Navy General McRaven tells SpecOps troops to zip it
Hey, if the President says he’s a general, he’s a general, by golly. But General McRaven commander of Special Operations Command threatened his troops with legal action if they reveal Special Operations secrets to the public, in the wake of the pending release of the book “No Easy Day” written by Matt Bissonnette under the pseudonym Mark Owen;
Special operations chief Adm. Bill McRaven warned his troops, current and former, that he would take legal action against anyone found to have exposed sensitive information that could cause fellow forces harm.
“We will pursue every option available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where appropriate,” the four-star commander wrote, in an open, unclassified letter emailed to the active-duty special operations community Thursday and obtained by The Associated Press.
While I agree with the good general or admiral or whatever, he ought to put that much emphasis on busting out members of the White House staff who have been talking about the operations, too. That doesn’t make it right for the military to do it, because they shouldn’t be aping those low-life civilians.
More on the subject from Mr. Hanson.
Thanks to Chief Tango for the links.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Military issues
Is it Admiral or General? The President seems to think he’s a General. According to an article on Drudge, he calls the top SEAL a General.
He can’t say anything about the administration leaking like a sieve, because that’s against the UCMJ.
Yeah, that was right nice of the POTUS to give ADM Raven a promotion . . . . (smiling while taking cover)
The good ADM did the right thing. He is speaking directly to the author of “No Easy Day” and those who may want to benefit from the “cat being let out of the bag”. We know who the original leakers are, DOJ/FBI is most probably investigating those leaks: Bin Ladin; STUXNET; Pak Dr.; Obama’s Kill list. I do not believe he is speaking to OPSEC crew.
Hey, so, to fall back on my Heinlein here, why not just call the top SEAL a Sky Marshal, as, to be one you have to be an officer in the army and navy in his book…?
Not exactly, Old Trooper. But he would have to speak in very general terms (no pun intended) about unauthorized disclosures being criminal and endangering lives, and he also doesn’t have any authority over the civilian White House staff. So as a practical matter, McRaven can’t really influence their behavior at all. He’d be tilting at a windmill if he tried.
My guess is he’s pissed by some or all of the leaks, since it’s his men they’re endangering. But I’d also guess he knows there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.
Lucky: term’s already taken. Sky Marshals are federal law enforcement agents.
In Heinleins Starship Tropers, it’s a military rank, the CJCS if you will.
Federal Air Marshals are Federal Law Enforcement Officers:
Federal Air Marshal
As a Federal Air Marshal, you will detect, deter, and defeat hostile acts against U.S. air carriers, passengers, and crews. You will be an armed Federal law enforcement officer, deployed on passenger flights worldwide to protect airline passengers and crew against the risk of criminal and terrorist violence. You will perform investigative work and participate in multi-agency task forces and in land-based investigative assignments to proactively fight terrorism. As a Federal Air Marshal, you will promote public confidence in the safety of the nation’s aviation system as a “quiet professional” in the skies.
I was joking about the rank from starship troopers guys!!!
I’m actually against this book being released due to the sensitive nature of it. And the, “But they do it too!” rationale is not what one would expect from our Specops guys. As Ray, Bobo, and other submariners will tell you, most of us went out on ops as crew, etc., and then signed Page 13 statements that we wouldn’t discuss it even with our own shipmates who were there. I don’t like leaks or classified details coming out, regardless of who does it or for what purpose.
ADM McRaven in an interview said he did refer to himself as an American “soldier” when communicating with locals in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would guess “seaman”, “sailor”, or “troop” doesn’t translate well.
Sailor doesn’t translate at all in Afghanistan. The Afghans have no concept of large bodies of water outside of the puddles they get in monsoon season.
I think he is correct in his statements about current and former operators disclosing classified information… what could he do about the leaks coming from the White house itself? I suppose he could invite his boss for a private game of one on one and school him on OPSEC as well… but somehow I just do not see him being able to have much of an effect of the dumbasses in the Oval Office who think they can do or say whatever they want, as long as it makes the boss look good.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. I also think it is wrong, however, to publically spank Special Operations like toddlers, when the political leadership is doing far worse.
Was the Navy general a corpseman?
…and that would be spelled “publicly.” I need more coffee…
The one statement, if it’s in there, that has this administration trembling is “We recieved word from the Secretary of State that the mission is a go”.
I find this to be a rather disturbing trend and may lead to even further bad blood between different services.
In reading other links some think the SEAL operator who wrote this book may have been financially motivated. There is also a thought that he may have fallen victim to the cult of the celebrity, the need to become famous and get adulation, credit, and attention.
At any rate it probably does not give a good impression, that operators are openly defying ‘confidentiality’ agreements they signed and the honor code.
Uncle J Nailed it. Now that we know one, those who are of the mind to inquire, can start to figure the rest of the team out. From there danger spreads to the family members. I think Mr Bissonnett, should be offered witness protection in Leavenworth.
Maybe the SEAL who wrote “No Easy Day” is as annoyed as I am that the White House can get away with constant leaks of classified material, and takes credit for things it didn’t do. Since the author’s name is a pseudonym, or pen name, I don’t think it was glory-seeking.
