people read a headline or an article and take it word for word then get on message boards and make accusations. READ THE BOOK – then make your accusations.
The problem isn't with what's in the book. It'sthat he's writing it to begin with in order to embarrass and insult the office of the presidency for political reasons that have nothing to do with his service or mission.
The only thing embarrassing for the office of the presidency as you put it is that he says – not all of the SEALs care for Obama. oooo – that's embarrasing!
It's a moot point since he's a paid off politician now rather than a SEAL, and most of what is in his book is going to be politically slanted lies that only a fool would believe. However...
I find it extremely amusing because this demonstrates the BLATANT HYPOCRISY inherent with Republicans. At other times, they have spoken out against people that exposed government secrets, wanting to charge those that did it with treason for putting us at risk. But a SEAL wants to write a book that is in their favor? Suddenly they are supportive~!
I find it amusing the Blatant Hypocrisy of liberals who have gone on record to say websites like wikileaks have a right to publish stolen classified information and now claim this SEAL should be put in jail for slightly putting Obama in a bad light...
WikiLeaks isn't a service of America nor a serviceman. They are under no obligation to this country. The Seal snitch is.
I am a liberal.
Assange should be in jail.
You are an azzhole.
It was drilled into our heads from day one: "Loose Lips Sink Ships". Say no more! A Navy cook.
Loose lips make it really hard to get away with mass murder and war crimes too.
When you're in the clandestine business of killing people, a conscience becomes little more than a nuisance, until it's eventually suppressed altogether.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." – - George Orwell
I don't sleep that peacefully knowing that SEALs like Bissonnette are out there...
This "author" can't walk onto Ft Bragg without receiving an @$$ kicking GAURANTEED
The whole thing was fake anyway
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/galleryoffakebinladens.php
It's obvious the guy that wrote this book is thumbing his nose at Obama. Whether this is bcause Obama lied about the details of operation , gave himself too much credit, whatever the reason, He seems confident that he won't be prosecuted.
The real question is why?
I believe the plain and simple fact that President Obama mentioned SEAL TEAM 6 in his address to the nation the night OBL was killed was a classic case of the President just giving CREDIT to SEAL TEAM 6 and nothing else. The President could have said Navy SEALS killed OBL or a team of Navy SEALS did the job but instead, the President wanted the whole world to know that SEAL TEAM 6 did it. I am appalled and sicked to my f-ing stomach that the GOT would politicize this whole affair because its an election year and they are afraid voters will acknowleage and give credit to the President for his part in this mission. Furthermore, the President mentioning SEAL TEAM six is in no way jeopardizing these heroes simply because no one in the four branches of the military knows who SEAL TEAM 6 is comprised of to begin with. So I believe its time for the GOT to stop politicinzing the f-ing event to score political points or to make the President look bad. Enough is enough!
Obama lied about the details of operation , gave himself too much credit, whatever the reason,
Except for the white house press release about the incident happening,
Obama has not said another word about it.
There does seem to be a "group" of people who accuse the President
of taking credit for it.
Obama gave all the credit to the seals.
Its pretty clear who that "group" is.
Given the state of our youth in the country; I can say that I'm not the least bit surprised by the behavior these bratty little whelps are exhibiting. While they can muster all the physical and mental qualities of our previous "Silent Warriors", they seem to crave attention. Throughout the entire Vietnam conflict, which had very definite political overtones, not ONCE did a single SEAL come out a "cry" about how someone stole their honor, or how the political establishment is hated within the Teams. This idiot, who may have a legitimate story about the raid; however, he wrote this to throw a political hand grenade at the White House. When I was in the service, it was made absolutely clear, that while I can express my political views in the voting both, I was discouraged to actively advocate my views while in uniform.
Too bad this youth of the nation is your future politicians. I think my generation has a very real outlook on the world they see the world for what it really is, corrupt, greedy, and violent.
Nobody in Particular is to blame for today's youth. As he is the elder. The youth today have failed because of YOUR Parenting. You parents are failures, you worked so hard and were so honorable you forgot how to raise kids. Shame on you.
I am 23 years old, sorry I have 2 parents that are both very educated! World view and outlook changes.
I guess I will ask you this then, say you are in the service and you are asked to mow down a group of unarmed American citizens? Would you follow orders or would you stand for what you believe? You wouldn't tell anyone about that if it happened?!
We follow orders without question. That is why they are called orders, sir, and not suggestions.
Ohio State ring a bell?
The day soldiers start refusing to obey orders is the day you don't have an army anymore.
Tommy Boy and maccante following orders are a part of a well functioning military, but norms and values play a big role a good example of this is the Syrian army. The people who follow orders are bombing breadlines.
My most sincere apologies, sir. I gathered from the nature of this article that we were discussing the military protocol of the United States of America. With all due respect, sir, I don't give a rats ass what the soldiers in Syria do. That is what we call job security and that is why all branches of the United States Armed Services are on call around the clock, around the globe. Thank you sir.
A USN Cook
Tommy Boy
We follow orders without question. That is why they are called orders, sir, and not suggestions.
Nazi troops where just following orders,
i guess that makes it ok ?
None of the Vietnam era SEALs said anything about their dislike of government blah blah blah? Richard Marcinko – the first CO fo Seal Team Six and creator of Red Cell – a group of SEALs and one Force Recon who were tasked with infiltrating bases and ships not only trashes the desk jockies in Washington and exposes the weaknesses of base security – he did in a tell all autobiography – ROGUE WARRIOR, and continues to use SEAL tactics and technologies in his fictional ROGUE WARRIOR series.
Your service is greatly appreciated.
To be the best takes sacrafice. To ignore the sacrafice that your brothers are still makeing when you are not, to take advantage of what others who do not make or have never made that sacrafice offer you simply because they need your story to further their objectives is difficult to ignore...but isnt that what all that sacriafice was for in the first place? To ignore pain, suffering the constant figure of Death in order to protect, serve and honor those you leave at home and stand beside daily...that is the job.
To be the proverbial "bad apple" that gives into this to ring that damn bell after all the times you didn't...to possibly, even if it is statistically remote or impossible, endanger those brothers of yours that are still there and doing the Job...how do you do that with a clear concious?
Up to reciently the only stories of Seals we have are those from Viet Nam and other past operations from decades ago where the operators and the deads no longer will endanger those still doing the jog...is it coincidence that now we hear of operations only just finished...
The CPO who wote this book, for what ever reason, has painted a target on his head for the act of being, admittedly on of those who took Bin Laden down...the very thing that the Team refused to give to the Commander in Chief when he asked (reported by CNN). That should say it all. If the Team doesnt do it, then you don't either...or don't stay with the team...
Both the Administration and those responsible for the further loss of secrecy and endagering these men who continually serve this Nation and the Teams are fault here. And the fault will only cause others harm. Others who do not deserve it.
I am sorry but you logic is very weird. From the past several leaks of classified information no lives have been lost and a very many mistakes and problems have been shown to happen. A lot of that classified info was just use to cover tracks and wash hands of wrong doing.
How do you know if any, or how many lives may or may not have been lost because of his breach of faith? Oh yeah... because you haven't read about it on the internet, right?
It hasn't but tons of collateral damage and war crimes have been shown to happen.
Typical victim justification syndrome. You believe that you have been SO wronged by Obama that it justifies whatever you decide, including treason, revolution, or breaking the SEAL code. That is a lack of character on YOUR part. It has nothiog to do with Obama, yet you will whine and cry and blame it on himn anyway. Grow up.
False claims of WMD, extra-judicial detention systems, waterboarding, ad nauseum
When the leadership catastrophically fails leadership tests,
and no one is held accountable,
can we be surprised when the troops no longer share our values?
