BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover

Subject: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 07:29 PM

Fox News has allegedly revealed the real name of the SEAL who's written a book about the Bin Laden raid under a protective pseudonym:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/23/us-usa-security-binladen-book-idUSBRE87L16C20120823

Of course, as FOX so self-righteously explains, "Mark Owens" should have expected as much. Beyond that, if his book lives up to the pre-publication hype, it will leak more sensitive information to al-Qaeda than ever before, and may well wind up putting "Owens's" former team-mates in danger.

Assuming, of course, that the book is legit. One wonders. (Some of us remember the 1980 book announcing the successful cloning of a human being: highly publicized, then exposed as a fake.)

But either way, Fox's scoop effectively puts "Owens" himself in al-Qaeda's crosshairs, whether he was in on the operation or not. Fox even announced where he and his family are living.

CNN and Reuters, along with other news agencies, are refusing to repeat the name. For now anyway. It won't make any difference, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 07:45 PM

Well, seems that this is going to blow up the new Swift-boat Liars for Truth campaign which really wasn't going all that well anyway except on the Koolaide Circuit...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: gnu
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 07:49 PM

Seems odd that a SEAL would do something like that.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 07:58 PM

Odd? Not with a 7 figure advance....

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 08:00 PM

(I would assume the Seal contacted the publisher... no one was supposed to know who they were. And he made sure he was retiring before he opened up.)

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 08:06 PM

This book takes one arrow out of the Romney quiver... With the Swift-boaters and now this, that line of attack is blown the heck up...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 08:06 PM

If he really "opened up" by spilling secrets, it doesn't matter legally how long he's been retired. (One reason I'm a little skeptical.)

Unless the government reveals the information, those guys are sworn to secrecy forever.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: GUEST,999
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 08:15 PM

From what I've read here and there, he's now PNG in the special forces community.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Amos
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 09:28 PM

And he has numerous yaps in Al Quaida vowing to see him destroyed for taking out their precious leader... Tough bargain, even with six figures in the offing...

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 09:35 PM

Frankly, I'm totally confused on how I'm supposed to sort this one out. I'm in favor of full disclosure. But I'm also in favor of national security at some undefinable level. I hate Fox News and I'm hardly a fan of Al Quaida. Shit, I'll have to do some serious thinking rather than shoot from the hip.

I'll get back to you all in October, after I've read the book.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 09:45 PM

I suspect FAUX news will regret revealing this, because it will mess up the strategy of the party they have supported - the GOP and it's obstreperous poor step child the Tea Party.

All Things Considered on National Public Radio played a story yesterday about this. The publisher claims to have had an attorney who specializes in special operations to have reviewed it and certified it didn't break any confidences as far as the government will be concerned, but with all due respect to Dutton, the U.S. Government wants to make that decision for itself. I suspect they'll hold up publication or round up books and destroy them if they aren't allowed to vet the text.

It's probably good for Obama that the book is coming out if it does reach bookstores, but the attempt to cut the feds out of the process was a mistake.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 09:47 PM

Magz has it 100% correct... This is good news for Obama and gets one little pesky arrow out of Romney's quiver...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: gnu
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 09:52 PM

Charley... the voice of reason and caution.

Me. I'd like to see AlQ get him IF. Terrible thing to say but IF he did actually sell out his buddies in ANY way, fuck him with exTRArrrEME prejudice. Emphasis on the REME.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 10:23 PM

absolutely unthinkable that a Seal would do that ,maybe some others but not a Seal and especially not team six ..

I am horrified actually .. and more that pissed

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Aug 12 - 10:46 PM

At this late time in the story, it is very doubtful that there are any secrets left of importance, other than the names of the participants. These, of course, should remain pseudonymous, and Fox should not reveal the real names.