There has not yet been a pullback on the leaks, has there? When something is done to stop that and those responsible are prosecuted, someone please let me know. Thanks!
OK guys, here’s another link:
http://news.yahoo.com/navy-seal-author-cashing-special-ops-video-game-153821487–finance.html
The operator is now apparently being compensated as an advisor to an upcoming video game.
Still feel the same way? This is getting way too ridiculous.
1-800- BITE ME
@TMan, OK, I’ll retract the part about being as annoyed as I am.
Still, I think it is a flawed approach for McRaven to do this publicly. I do not condone WHAT the SEAL did, either.
This fish doesn’t just stink from the head, it is rotting from the head and inside out.
MSN is running an article that says Al-Qaeda has posted the picture and name of the SEAL who wrote the book “No Easy Day” on militant websites, and called for his “destruction.”
Here we go, friends and neighbors.
Barry O’s just pissed that this book came out before his movie
The only justification I can see for the “general’s” public admonition of persons over whom he has absolutely no control is if he were setting up a deal where he arrests some other folks also not under his control. Like if he already has proof of exactly who is responsible for the assorted leaks and the papers they signed expressing their understanding of the consequences of revealing national secrets.
Naw – not holding my breath on this being a prelude to something better.
I agree Ex-PH2.
This whole thing is just a mess on all sides. I see your point that why should the current administration and others take credit for the operation and tell their stories, but not the real operators who were involved.
So in that regards while what this SEAL did was probably not the smartest, in the greater context understandable. I believe he is now retired so he certainly is not the first retired military to write a book or become a consultant. I would also say that he probably thought he would be safer under his pseudonym so it is scary how fast the media was able to find out his true identity.
OWB: I think you’re mixing apples and oranges here. ADM McRaven’s e-mail admonition was sent to the current Special Operations community; he’s the SOCOM commander and thus has full authority over them.
If I recall correctly, it was the CJCS who publicly (and IMO improperly) castigated a group over which he has no legal authority – e.g., the retired special operations types who recently took the current Administration to task for leaking operational secrets.
OK, Hondo, so let’s summarize this:
1 – May 2011, the Sec of State (so we’re told) issues a “go” for the raid on bin Laden’s compound, which takes place and is successful. This is 6 months after the underwear bomber failed in his mission.
2 – A stealth Blackhawk helicopter crashes and the debris left behind is seized by local officials, subsequently sold to the Chinese
3 – The Pres has a brief press conference regarding the successful raid. Joyful celebrations erupt outside the White House fence, show up on TV.
4 – A stealth drone crashes in Iran and shows up on American TV
5 – Unnamed senior officials in the White House leak classified information about the raid on UBL’s compound to the press, with a complete CGI graphic as an accompaniment
6 – Discover Channel airs a detailed documentary about SEALs, their training, their methods, and I sat there and took notes, and wondered why no one was calling the FBI about this…but I digress.
7 – H2 Channel airs a very detailed documentary about snipers and their training, mostly involving Vietnam, but Iraq is included. I took more notes.
8 – More leaks occur, e.g. STUXNET documentary on PBS. Bin Laden is buried at sea.
9 – Electioneering begins 2012 and the Pres takes credit for the successful raid on bin Laden’s compound.
10 – OPSEC guys object vehemently to what is emanating from the White House.
11 – Leaks continue.
12 – SEAL writes and publishes a book about the raid.
14 – CJCS and the Pentagon issue a ‘naughty, naughty’ statement about the book. ADM McRaven tells the SO community to zip it. Al Qaeda threatens author’s life.
A – The SEAL should have waited a bit.
B – No one is taking responsibility for the leaks.
C – No one has asked “What else has been given away?”
D – No on has been charged with releasing classified, top secret, eyes only information to the press. Isn’t that a felony?
@30 there is a live FBI investigation into the leaks. Two US attorneys are currently leading this pair of investigations.
Here is a link to an article on Reuters regarding the investigations. I do not know the current progress of these investigations, if any. I am interested in seeing the outcome of any official reports on these leaks.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/12/us-usa-security-leaks-idUSBRE85B1L520120612
Oh, that part is AOK, Hondo. Had read somewhere (who knows where this late in the day) that his comments extended to the retired as well. Sorry for the confusion – yes, that was the part, and only that part, to which I was addressing my remarks.
Are we absolutely certain that the manuscript wasn’t vetted?
Two thoughts:
1) We don’t know what’s in the book. It is *possible* that it has absolutely nothing classified in it, even FOUO.
2) Evidently he has already, as a result of the book, become an outcast in the SeAL community.
CLEARLY, he should have had the book cleared for OPSEC (and Classified) information..
Why and how was his REAL name leaked? Because his publisher ASKED news outlets not to release it. Are they REALLY that Naive?!?!? You don’t tell journalists anything you don’t want published!
It seems like the profile of our spec forces is getting way out of hand…Seals in movies, Seals writing books…and yes, it seems to me the focus should be on leaks that are obviously coming from the top.