Honestly they should share it because that is something me as a citizen of this country should know about
No... citizens don't have the right to know everything they want.
You personify the lack of character that this SEAL does. You believe that your hatred for Obama justifies anything you do. That is YOUR failure, not Obama's.
False claims of WMD, extra-judicial detention systems, waterboarding, ad nauseum
Obama never claimed WMD.
So this Seal has a problem with Obama,
because of something Bush did ?
I disagree that information should be secret, I can understand if it will put lives at risk but how do we know what our tax money is really going to? Our country is founded on principles of free speech so freedom of information is something very important to us. How do we know we are doing the 'right' thing when you give a select group of people power to do whatever they want, make a mistake, and cover it up. It has happened a lot, I believe if Seals see something they consider wrong doing or against the same ethos they have to abide by then yes it should be known. There is a legal pathway for them with whistle blower protection laws but they never work. I am sorry but this just seems like another excuse to hide mistakes, I cannot stand this.
I'm sorry, but that is BS, you can know how much is being spent on the military, and even how it is broken down to branches of services, and even major division within those branches; however that doesn't mean to get to see all the goodies. Training and operational methods for the military are like manufacturing processes in the private industry which is protect by law from others stealing it. It only make sense that the military would want to keep its methods of selecting, training, and deployment of it personnel as secret as possible.
I am sorry is the government the private sector? No it isn't and sure I can see how much money is being spent but how do I know that money isn't being used to say.. kill civilians? The issue here is Afghanistan and Iraq wars did nothing to make the world a safer place. In fact it made it worse the world is no less safe, and at the cost of thousands of young men.
Are you really as naive as you sound? Next thing you'll want is for everyone to have to agree and vote before a shot is fired in response to an attack such as 9/11.
Grow up man, Freedom of information doesn't translate into freedom to know everything. Without clandestine secret operations no military would ever be successful in and war.
Your damn right I would want everyone to vote and agree, I was against this war from day one buddy. Look at the cost it had on our great country, its in shambles.
The problem here is the glorification of war, our generation (23 years old) have issues with sensitivity. We are a generation of pain, murder, and greed! These concepts have become normal to us! The behavior should be looked down upon and not glorified like it is today. I think a lot of the kids that join the military have this idea of glory in the battlefield. I am telling you right now there is nothing glorious about seeing your friend die in his own pool of blood for issues that have no bearing on what is going on in the US! To be honest if we spent more time getting along rather then killing each other we would be capable of great things but that will never happen.
You are NUTS!!!!!!
Murderers in prison write books about their victims and profit from it.
Why not the military.
Same thing.
Sanctioned murder is still murder.
No they don't, haven't you heard about the Son of Sam law? or do you just not read anything but comics!
Wrong. Know what you are talking about before posting. Read the, "Son of Sam law".
Expect the SEALS to be benchwarmers for several months, and they may even be punished as an organization by funding cuts. We create and fund these guys to be "quiet professionals", and do the dirty, dangerous jobs quickly and effectively. It the NSW crowd wants to be celebrities, they are welcome to it, but they should expect to get called less for the the important sensitive jobs.
I was never military but I am an authroity on an internet forum and have most of the special equipmnet. I demand that these stories continue to be told and that these young men set up special training for us so that we can develop mad skills. I have shot a match or two so I know the pressure these guys are under going into a raid. Their info generates a lot of buzz for the industry and allows us to know what kind of clothing to wear and what milspeak words to use online. I will carry this book by my side for a very long time. Monstra mihi pecuniam!
While I don't agree with government keeping everything secret from the general public, I do agree with keeping "certain" secrets that protect their country and their people from getting in harms way. If an someone wants to write a book it should be published, but the writer should care about America, sure he was in the raid that killed Osama, big deal, I am more than confident that there were a number of men that could have done the same job as he did and not put his fellow men in danger in the future. Disclosure agreements are there for a reason and that is to protect EVERYONE involved, not just one person or one side.
First, Congrats to the SEAL team on a successful mission. Second, this issue has nothing to do with the current administration, so any discussion of that is irrelevant. Third, the team members are part of an elite group that can only be successful if they function properly as a team. Part of that function is to utilize tactics, weaponry, and other resources that may be classified. It is one thing to pen a book about your experiences, but it is another if you disclose classified information for your own personal gain. The SEAL team member that chose this path, in my opinion, shows a complete lack of character and integrity in doing so. This is on par with selling military secrets to another country, only this chucklehead found an easier path–he's selling them to the American citizens. He should be punished as such.
you also take an oath to defend this country from foreign and DOMESTIC enemy's
The Democrat party is a Domestic enemy of this great nation
In November we are going to remove more of you than in 2010
Tea Anyone
Only a true republican would take an article about a special op's soldier trying to strike it rich and seek to demonize part of our political system. He should keep his mouth shut and so should you. You sir are a chuckle head. You and you ilk are not capable of running a country, understanding the economy or anything else as far as I can tell. You like to shoot your mouth off without any thought, preparation or plan for the consequences of your actions.
The Democrat party is a Domestic enemy of this great nation.
We warned you about the brown acid.
You not only took it, but you washed it
down with poison kool aid.
Seek help.
Nut case.
I have to quit reading these boards because it is causing my blood pressure to rise. I feel it is pretty safe to say that noone who has posted here has read the book yet. If they have – then please read Marcus Luttrell's two books and Harold Wasdin's book and describe here how those books are ok and don't disclose secrets and specifically how NO EASY DAY does. I've read them all – they are all basically the same – they are a narrative of operations and what happened. There's no explanation of tactics and special weaponry etc. The only difference is this was the OBL raid, and it mentions Osama in a bad light. That is truly the only issue. The Pentagon and White House knew the book was being published and released, and is powerful enough to have gotten a court injunction to stop the release long enough to review the book and strong enough to have anything classified redacted. They didn't – and I believe it was a strategic move to then use a smear campaign to incent a public outcry that this SEAL is a traitor so the damage is diminished to Obabma.
OK... you've convinced me. Men in the military are no more worthy of respect or honor than any other blue collar worker. Nothing special abut the special forces. Soldiers are just a bunch of guy like anyone else on the loading dock.
Next time I'm asked to pay honor to the men that serve to protect and defend our country I'll just ask Why?" Nothing special about them... especially the liberals... or the conservatives. Being a soldier USED to be something honorable.. but now... nah. Ther'ye just employees with no more obligation to the people they work for than any other person. They lie cheat and sell out like the rest of us for a quick buck.
You take your thoughts to the grave and never reveal classified information , you take an oath that demands your silence. You put your country before your personal profit.. THis seal has violated that oath and has no honor... I have no respect for this man...... As far as i'm concerned this man is a traitor to his Country....Charles Bowen Solomon Stone
Obviously we have a problem with the navy. This should have been handled by special forces who have a history of handling these matters with the highest degree of confidentiality. This is unconscionable. If the book has been released than all proceeds should be taken from the author and the publisher. They both are at fault.
Served USN 1967-1970 NAS Norfolk ,Va ,Operation Deep Freeze VX-6 Mcmurdo Sound Williams Field Antarctica, USS John F. Kennedy V-2 Division Bow Cats Flight Deck Bow Runner Cat-2...Jordan Crisis Sept 1970..... Plus 5 Years Portsmouth Navy Yard Sonar Tech Shop 67 on many Nuclear Subs and NR-1 . No I dont have a problem with the Navy i served with honor and to this day i keep my mouth shut ..Classified means Classified
If the Obama administration already "released" the information to the public, is it still classified?