When the raid was held, I had just added AlJazeera to my cable subscription.
They were carrying news of the raid, the reporter very confused about what was going on, but they were getting pictures from the scene that included footage of figures running around in the dark and doing something to an object, which we later learned was a disabled helicopter. Being taken at night, little detail could be seen, just shapes.
Apparently a freelance or Alj cameraman was on the spot, taking pictures over the wall of the compound.
The pictures disappeared after that first airing, or at least I never saw or heard of them again.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 12:35 AM

"Unless the government reveals the information, those guys are sworn to secrecy forever. "

I head a segment on NPR about it the other day. They sign a confidentiality contract that obligates them to pre-clear anything they divulge with the military authorities. If Mr. Owens does not do so, he may face prosecution or lawsuits.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 03:57 AM

That bit about pre-clearing any books is in the story I linked to.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: gnu
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 08:04 AM

Well, JtS, he's Irish, eh? >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Bobert
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 08:29 AM

The real deal is that with a billion people out there with cell phones that are more sophisticated than the mission to moon that those billion people are all de facto journalists in the right circumstances... I mean, some 16 year Pakistani kid with a cell phone could have recorded the the helicopter crash and the Seals attempting to destroy it...

Get over it... This is the information age and little goes unrecorded...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 08:55 AM

The odds are good that "Owens" isn't revealing anything of value. But we don't know yet.

What we do know, though, is that Fox News claims to be exposing his identity (which could lead to the identities of his teammates), and putting him and his family (at least) in danger, just for the hell of it.

They could have reported instead, "We've investigated this book and found it's the real deal," or else "It's just a hyped-up rehash by a guy who wasn't really there."

But no.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 02:17 PM

"Owens" has changed the names of the SEALS who were on the raid.

I have never understood the press in the US and Canada and 'news' talk about Special Operations and the people who undertake those operations. I think that releasing Owens' real name was way up there squeezed in between stupid and irresponsible. I also think the C-in-C was foolish to release any details of the action. A simple "The job is done" would have sufficed.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: olddude
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 02:21 PM

valued info or not, you never violate the code ... never ... it is the seal way. He broke all rules of conduct. If you took every fictional james bond guy you ever watched in a movie, they still would not equal a seal team six member. Millions training those guys only a select few of a select few get to be on that team. He broke the rules written or otherwise. That is not the seal way. Horrified and disgusted

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 04:19 PM

If his name is known, it may not matter a lot if he changed the others. And thene there's his family. Ever try to hide from the Internet? If this is on the level, he must want that money bad.

Maybe he's already changed his name for real (and not to "Mark Owens").

And olddude is right about "the code." SEALs are serious people.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 04:49 PM

"No Easy Day" The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden," will be released on September 11, by Penguin-Dutton.

The author was a member of SEAL Team 6, and a leader in the operation.
According to the publisher, the author gives a "blow-by-blow narrative of the assault, beginning with the helicopter crash that could have ended Owen's (pseudonym) life straight through to the radio call confirming Bin Laden's death." Co-writer is Kevin Maurer.

Penguin describes the book as "an essential piece of modern history."
Pentagon and other military personel have denied having seeing the book.

It is not the first. British press comments are largely hogwash.

In August 2011, the New York Times published an account of the raid "that was so detailed it included information about what the pilot of a Blackhawk helicopter was thinking as the aircraft was on the verge of crashing. That article relied on interviews with officials who had debriefer members of the SEAL team, not with the individuals themselves."

"NO Easy Day joins a crop of books by other former members of the navy SEALS who have turned their experiences into literary drama and landed coveted spots on best-seller lists.
Last year, Chuck Pfarrer, a former SEAL commander, wrote "SEAL Target Geronimo," an account of the bin Laden raid based on interviews with members of the Navy SEALS.

Penguin is expecting a major best-seller, with a planned run of 300,000 copies in hardcover. The author will appear in disguise during television interviews to promote the book, including a prime time appearance.

Julie Bosman, "Book will describe raid that killed bin Laden." Aug 22, 2012, http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/navy-seals-book-will-describe-raid-that-killed-bin-Laden/

Also see NPR, "Seal's Book on bin Laden Raid, .... Due Sept. 11," Mark Memmot, Aug. 23, 2012.

A film is in the works by another group.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 01:02 PM

Amazon.com advertises "No Easy Day," for pre-order.
Somewhat confusing is the listing of two hardcover editions, one at $23.41, and another at $16.17, discount from $26.95. Presumably the higher price applies to first run copies.

A Kindle version is $15.87, and an audio version also will be available.

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 01:29 PM

Ql. Is that ice cream round your mouth, or have you just blown a seal?

Subject: RE: BS: FOX News blows SEAL's cover
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 04:13 PM

oh, my! an anencephalic troll.