VOV, thanks for the link. I will await the outcome of these investigations, which we may not see until post-election. I can only hope that the proper parties are found and charged.
As far as I’m concerned, all that stuff is declassified because it was leaked to the public.
I took copious notes on those documentaries, except for the PBS STUXNET program, interesting but not pertinent to my creative process. Are my notes classified? I am NOT turning them over to any government agents. They can blow it our their shorts.
Beckwith, Haney, and Marcinko… did they have to bend their dog tags and give up their fruit cocktail for apple sauce? No, I didn’t think so…
OWB: the Navy has publicly stated the manuscript was not submitted to them for prepublication classification review. I’ve read that the publisher claimed it was reviewed by a “former Special Operations attorney”. However, that doesn’t cut it. Military attorneys typically review documents for consistency with law – not operational or intelligence relevance. An attorney, even an experienced one, would not be the person to determine if any TTPs and/or other information in the manuscript should be considered classified for operational or intelligence reasons. They would in general not have the background to do so.
Ex-PH2: No argument that the leaks from other sources are wrong and need to be prosecuted. However, that fact alone does not excuse publication, without necessary review, of a book that may well disclose classified information. The normal procedure for those working in jobs where they have access to such materials is to submit pending publications for agency review. Otherwise, you are literally potentially playing “bet yer freedom” if you’re wrong – as well as potentially risking lives.
For that, I will indeed fault “Owen”. He failed to take proper measures when obviously uncertain about the classification of his manuscript (e.g., it was purportedly reviewed by a former Special Operations lawyer), after acknowledging in writing a requirement to do so if there is any uncertainty on the matter (see para 3 of the SF312). Instead, he appears to have tried to do an eyewash, “end run” around that requirement – apparently for economic reasons. If he’s screwed up, he should be hammered. The fact that others may have done exactly the same (e.g., made unauthorized disclosures of classified information) is irrelevant and does not excuse his potential conduct here.
Hondo, no argument from me.
I do recall a time, not so long in the past, when anyone could go to the public library and find instructions on how to produce a nuclear chain reaction and build a nuke. Someone wised up and that was pulled off library shelves, but the damage was done.
This is a tough one I think.
On one hand it is a bit distasteful for anyone in the service to benefit from their insider knowledge while being on active duty…I even hate seeing former Generals or Admirals be “military experts” for the media. Their time is done…..and usually by that rank they have lost touch . Why just the other day I was in a briefing where the THREE STAR insisted we no longer had M113s in service. Yeah….I thought the same thing.
Any case, there is the other hand guys like Dalton Fury who have knowledge of history that might not otherwise be told. Works of fiction are one thing but historical? All together something else.
I don’t know where the line is but I also don’t want to see guys joins SOCOM to write the next great American novel either.
I would draw a disctinction between active duty and retired personnel. General Keebler Elf’s reprimand wrt to the so-called “Swift Boat 2.0”, telling people that they’ve permanently surrendered their 1st Amendment rights after joining the military, seemed over the line — we wouldn’t have had President Eisenhower by that standard (which might not have been a bad thing since it would’ve taken away his oft quoted “beware the military-industrial complex” meme from the Dems) but telling current, active duty personnel to go through proper channels before publishing a book seems orders of magnitude more reasonable.
adagioforstrings: the issue is not one of First Amendment rights, but of (1) protection of properly classified information, and (2) living up to written, enforceable legal agreements that do not expire on release from active duty. Post-retirement, you are generally free to speak out as you please – provided that you do not disclose information that may still be classified.
The standard nondisclosure agreement, the SF312, makes it abundantly clear that – if you have any doubt whether or not something is classified – that you are required to seek a determination from authorized officials prior to disclosing that information to the public. The agreement also explicitly identifies that it has no time limit – e.g., that it remains in force in perpetuity. Fail to get prepublication clearance and inadvertently divulge classified information and you can (1) forfeit all proceeds from the work, and (2) be prosecuted for unauthorized disclosure of classified information. That is true while working for the Federal government, either directly or indirectly, and remains true afterwards.
Information one remembers is not automatically declassified on one’s departure from a sensitive job. Rather, that information remains classified until a declassification determination is made by authorized officials. That’s technically true even if it has been leaked to the press and published – though enforcement and control in the latter case is obviously more difficult.
Bottom line: “Owen” was free under the 1st Amendment to write his book. However, he is not free to include for publication his that book, knowingly or inadvertently, information that remains classified. Doing so would violate both Federal law and his nondisclosure agreement. That is spelled out clearly in the nondisclosure agreement itself (SF312), which I’m virtually certain “Owen” executed at some point during his career. This is precisely why Federal agencies have a process to allow current and former employees having access to classified information to submit manuscripts for prepublication review for classification determination.
“Owen” did not do that, so he’d best hope he got it right. Otherwise, he may well find himself in serious trouble.
I don’t have a dog in this fight but if those who do (i.e., Special Ops community) say this guy was wrong to write word one, that’s good enough for me. I won’t even borrow the book from a library.