Is that the same as outing a undercover CIA agent and risking their life? Oh wait that was under Dub Ya and so it doesn't count, even if it was the real president Karl Rove
Notwithstanding what this SEAL may have done, in America one is innocent until proven guilty. He may be accused, but cannot be called a traitor, until he's been tried and convicted by the courts, not the media/public. You and everyone else labelling him are possibly criminals as well - libel is a crime. So maybe we all should get off our high horses and soap boxes for a while and let the courts decide - if they even charge the guy.
I guess you have never served this action Dishonors this sailor and should be delt with under the UCMJ.....
I think he has earned the right to criticize the president. I don't know if he broke a code or not (have never served), but I think these guys should be able to campaign for presidential candidates. My opinion has nothing to do with political preference.
Those who have served took an oath not to disclose Classified information... He broke that Oath and should be punished under the UCMJ end of story......
He gave up the right to critique the President Commander in Chief when he decided to serve his country. And Classified Still means Classified....
I think he has earned the right to criticize the president....
Wrong.
They need to keep their mouths shut! Plain and simple they are supposed to be the Best of the Best, the Elite not the 'I need attention so I'm going to blab about what we did' they are supposed to be the "Silent Fighters" instead due to this incident and the bunch of Seals that were in that movie about the Seals they should all be ashamed of themselves and at least voluntarily leave the service, if not they should be court marshaled for dereliction of duty and booted out of the service. In this day and age and economic times there out there playing around wasting our tax dollars bologna!
If a SEAL is 'dirty' like someone said that equates that person to a dirty cop. Not worth much.
And once you know this?
http://pulverizedtonearpower.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/pulverized-to-near-power/
What does your conscience tell you then?
Osama bin Ladin is dead. All that matters.
I haven't read the book, yet the real fact remains – Obama got Bin Laden! Idiot Bush and his sidekick Cheney didn't! Why is it that Obama suceeded while Bush/Cheney had all the same information Obama used to get Bin Laden?
Obama won a Nobel Prize simply for "not being Bush"! Here is one good reason he deserved this award!
To StanCal. Your logic is simply out of touch. If obama had the information why did he wanit over two years to get rid of him. Because HE DIDN'T KNOW. duffus. Believeme, i felt a lot safer with Bush and Dick than i do now. Some people are just so blindly pro democratic that God himself wouldn't satisfy their requirements, oh, sorry, you guys don't like us to use GOD, do you.
@Stan – really? Obama was on the ground with a gun? Really? Don't you realize that it took all of the INTEL gathered during the GWB administration to actually FIND bin Laden? Are you that partisan and clueless?
Some people are just so blindly pro REPUBLICAN that God himself wouldn't satisfy their requirements,
Harlon Katz
@Stan – really? Obama was on the ground with a gun? Really? Don't you realize that it took all of the INTEL gathered during the GWB administration to actually FIND bin Laden?
Two year old intel is worth crap.
Since that website has absolutely nothing to do with this article, it doesn't say anything to me or my conscience.
who did more talking than the members of the administratin. Look, obama said ok to the action, but what president wouldn't. The seals, who have been training for this moment for years, did it. Period. I don't blame them for writing the book. Leaks were pouring out of the administration as if they did the deed. Good for the seals. i hope the books is a best seller.
Romney wouldn't have. He'd still have his accountants trying to figure out if he could make a buck off the deal.
Bush didn't! He even declared getting Bin Laden was no longer a top priority. What would be your honest reaction, in the dark with no one around, if this mission had failed. Remember most of Obama's advisors were against it!
I agree that the information should not be told. But likewise the government officials (all the way to the top) should not share information much less when it is not accurate. Information has been shared with the public in regards to the dignity in treating the corpse which was untruthful. Same with the threat that Osama was at the time which this story claims is not the case.
They don't, they shouldn't, Ever. Some things need to remain sacred in this facebooked, twitterified, reddited, reality TV world of ours.
It is possible that SEALS and others would feel more bound by "honor, ethics and cultural values," if the government and military told the American people the truth rather thn making up stories to suit their agenda...
This senior SEAL said he and his peers grew up in a generation where "we don't talk about what we do," and he feels it should be kept that way.
Agreed!
I disagree. The public, you know, the ones who pay the salaries DESERVE the truth. Wars have been started by lies and you back this type of deceit?
It has nothing to do with lies. It has to do with the classification of the missions. The public does not have the need to know for some government missions – this doesn't mean there is a big conspiracy to dupe the public – it generally means there is a layer of secrecy to protect lives, methods, tactics, etc. Kind of like a companies "confidential and proprietary" markings and discussions. You just don't talk about them. As a cleared person, you are not "lying by omission," you simply have signed an agreement with the US Government to not speak of, or write about things that are classified. Simple as that. That said, there is public knowledge that even the government has seen massive amounts of over-classification, something that is likely trying to be fixed through all arms and branches of the government.
Therefore, if over-classification of things is your argument, that can be understood – but if you're saying the government is outright lying to the public, or being deceitful by not disclosing classified information, I highly disagree with you.
I am one of those who pays these brave men and women to do their jobs, and I have no need or desire to know what they do or how they do it. Bissonnette is a coward and a traitor who risked the lives of his team members and the integrity of all SEALS so he could "set the record straight." Yet, as we already know, he flat out lied about significant parts of the raid.
If Bissonnette was going to lie to tell HIS story, then why tell it at all? That did not serve the public's "right to know." This was a hack job by a hack who is a racist and could not stand for our current President and Commander-in-Chief to get part of the credit when it was his decision alone to do the raid.
Bush started these wars, Obama is ending them. Did you ask these same questions of GW Bush when he sent us into Iraq, which had nothing to do with 9/11? That sound deceitful to me!
As a member of the public, all I want to know is that the military is there to protect my country in case of attack. The details I leave up to the experts.
Did you back the lies and deceits of Bush & his WMD nonsence? If so, tell me the difference. Obama got us out of one war and is ending the other! Why do we need to know the intimate details about a raid on a compound just because it took out OBL? I know all I need to know, the mastermind of 9/11 is now fishfood!
How much should commandos talk about what they do?
Probably not as much as Obama says.
The military in general should be like fight club. The first rule is......you do NOT talk about it!
Civilians may be curious about what goes on and think they have a right but they do NOT. They get to decide when, where, and how we go – and they also have a say in the rules in which the game is played. However, the particulars are not a damn bit of thier business nor should they ever be. That's OUR business. You want to know, go see the recruiter.
Agreed.
I am not he biggest obama supporter, in fact I can't stand the guy. However, we in the military do NOT have the right to free speech. If a soldier is getting deployed we are not supposed to talk about it. They do tho.
Arrest him for treason.
What he did is treason in a dictatorship. Its called history in a free country.
No, what Bissonnette did is treason in a free country as much so as in a dictatorship, which is basically what we were under the previous administration. Bissonnette took an oath, and then he violated that oath because he is a racist coward and traitor.
Loose lips sink ships. Especially when her name is Diamond.
we are assuming that he is" setting the record straight". that's what he says. how do we know that his version of what happen is the truth.? he has shown that respect, ethics, and honor are meaningless in a world of "15 minutes of fame" and $s.
We Don't..................
Wait....After 50 long years we will know......l
What did he say that can come close to what Obama did to expose these men..
Obama we want an investigation on who set up the murder of the SEALS on the ancient Chinook hellicopter.
It was probably you trying to appease your Muslim dog friends.
Careful who you call Muslim. A Muslim would love to see you beheaded.
dude your an idiot
Your brain is fried.
I don't know how anyone expects the people who are putting their lives on the light to remain tight lipped about what they are doing when all the politicians who are in charge of them can't be expected to maintain the same level of integrity. We see classified information leaking into the news media every single day.
