On SEAL's book, Pentagon keeps legal options open

mlurp · #1 (**permalink**) 08-31-2012, 05:17 PM

What if any opinions do you have that our top Commanders should do about this SEALS book?

I know and seen almost all of what did happen that night we got OBL as those in the Situation WH room on that night. Yes a bit less, but there were several leaks in the days afterwards.

Quote:

.On SEAL's book, Pentagon keeps legal options open

AFP – 3 hrs ago. 31 August 2012 .......................

The Pentagon has not decided whether a book by a former US Navy SEAL on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden exposes state secrets but it is keeping its legal options open, a spokesman said Friday.

"I'm not going to characterize one way or the other whether we think there's classified information in it," press secretary George Little told reporters.

"We are going to preserve our options."

The Pentagon's top lawyer issued a warning late Thursday to the author of "No Easy Day," saying he had violated non-disclosure agreements he signed while in uniform -- including a pledge to submit any book for review before publication.

"Those agreements are very clear, that when you write something that may contain classified information, you need to have it go through pre-publication review by this department," Little said.

"That did not occur in this case. And we take these agreements and our obligation to protect classified information very seriously."

The former Navy commando wrote "No Easy Day" under a pseudonym, Mark Owen, but has been identified by US media as Matt Bissonnette. The book is due to be released next week but has already sparked a wave of publicity and controversy.

In similar cases, CIA employees who failed to submit their manuscripts for review have been found guilty in court of violating their contractual obligations, regardless of whether their books disclosed classified information.

The government then has the right to demand access to any profits from the unauthorized books, said Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists, who writes a blog on government secrecy.

The non-disclosure agreements "have been consistently construed by courts as a binding contract," Aftergood told AFP.

Failing to submit a manuscript qualifies as a civil case, but if the Pentagon concludes secrets were revealed in the book, the former commando could be subject to criminal prosecution, he said.

"If there were classified information (revealed) and the author knowingly and willingly disclosed classified information ... then there might be a criminal dimension to it," he said.

Last year, a federal judge ruled in favor of the CIA in a case involving a former officer with the spy agency, saying the agent had failed to secure approval for his book, "The Human Factor," before its publication.

The author had submitted a manuscript but argued the CIA had intentionally stalled its review to try to prevent publication of the book, which was critical of the intelligence agency's management.

On SEAL's book, Pentagon keeps legal options open - Yahoo! News

With 26 comments.

saltwn · #2 (**permalink**) 08-31-2012, 06:21 PM

What I think? If it was a Republican or Democrat in the white house wouldn't make any difference. This guy sold out. And that's something Navy SEALS don't do. The world is a little dirtier because of his "book".

MrLiberty · #3 (**permalink**) 08-31-2012, 07:09 PM

What I think? The guys making the fuss at the Pentagon are political hacks and if they were concerned about leaks they would be looking at the White House and obama's staff.

You have two hand picks obama sycophants at the DOJ investigating the leaks and I'll say here and now they won't find anything.

For the most part our men and women in the military have a high degree of integrity and would not release an unauthorized book unless they were very pizzed at the administration.

saltwn · #4 (**permalink**) 08-31-2012, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLiberty

What I think? The guys making the fuss at the Pentagon are political hacks and if they were concerned about leaks they would be looking at the White House and obama's staff.

You have two hand picks obama sycophants at the DOJ investigating the leaks and I'll say here and now they won't find anything.

For the most part our men and women in the military have a high degree of integrity and would not release an unauthorized book unless they were very pizzed at the administration.

Or were offered a sinful amount of money...one of them took the bait. You are arguing around the edges about things someone hopes you will think about instead of the break down of the military. The men in uniform have steered pretty clear of politics with a few exceptions. This is not a good precedent, I don't care who is in the white house.

MrLiberty · #5 (**permalink**) 08-31-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

Or were offered a sinful amount of money...one of them took the bait. You are arguing around the edges about things someone hopes you will think about instead of the break down of the military. The men in uniform have steered pretty clear of politics with a few exceptions. This is not a good precedent, I don't care who is in the white house.

There has been no breakdown of the military, he is out of uniform now and has the same rights as you or I do. I doubt we the people will ever know how much damage obama's leaks have caused or will cause in the future. And, our allies know full well now that obama can not be trusted to keep state secrets.

saltwn · #6 (**permalink**) 08-31-2012, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLiberty

There has been no breakdown of the military, he is out of uniform now and has the same rights as you or I do. I doubt we the people will ever know how much damage obama's leaks have caused or will cause in the future. And, our allies know full well now that obama can not be trusted to keep state secrets.

some secrets are carried to the grave regarding navy seals and others in covert ops. thats why they call it covert ops. its not about his rights its about his responsibility. and yet i dont fault him alone cause somewhere in the back of my head i see an offer he couldn't refuse. you seriously dont think there is some stinky fish in Denmark this playing out (along with the new movie) just before the election?

MrLiberty · #7 (**permalink**) 08-31-2012, 07:58 PM

Do I think there is an agenda with a book and movie coming out before an election? Of course there is, to deny that would be disingenuous.

BTW, the back of your head needs a haircut.....

saltwn · #8 (**permalink**) 08-31-2012, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLiberty

Do I think there is an agenda with a book and movie coming out before an election? Of course there is, to deny that would be disingenuous.

BTW, the back of your head needs a haircut.....

now that's scary. i was just saying so the other day.

mlurp · #9 (**permalink**) 09-01-2012, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

What I think? If it was a Republican or Democrat in the white house wouldn't make any difference. This guy sold out. And that's something Navy SEALS don't do. The world is a little dirtier because of his "book".

And the writer has said it has on political implications what so ever.

As for selling his ship mates out, well we will hear their side soon enough!

My thoughts are more inline with the very last sentence, "

Quote:

The author had submitted a manuscript but argued the CIA had intentionally stalled its review to try to prevent publication of the book, which was critical of the intelligence agency's management.

"

As in every thing where there are political hacks/ to many hands in the play. Both civilian and Military there are screw ups! And neither the CIA or any of the other 15 special agencies nor the WH wants exposer on any thing that might make them look bad! Common Sense!

Yet I would except a government thats talks about transparencies to review the book and explain which parts might create harms unlike Pvt. Manning just giving it away.

saltwn · #10 (**permalink**) 09-01-2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlurp

And the writer has said it has on political implications what so ever.

As for selling his ship mates out, well we will hear their side soon enough!

My thoughts are more inline with the very last sentence, ""

As in every thing where there are political hacks/ to many hands in the play. Both civilian and Military there are screw ups! And neither the CIA or any of the other 15 special agencies nor the WH wants exposer on any thing that might make them look bad! Common Sense!

Yet I would except a government thats talks about transparencies to review the book and explain which parts might create harms unlike Pvt. Manning just giving it away.

For me this is clearly a case of this soldier not knowing which side his bread is buttered on. In some areas there is a clear wrong and right. I hate traitors.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

The Following User Says Thank You to MrLiberty For This Useful Post:
mlurp

The Following User Says Thank You to MrLiberty For This Useful Post:
saltwn

The Following User Says Thank You to saltwn For This Useful Post:
MrLiberty