So "Everybody does it" maked it right? Poor us.
you keep your mouth shut PERIOD.
Quiet you Big mouth Muslim butt kisser
I just finish reading "No Easy Day"...gripping to say the least, and shocking when you remember its all real. I understand Rear Adm. Sean Pybus's directive, to not advertise the SEALs work, but I do not agree with it. This country needs to know (and remember) just how much some are sacrificing for this country, and understanding the intensity of the missions is part of the appreciation.
Touche"
This jerk just doesn't get what service is all about. He wasn't drafted or became a 'dirty' SEAL by force. He volunteered. Now this piece of junk is claiming to the the where with all of what happened. He didn't write this book. He took the cowards way and use a pen name.
And I served 28 years protecting the future of this piece of dirt.
It seems you wasted our tax dollars.
Obama exposed these men in order to muster more votes and it didn't work.
Obama was going to get credit either way. The fact of the natter is that he gave tremendous amounts of credit and praise to everyone involved, Now if you remember that thing Bush did with his "Mission Accomplished'" Bad enough the mission wasn't even accomplished; but for him it was a photo-op. and he sure wasn't sharing a lot of credit.
friedwater, you are one sick puke. You should serve your country, and you could do it best by self extraction.
Hope that money overcomes the disgrace to your code.
If our tax dollars pay their salary, there is a certain amount of disclosure that is required. The rest of that should be disclosed in a certain amount of years. At least, it has been done this way in the past. Thing is, if you followed your orders to a tee and did everything in a way that was understandable to the public, what is there to hide? Should the people of this country not be made aware of what we are paying for WHEN it happens and not 15 years or so down the road? Is the delay part of the problem? Is what is being put in this book 100% truth? Will the government respond in a way to prove to the people one way or another? Is the delay again part of the problem then? Is it simply than their hand is being forced? I don't have the answers to this question, but rather that I like to play devils advocate. But not "like" in the sense of "enjoy" because at the end of the day, I want the answers to these questions as much as anyone else.
Unfortunately the American public is not the only ones with access to these books. Saddam famously admitted he was watching CNN for updates on the American build up in Saudi Arabia prior to the first Gulf War. Secrecy about current operating procedures is not about keeping secrets from the American public but about protecting vital secrets to protect our troops and prevent the enemy from learning about our combat tactics.
I know a few Seals and they do not say a word about what they do and that is the way it shoudl be. Why are you jeopardizing your team and our military operations. I do not need to know what they do and how it is done. The more you talk, the more danger you create.
Yeah same here. I have know some spec ops types during my time in the service. They kept their head down and mouth shut. They did their job. They did not put their coworkers and family at risk by talking about what they did on missions.
John, thank you for your service. I agree he should have kept his mouth shut!
I spent 27 years in the military – 14 in the SOF. And, there is one thing that you shouldn't have to depend on signing a NDA to know. That is that you NEVER talk about anything you were involved in – EVER. The reason is that your former comrades are still out there doing their jobs and you don't know where they are or what they're doing. The enemy is not stupid. They piece together some information that you thought was unimportant or unclassified along with others pieces that other people thought were unimportant or unclassified and develop a picture of a classified operation or capability. And, that gets people killed.
Great points sir. Not to mention putting families at risk here at home.
Well why weren't you out protesting to Obama for exposing them??
The leak started at the top.
You're showing your lack of knowledge of the SOF community. The President did not "leak" anything. The fact that Team Six exists has been public knowledge for many years and that was all the President said. How they do what they do is a whole different story, and he didn't say a word about that. You people that have nothing to do but engage in Obama bashing better just get over it. Yes, he's the President. Yes, he's Black. And Yes, he's going to be re-elected.
Rick1948
Yes it is true that the existence of SEAL Team 6 is not a secret; but the POTUS did not have to expose them as the specific team that took out UBL. Exposing them to that puts a target square on their backs from any radical Islamic extremist that wishes to avenge UBL.
Your brain is leaking from the top.
Yea!!! no kidding i agree with you 110%
hmm, if you are not supposed to talk about what you are involved in then why do we all know now that you spent 14 years in SOF. Why are you talking about it? to prove your words have weight? I am a military retiree; but you will never see a post about what branch of service or mos that I held.
the republican party will kill us,they do not need to be in power.
So sick and tired of "National Security"! Get private funding for your secret operations! If I take a loan out from a bank, or even a private individual, I have to disclose what I am doing with the money. Go ask Warren Buffet for 100 million to conduct your "secret" operations! If you are using MY money, I want to know what is being done with it!! Period!!!!!
Then go put YOUR life on the line to conduct these missions and have YOUR family put in the crosshairs after it is released what you did.
Well said my man, very well said my man. This is an ordeal and there is CONSEQUENCES to all judas dealings, who really wants to go around "pushing the pentagon" they have a way of flexing their muscles...IT'Z WHAT THEY CAN AND WILL DO" they already starting by exposing his name BISSONNETTE, can't hide behind the fake name mask. Welcome mr.bissonnette to becoming the newest george zimmermen in ways worse because of who you pushing when you should have been paying attention looking....Remember the word OATH...IT's Imperitive in the Military! Nevertheless like I would desire for myself and my own family May God grant you His Mercy!
What a naive comment. So, special tactics should be disclosed so the enemy can better anticipate future attacks? So technical information on new technologies like stealth helicopters, or the latest joint strike fighter should be in the public domain so other countries can figure out how to stop it, and replicate to be used against us? Come on, some things the gov HAS to keep quiet for the safety of this country and more importantly the people who are out there doing a job you wouldn't want to do. the SEAL movies with active duty members, the book, the propaganda partisan political groups are all an abomonation of what they are supposed to stand for.
Regarding the SEALS movies that is what their top official head allows and CONTROLS it is total protocol but to actually be in a (top secret mission) and run out and write a cheap tell all book like anybody care how bin laden was struck out was foolishness in the first degree. In the Military the rule of Law is Order and following Orders! And forbidden is such to go behind Authorities back and commit "disgraceful acts" ...ThanXGOD for the decent people in this nation that understand what WRONG IS!
well they can tell ya but afterwards they have to KILL YA!!! still wanna know?
So I guess we should post what is going to happen on National TV so we can all debate it?
This country excels at identifying our "secret" players in games – this guy has been identified, we know where he lives – Cheney ousted his own CIA teams....true patriots we are....to the dollar.
Yeah and how very extremely difficult identifying him must have been (out of the six)...yay though I say even as I have chosen twelve yet one of you is a devil...with the consequences drastic and not rolling in the blood money fantastic. What really is a shame also is that these people are so selfish crazed they don't even bother to think of their own families welfare! Julian Assuage comes to mind. The military are the most self-less individuals in and occupation on the planet with God's Missionaries...they work endlessly in the blazing heat in much HEAVY gear, year after year, the freezing cold temperature, excruciating training exercises like those of elite forces Seals and we owe them more respect than this traitor and I for one won't even touch a book as this lest known read it like all the other eaten up with envy against a decent President that takes his job serious doing what it takes with the real workers of democracy, will I as well regard this new edition to the trash bin as well to be burned in the sulfur if some changes is not made to a heart transplant CHANGE!!!
A very very sorry state of Affairs for the United states. So if the raid had gone badly wrong would this seal have taken credit!? This chap has single handledly shattered the myth of Seal ethos! For a few dollars more he has sold out his comrades in arms operating in non caucasian countries, because his commander in chief is taking credit; Wow petty!!
Ive just finished the book and let me tell you it sounds like a good Tom Clancy novel. As Americans we funded this raid, this witch hunt for UBL for the past 10+ years, we have the right to know the basics of the raid and how it went down. The little bit of information that was provided in the book is warranted to the people, being this war/hunt for UBL has nearly crippled this nation. Good book, highly reccommend.
I haven't read the book, yet the real fact remains – Obama got Bin Laden! Idiot Bush and his sidekick Cheney didn't! Why is it that Obama suceeded while Bush/Cheney had all the same information Obama used to get Bin Laden?
Obama won a Nobel Prize simply for "not being Bush"! Here is one good reason he deserved this award!
Actually his commander in chief gave full credit to the seal team several times. This book should not have been written. He shattered the code of silence and it will forever be broken. He is a traitor.
Wow I don't remember Our President taking credit what I do remember is there was $25million on bin laden head in the Bush administration and I also remember Presidential candidate BARACK in the intense debates say that he was going to find bin laden and he was going to kill him! Part of the presidency is some shrewd and strategic manuvering in the eliminating of a terriost enemy guilty of war crimes. I remember Our President being very graceful in commending The Seals for a dangerous job courageously done
The press is the one pushing this issue, not the individual. Many COLs, and Generals have written memoirs about their activities and nobody complained about it, then one dude writes a book about a single raid in which the worst that happen was an helicopter that was lost and everyone is up on arms about it. Give it a rest...
People that weren't special forces just don't get it. You don't talk about what you did. The guy at the bar/cookout/sporting event that is bragging about being a SEAL, Green Beret, or being in Special Forces is lying 99% of the time. Its part of who we are to not talk about it. When people ask you deflect even.
To bad Obama didn't know the rules when he exposed all of them.
Thank you!
What conditions changed to make these SOF people feel upset enough to talk about operations?
It is a security breach no matter what the pros&cons are bottem line. This age of knowing everything with a click of a button has to have limits and this issue is one of them. Death before dishonor is simply that. Its sad that honor has a price tag in this younger generation. It is way to soon to be sharing a personal account of this mission.
running your mouth about military operations is completely unacceptable. the military isn't a democracy, it's imperative you follow orders, and if military personnel just followed the orders they thought were moral, we'd have a lot more young servicepeople killed than already are. it's one thing to be transparent, but it's entirely another when operational procedures are aired for all terrorists to see. bisonette's book is only fodder for the mindless reality tv crowd, and most certainly he should be court-martialed and jailed.
Like following orders takeing out terrorist in a school full of kids by useing a bomb or missle that blows them all up? And dont use that casualities of war bull crap I here from some people. I guess next time someones holding hostages in a house here in the U.S. the police should use a live grenade instead of a stun grenade right or just kill everyone inside and be done with it huh? Killing innocent men, women or children according to what I know period, example 9 11 2001 or anywhere else in the globe no matter where it is. Is still considered murder!
Sadly, cowards like the Taliban and Al Queda find it necessary to hide among women and children using them as shields against retaliation. Occasionally, that gets some "innocent" women and children killed. It cannot be helped. Colateral damage is a fact of war, but we cannot allow terrorists (or is that "terrists"?) to go unpunished just because they choose to hide behind skirts and diapers.
If the people of Germany had not given power to Hitler, then they would not have been bombed into oblivion by Allied forces in the 1940's. "Innocent" people chose the leader that got them killed, maimed and their homes destroyed.
It bothers me that the author Mark Owen used his book to take a cheap shot at the President by generalizing that "all" the members of the team that got Bin Laden did not like Obama. Really? How does Owen know what "all" the Seals think politically? The President risked his entire political future on that operation that several key members of his administration advised against. It seems petty how Fox News and Republicans now begrudge him this huge accomplishment, and even more petty that a person who followed his orders to get Bin Laden would not respect him for his courage to put the plan into action.
They are upset that Obama got him after Bush gave up.
And here's the hypocrisy of it all... "in one case, top Pentagon and CIA officials offered their support for the upcoming "Zero Dark Thirty," a movie that Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow is making about the bin Laden raid."
My Father was an 18 year old poorly trained Marine from rural NC when he participated in the second wave of landings at Guadalcanal. He did not know what to expect. He lived there for months not really knowing if the Navy would even come and pick them up. He lived after the rations ran out on rancid food and bugs with his fellow Marines. Later the family lived in Camp Lejeune in the late 1950's for 5 years and drank the tainted water. My Father died young from esophageal cancer. When he was diagnosed, he refused future treatment so as not to waste the government's money on additional treatment, other than the insertion of a stomach tube, knowing what the final outcome of his disease would be. The doctor's prognosis was 6 months and he lived two years. He weighed less than 80 pounds when he died. My Father was not given millions of dollars of training and rock star status. Yet the man never complained... didn't show up on any 22 minute movies with an overpowering political agenda. He didn't write a tell all book. Who are the real heroes?
Your father
that is the sum of what you have to add, excuse me mr. spelling champ. Sort of think you missed the message.
I am not a veteran, but have been lucky enough to have known a lot of WW2 veterans, men who fought at Anzio and the Battle of the Bulge. They never spoke of their suffering or their bravery. I was only told of their service by other men. You are so right. God bless your father. Real heroes are silent.
Kudos to your father and may he rest in peace...true hero!!
there is no such thing as poorly trained Marine; much respect to your father and his fellow Marines – they were a rare and unique generation that should never be forgotten. Semper Fi.
Bless you Sally.
Your father and the brave men he served with are the heroes.
So if the raid had gone wrong would this seal have taken credit!? He has single handedly shattered the Seal myth, what a shame.. Also incredibly stupid as these men have to operate in technically non caucasian areas of the world, it bring up all kinds of issues that we're a professionals just won't cover. Respect the chain of command especially the highest office, if you cannot do this either leave and voice your opinion A very very sorry state of Affairs for the United states. Serving men cannot maintain discipline
What if.... what if.... what if..... this seal is a traitor.
It blows my mind by how brain washed some are on this post. For centuries books have been written on real world, war accounts. We fund this ops, I give kudos to the service men that retire and have the skill to write a good book on this history. We are given a firsthand account on the trials and tribulations. There is no treachery here; you are a fool for thinking so.
BloodNThunder, just exactly how do you know that what Bissonnette wrote is a true account of that raid? You do NOT know that. What we do know is that Bissonnette lied about some of the material facts, including the timeline, of the actual raid. Since Bissonnette was operating a digital camera to record the raid activities one would think that he could have consulted his watch, or even the digital clock on the camera, to accurately portray the time sequence.
Bissonnette is a racist coward and traitor – nothing more. He sold out his team and his country for his own personal fame and fortune. And, if his book really was all about "telling the truth", then why did it start with a lie about who he really is?
Honor, duty, code, loyalty, respect and trust. Worthy aspirations and it clearly means something to men like Admiral McRaven. The navy seal who wrote this book is a hack, a loser and an ingrate. He was provided a rare opportunity to join an elite group and he now whines and moans like a girly man. He is no hero, he is a man with no sense of honor or loyalty, two traits that we value in all men. He has likely tarnished the brand of the Navy Seals for a generation with his selfish and self-serving ambitions. When I think of men like Bissonette, I think others would have been grateful to serve out of a sense of patriotism and contribution. Now these men are basically saying that they are no better than the average american who would like to cash in and translate their career into a reality tv show because their lives are so bankrupt. What a hollow accomplishment for this soldier. Obama showed confidence, loyalty, trust and respect to these men. Now we find that they have denigrated the office of the President for cheap political gains and a couple of bucks. If there are any Navy Seals left with any sense of honor, you would voice your dissent with this man and let it be known that he is a disgrace to all who serve with honor. Nobody will think of the Navy Seals the same way because of this inferior excuse of a man! I know I won't, the Navy Seal brand to me now translates into bunch of mercenaries who will sell out when given the opportunity, just like any other work for hire! Great job Bissonette, make sure to buy a round for your partners when you get that 1st advance from the publishing company. You can all toast to the misery you have generated by denigrating the office of the President and the man who made it possible for you to bask in your 15minutes of fame. Schmucks!
Well said!!
totally agree with you, well said
Have you ever thought about writing for a political campaign? well said well put so true and right
Of all the Special Ops, the SEALS have always been the most open mouthed about every thing they do that can make them look good. One never hears about their day to day short comings. Always quick to boast that they are the best, the toughest, bla bla bla. The quiet professionals of the rest of Special Ops just keeps on doing what they do and know who and what they are. The never ending need for public admiration is one characteristic that the SEALS have not used as a selection process red flag. Most of the SEALS are quite good. It takes just the few to make them not part of the silent professionals. I feel sad for the SEALS that do their job and have to put up with the glory seekers.
I am very sure the American public can handle learning about any operations. I dont see the problem, Many people who lead extraordinary lives write memoirs or biographies. What happen to transparency? When anything is done by Americas for Americans we the public have a fundamental right to know exactly how our government is acting and what they are doing on our behalf. I exhausted at finding out information that makes someone look bad or how someone got away with something.Because they are rich or they have a power position. Stop hiding things from the people who pay for all that happens on our behalf.We are not children and if we tax payers are footing the bill then I want to know how my money is being spent and if we dont agree with decisions we have the info to vote differently. How can we elect people without all the info.
Giving classified info to the enemy..
Thats a crock you fc**ing moron. Read the book, tell me what the enemy gains from it,
all you "TAX PAYERS" stating that you have the right to know about what goes on during special operations are absolutley insane because first of all you complain about not knowing what took place then if you did find out you would complain about what transpired. Face it its none of your business what your money is used for when it comes to special operation and for that matter the military either if you want to know so bad get up from the computer and join the military or special operations and then you can find out on your own as far as the seal and the obama aministration opening their mouths about the raid it is an absolute shame first of all for all you obama lovers i cannot believe that you dont find it rediculous that obama made it a point to make it known that his administration was the one that got him i mean seriously what does that operation have to do with his administration nothing other than the fact that he was the one who authorized the raid the cia and seals were the ones who did the work not the wonderful obama or his political croneys
You do know what a period is used for, don't you?
Obviously, you are an idiot!
i think seals didnt do it at all they must have made plan with some corrupt pakistani politician to do the drama of osama raid, the black president is getting on our nerves. he lied to us now again not telling the truth. our soldiers are dying like flies in afghanistan and politicians are only working to fill their own pockets.
Im in agreement, with most of what you say. Im totally feed up with underhanded Obama making laws to get Latin votes. And not working for America but setting himself up for big money after he loses the election.
And, I am totally fed up with illiterates making false and absurd statemetns about the President "making laws" when, if they had bothered to study civics and government, they would have known that it is Congress that makes ALL federal laws, not Presidents. Your lack of education is apparent.
Get out your hanky,
you got four more years coming, loser.
This incident goes to show that SOLDIERS should be accountable for their actions. Before you know SOLDIERS will be talking to their spouses, family, and then friends BEFORE the next mission compromising the COUNTRY'S freedom.....
We Recons (USMC Special Forces) are so unspoken of what we do no one ever realizes who we are...that's because we do not talk ...ever! like some of these traitors did. I have spoken with my brother commandos and most are very upset at what these few did to smear their reputation. USMC Recon Swift, Slilent, Deadly.
Got that right It makes me laugh when everyone talkes about the SEALS as the badest or our Special Operators. Info leaks dont happen often out of Recon units. That would be a mission failure and RECON does not fail. LOL
thats because all recon does is recon you would fall asleep if you read a book on modern day recon operations
i congratulate you on your serice–i also-in 1968-became a close friend of a fellow marine-sgt-who served with 1st force recon-force-not battalion–he disclosed to me infor-such as operation buffalo-google it–so-my point–as to "never" talking about ops-or military encounters-with a special force unit–there is no "never"–he retired in 22 years-a sgt major-we still maintain contact–the whole situation-and he concurs-not my opinion-that what truly needs to be addressed is simple–the political establishment of this country-they disseminated the info–his concern is the loss of over 20 lives-of navy seals-directly-or indirectly-compromising the mission–the commander-in-chief–is just that–he is also open to a "request mast"–if leaders do not lead-who will follow?–your viewpoint-i agree with-to a point–it's still about leadership–if there is none at the top–there will be none at the bottom–as a marine–i have no problem leting any other marine-who has combat background especially-relating his or my experiences–if it's covert-you should be with the cia–if not–as to the smearing of reputations–and i only speak for myself-as you did-as a marine–my reputation can not be smeared–that would be a psychological defeat–my drill instructor taught me otherwise-combat reinforced it..semper fi..
Your full of sh** too, because here you are boasting about what you do to the world. Pat yourself on the back again for being full of sh**.
Go finish watching G.I. Jane jake your clueless. The mission of Marine Corps Recon and that of the Seals isn't all that different but your civilian a$$ must not have learned that from movies but yeah one of the Seals many missions is RECON!!!!!!!!
Seriously B&T? Are you one of those on line gamers and Tom Clancy readers who becomes an expert warrior by proxy? Swift Silent &Deadly is a code of honor that every FR Marine lives by. Key word word is silent you poor excuse of a civilian. Unfortunately, it is people like you who we will continue fighting for to protect your freedoms to act like a complete, uninformed citizen. Your lack of understanding for the resolve of our nations enemies, both foreign and domestic is disheartening to say the least, but expected. Regardless of what you say, or do, now and in the future, I say to you Semper Fi and I hope that you eventually learn to respect yourself enough to respect others.
Just another indication of a generation that was brought up with constant stroking.
So much for "the quiet professional"
You gotta wonder though, on the mission was Bissonnette 100% focused or in the back of his mind was he working out the opening paragraph to chapter 3?
Are you kidding..... SEAL Missions in the past have been told. Read Richard Marcinko's books sometime.
I thought better of the SEALS. This was about greed... not creed, something the SEALS stand for.
Worse than greed... this is about vanity. So vapid.
Only the politicians should be able to exploit our military for personal profit and gain.
I served and retired from the US Navy for over 26 years of service. The fact is whether Service Members like him or not, President Obama is still the Commander-In-Chief. It also doesn't matter that he did not serve a single day in the Armed Forces, but was elected by the votes of the citizens of the United States, which is the same people that ALL Service Members serve. There were many missions that I was sent on or assigned. I may not have agreed with them, but it was still my obligation, duty and responsibility to do my job. I took an Oath to uphold the Consitution, Operationsal Security and the Security of this Nation. I was not allowed to use my position or the uniform to express my polical views. But it is sad that the raid is being used as a polical tool. There are bigger problems in our country to deal with than this. I see it as a smoke screen and the economy and future of the United States has more value than this.
Oh, you had us until the last sentence.
Well spoken and thank you for your service!
Well said, Michael.
Well said!!!
Thank you for your service sir. I completly agree up to your last sentence. They spent a lot of time preparing for the mission and when the time was right they hit him.
Military operations have always been used as political tools, this is nothing new. The only difference is that when a Republican is in office, they take credit for successful operations and call anyone who disagrees with them a traitor for not supporting the president. When a Democrat takes credit, they're treated like traitors for doing it to begin with.
Remember President Bush with the mission accomplished sign? Remember ever other president who was in office when anything considered remotely successful happened with the military? They took credit for their leadership. There's nothing wrong with that. The only problem is their fake outrage over the Democrats (and President Obama) doing exactly what they do.
nawaznawa341@gmail.com
Well said
I find it curious that Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund claims to be so upset over the Obama administration leaking information about the Bin Laden raid but dont have anything to say about an operative putting out a book about the raid.
Hmmm... that is curious isn't it?
Partisan hacks are hypocrites who never acknowledge doing the very same thing that they accuse others of doing. These men slandering and libeling their Commander-in-Chief are merely racist, traitorous cowards, and some of them hide behind false names.
At first, I was really miffed that Faux "News" would reveal the name of this SEAL, but in retrospect I find myself in the ackward position of having to defend them. Perhaps they knew that he is a racist coward and traitor who was hiding behind a false name and decided to "out" him as punishment for what he did. More than likely, they just did it without thinking in the hope of gaining some stature, or something.
They take their cue from Obama's administration which leaks like a sieve!
back in your hole, trollololololololol
You're right. Better to have an administration that has a vice president "out" a working American spy who is behind enemy lines, right?
Get a clue, pal.
There is a huge difference between some fictional movie with real SEALS vs. Some guy writing a book about the most important covert ops mission is decades! I don't care which information got leaked, since it was just that...a leak! Remember the leaking of information of Valerie Plume info! Now THAT was a riddiculious leak, but I didn't see anyone forming a PAC to fight against the Administration. These clowns in swift boat part 2, and this freaking clown who wrote the book are just that...clowns! Someone mentioned about the military's threat to the civillian rule...I highly doubt it, but don't count it out completely. You have rouge guys like these in uniform right now, and monkey see monkey do is all I'm saying.
The latest Swift Boat chapter is in the process of blowing up in these demolation experts faces.
Well said. This is unfortunately an example of the old Republican ploy to swift boat a candidate. The party of the rich, the party of lies, the party of no...apparently they got to one of the SEALS and got him to participate in some yellow journalism in an attempt to devalue Obama's administration.
Amazing. Who votes for these clowns. They send our troops into danger for war built upon lies, do not allow them to get the job done in Afghanistan, ruin the economy so their buddies on Wall Street can profit, and then veto every idea the democrat in power has to right the ship.
And then they have the nerve to say the guy has done nothing.
Be a straight shooter. Is it just their racism or their radical views to keep the ultra rich, well, ultra rich?
Probably both.
The republicans are the party of traitors and liars.
The Republican's are the liars? They all are! All politicians lie, Barrack said he would only do 1 term if he didn't balance the budget, and here he is running again. Both sides have their own agendas, and both parties with lie and deceive to achieve them. If you don't believe it, then you are not smart enough to vote.
Obama wants to control everything they say. He in fact wants to manipulate what they say for his own political benefit just like taking credit for approving the attack on OBL. I thought the SEALS were being generous by even telling him they did it.
Really? You have a pretty distorted view of how the military works.
Well, Obama has been getting rid of a lot of dedicated warriors and replacing them with "nice guys" that are politically correct. Behind the snappy salutes and sharp uniforms are some less than happy men in our military. Fort Hood is an example of political correctness gone terribly wrong.
Larry,
The President does not have the power to 'replace' certain active duty personnel. I'm not sure where you are getting that from.
Ugh... You're foolishness is unbelievable. Conservatives will take any opportunity to attack Obama. Your leaders have set a terrible precedent. You don't even comprehend the issue – you just respond with spite.
THINK for goodness sake. How can you support the military and endorse this kind of behavior from this one rogue seal? He's endangering his brothers. He's violating his contract with the military.
Bill Clinton had it right last night. Let's paraphrase:
The republicans are the party of liars and racists. They are the party of billionaires.
Shame that they manipulated a SEAL for such trash.
You haven't the slightest idea of how the military works..."open your mouth and relieve all doubt." You just did that! Not sure if you learned this in the 5th grade, but the President is the Commander-In-Chief. He is the highest ranking military official, though not uniformed. He gives approval of military actions. If the military didn't have to answer to anyone, (i.e.- Congress) then we would've taken over the world by now!
I know blaming Obama for everything is in style on the right these days. However, I believe the rules in this case have been around a long time before Obama was elected our President. There are good reasons for these rules and they should be followed. On the other hand I think beating this Seal down is wrong. He served our country with honor and obviously he put himself in danger to protect us. He deserves the benifit of the doubt.
I don't know that military service is a blank check for the right to criminal behavior. Are you suggesting that the Marines who were convicted of raping a girl in Okinawa should have been allowed to go free because they deserved a piece of *ss for their service? I don't care who they killed, why they killed him, or whether my life is on the line, these soldiers obey the same laws, and a few more they volunteered to live under, or their so-called 'honor' is worthless.
Obviously you're not a vet. Your statements expose the fact that you have no clue about the military and how it operates. I served during the last part of the Carter admin and during Reagan's first term and to this day have never discussed anything pertaining to my service in Central America, and never will. I never voted for Reagan and don't approve of how Repub admins handle foreign policy or military operations, soldiers are soldiers, not politicians or policy makers. Do your job and keep your mouth shut.
Please accept my sincere thanks for your service.
Another nut case.
They SHOULDN'T talk about what they do. That is why they sign a non disclosure agreement.
I disagree. The American Citizen as the Owner of this Country has a right to know what their Government is up to, and doing. That story can be told without harming this Country, or the Military. Trying to Shut Up American's, is UN AMERICAN!
Tell that to obama and his czars.
It's the Pentagon, and the Navy SEALS who have problems with this book. Didn't you read the article?
Flatsguide
Tell that to obama and his czars.
Did you know that Reagan had Czars ?
Guess its ok if its a Republican, right ?
Like I said before, the only true secret here is, was that the true Ussam bin Laden who was killed on May 2 of last year or was that an impostor? In either case, there is no glory in killing anyone no matter how politically popular it may be!!!
I absolutely do NOT approve of our Navy Seals getting their pictures taken. They risk their families and themselves by doing so.
I have never seen anything quite so stupid for at least a month. And it violates their ethos. What a mess.
Post hoc descriptions of actions taken by special forces does not necessarily reveal confidential (need to know) or secret data. Details of the advanced intelligence, the source of intelligence, specialized equipment and/or weapons used are not described in the book. The Navy Seal has not broken any code of ethics and the Pentagon knows this. Great details of the Normandy invasion were released after the invasion; the secrecy prior to the invasion was not necessarily compromised by that release. To link this book to the demise of democracy is ludicrous. A democracy is a government by the people, for the people. An intelligent electorate armed with information makes a stronger government, NOT a weak one. General Westmoreland would have loved to keep his exagerrated statistics on North Vietnam and our "wining" capacity and strategy a secret back in 1968 – more men died because of his lies and secrets to Congress and it was the free press access that revealed how badly we were doing over there and eventually led to us getting out of that bad situation. Believe it or not, honesty is still the best policy for human behavior and governments.
You can't be serious.
Loose lips sink ships.
+1
With such military disdain for our elected officials, I wonder how close we are to a coup d'etat and the end of democracy in the US? Maybe some of you historians can provide the numbers. How many times has a countries military defied the leader of a country and subsequently overthrew the government? If the SEALS decide to take out the top, could they be stopped? The president has removed one rogue general already. Maybe more needs to be done.
There was already a coup d'etat in December of 2000. Remember?
Yes. Al Gore won the election but somehow, a puppet who hid in the Texas Air National Guard, a vice president with 5 military deferments, and a cabinet full of such individuals who ran from conflict but were adept at starting wars for illusionary reasons, were catapulted into power. Even General Powell wonders how he got caught up with these cowards.
Would we have been better off with Gore in charge.
One thousand percent better.
With such military disdain for our elected officials, I wonder how close we are to a coup d'etat
You mean Republican disdain ?
A military take over of the man officialy elected by the people
would be a civil war to end all wars.
It would be treason, and the end of the Republican party.
When you talk about secrecy – you lose it.
I know a SEAL who is retired many years, now. It always perplexed me why he never, ever mentioned what he did.
After a while, it spoke louder than the toughest braggart. I admire that guy; seems like a different kind of quality in
a human being that I never experienced.
He didn't talk because he had sworn under penalty of law not to by signing a non disclosure agreement with his employer.
Your frien d is a true hero. Thank him for his service for me.
This is the reason why the once admired USA has become the laughing stock in industrialized nations.
Every country in the world calls out to the USA for help when they are in trouble. I think caling us the laughing stock is laughable. I don't know where you come from, but I bet your country has done the same.
We can debate all we want. All I know is when advocates of terrorism against this country are cheering you on, you know deep inside you're considering falling on that sword. I don't agree with government either, especially the way they handled agent orange compensation to our men and women in uniform but to compromise future missions and lives for a check and your political party will do mental tap dance on your concience in the future. Count on it.
I guess no one remembers Audie Murphy.
Anyway there's always been showboaters in the services and there always will be. They used to mostly be general staff in the old days. I suppose all these SF guys might call into question for some the nature and motive of those who join the armed forces these days, since there is no draft but that would make a good senior thesis.
Besides the simple rifleman who no one remembers will always exist also but who would watch a movie about him?
Audie Murphy wrote his book after he'd been used for fund raising and promotion by the US military. He was uncomfortable with appearing publicly and even with appearing as himself in the movie.
He wasn't doing it for personal gain or in an attempt to score political points.
No easy day is no different than any other Seals publication out there. Even the founder of Seal Team Six wrote a book describing the formation of that unit and other units that he created. He went into some detail about procedures and operation. Or Dick Couch wrote books about Seals going through training.
I think the big reason why the Pentagon was upset about no easy day is because they were blind sided by the publication of the book.
Rush Limbaugh is extremely disrespectful and undermining to our current President—even seditious. It is inappropriate that his radio program is broadcast to our military service people. Sadly, some military people are unwittingly deceived by his deliberate attempts at fostering discontent and lack of good will towards the President.
Apparently, nobody in Government City gets it on this.
Does Amerika's basic foreign policy consist of murdering thousands of people in foreign countries every year?
The voters in a democracy need to know of this activity so they can judge whether this fits their idea of how a supposedly "free" country relates to the rest of the world. A long list of murders is not justice.
No, our foreign policy is much worse then that. I, for one, didn't need this guy to write a book it, however, I did immediately buy the book because I was afraid this tyrannical government we live under now might squash it. And, if there are people who don't know about the realities of our foreign policy I suggest they educate themselves post hast. Hell, I learned of the USAs foreign policies 20 years ago in college, and I'm sure it is so much worse then what they freely taught us in college. I imagine these days it may not be taught anymore considering the climate of this country.
You surely do seem to "imagine" quite a lot when getting the facts before forming an opinion would be so very easy.
NEOCONS "PNAC" would be a good place to start.
(Plan for a new American century).
I am sure it has been updated since it was released.
Another good one is "The grand chessboard"
By Brazinski.
You want to know why things are happening around the world today ?
Take a look at both of these publications.
Everything you need to know about world domination.
They don't seek a lot of recognition because a lot of their actions are murders of people.
Navy SEALs "murder" terrorist "people" that try to harm our country. I think they are heroes. If you want to talk about murder, let's talk about how Saddam Hussein killed thousands of his own country men. or Bin Laden wasn't man enough to defend himself during the battle of Tora Bora or in his final moments.
Hey, guess what? Sadam, and all that mess, was/is none of our business. WE are not hear to save the world. No good deed goes unpunished, and by now, we should have learned our lesson. Know why we haven't? We were not there to save the people, we were/are there for OIL, and that is the bottom line. We don't save people unless their country has "something" we want, we haven't done that since WWII, and people need to wake up and see things for what they really are. Reality is a good thing
At the end of WW1 when the British carved up the middle east, the state of "Kuwait" was created
because all of the oil was shipped through Kuwait, (Kuwait City) and the British could
then control it.
Kuwait has always been part of Mesapotamia/Iraq for thousands of years.
People scream about the creation of Israel, but nobody says a word about Kuwait.
Why ?
Kuwait has oil, and Israel has Jews.
We had to get rid of Saddam, because he was bad.
He kills his own people and he is a dictator.
So where the leaders, of Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, Somalia, Libya, Tunisia.......get my drift ?
Its all about oil.
The NEOCONS even spell it it for you.
The biggest threat to The United States security
is its dependency on oil, and how to get it and retain it,
By any means including force.
Everything happening on this planet right now is
all tied up in how to get or control oil.
AT ALL COSTS !
You need to go research there mission if you think that is all any of our Special Ops groups do. The SEALS are mainly a recon team as its not very smart to use a small squad behind enemy lines to conduct "murders" as in most cases they will be out numbered and out gunned and this is real life not some movie you saw. They engage the enemy when necessary but that is rarely there primary objective. Comments like yours are the reason I don't feel civilians have a right to know anything about this kinda stuff cause your non military thinking mind can't handle all this information, your the same person who thinks every Marine is a grunt and everyone in the Air Force must be some how involved in flying planes. You don't know squat.
"Go on raids, find targets and, if necessary, kill them" – in other words this is a group whose purpose is mostly to murder people. The existance of this group of monsters probably makes it very difficult for the Amerikan government to get along with other countries. Amerika is probably seen by the rest of the world as a serious problem, a bunch of terrorists. This aspect of it is not, I guess, being accurately reported by domestic news organisations.
Correction: it's AMERICA, no K.
Most countries have special forces, perhaps you weren't aware of that.
What a idiot LOL! America isn't the only country with Special Forces you troll.
The existance of this group of monsters probably makes it very difficult for the Amerikan government to get along with other countries.
We get along very well with other countries.
All of the "civilized" ones anyway.
The only ones who hate us are those backwards
religious third world hellholes
In a perfect world we could negotiate, reason, "play by the rules". But most people past the age of reason understand this is'nt a perfect world. Our enemies DO NOT play by the rules. And as much as it pains me to say, sometimes we have to make difficult choices so that we can protect and nuture the many.....and some times that means we have to fight fire with fire....be violent and aggressive with those who know nothing else. For a military person to violate the trust that the country puts in them by making things public that will only work effectively when private is nothing short of treason. They then are the enemy because they have crippled our ability to protect the many.
The real truth is there are no rules for anyone, anyplace except for those 'rules' we allow ourselves. Our entire society is based upon the foundation of working within a set of rules, or laws, which exist pretty much to protect the weakest members of our society. When the highest levels of our society willfully pervert or break the rules or laws all of society weakens. When the President himself begins listing individuals for assassination or torture society suffers. When assassination and murder become the norm of the day society has fallen. Today society has fallen and all that remains are the tattered shadows of what once could have been. It's all down here from now. If america cannot stand tall and true then no nation can.
Agreed.
The bigshots are just mad because a grunt wrote the book first.
indeed.
they are mad. cuz these "kids" are a different breed. no kiddin... this is the same old story of generational and cultural gap
That's it exactly. If this was written by an officer or politician, there wouldn't be as much of a problem.
This is the era where retired generals go on reality shows so stars can earn military stripes. Honor?
Exactly my thoughts.