Navy SEAL's book endangers US forces: Panetta
(AFP) – 39 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — Pentagon chief Leon Panetta on Tuesday denounced a book by a US Navy SEAL about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, saying it was an unacceptable breach of secrecy that could jeopardize future operations and the safety of American troops.
Panetta, in his first remarks on the book since its release last week, told "CBS This Morning" that Americans had a right to know about the effort to take out bin Laden but US commandos who took part had to abide by rules barring them from exposing sensitive information.
"I cannot, as secretary, send a signal to SEALs who conduct those operations, 'Oh, you can conduct these operations and then go out and write a book about it, and/or sell your story to the New York Times.'"
"How the hell can we run sensitive operations here that go after enemies if people are allowed to do that?" said Panetta, who oversaw the raid as the then director of the CIA.
The Pentagon has threatened legal action but taken no steps yet against the former Navy SEAL who wrote "No Easy Day," which has shot to the top of best-seller lists while provoking an angry reaction from some military commanders and fellow SEALs.
Panetta said the Defense Department was examining the book to assess what classified information had been revealed but said that regardless of what the review shows, the author had a legal obligation to submit the manuscript to Pentagon officials before publication.
When US forces fail to uphold their pledge to protect sensitive information, "we have got to make sure that they stand by the promise they made to this country," he said.
By spilling secrets, "it does indeed jeopardize other operations and the lives of others that are involved in those operations," he added.
He also said the author, who wrote under a pseudonym but has been identified in media reports as Matt Bissonnette, had put his own life in danger by publishing the book.
"He was very much a part of the operation that got bin Laden. You know, there's no question that that should make him concerned. It makes us concerned about his safety," he said.
US officials and legal analysts say it's likely the government will take Bissonnette to court over non-disclosure agreements he signed while in uniform but stop short of criminal prosecution alleging the disclosure of classified information.
If Bissonnette is found at fault for violating his confidentiality agreement, he could be forced to forfeit any proceeds from the book.
Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
(AFP) – 39 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — Pentagon chief Leon Panetta on Tuesday denounced a book by a US Navy SEAL about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, saying it was an unacceptable breach of secrecy that could jeopardize future operations and the safety of American troops.
Panetta, in his first remarks on the book since its release last week, told "CBS This Morning" that Americans had a right to know about the effort to take out bin Laden but US commandos who took part had to abide by rules barring them from exposing sensitive information.
"I cannot, as secretary, send a signal to SEALs who conduct those operations, 'Oh, you can conduct these operations and then go out and write a book about it, and/or sell your story to the New York Times.'"
"How the hell can we run sensitive operations here that go after enemies if people are allowed to do that?" said Panetta, who oversaw the raid as the then director of the CIA.
The Pentagon has threatened legal action but taken no steps yet against the former Navy SEAL who wrote "No Easy Day," which has shot to the top of best-seller lists while provoking an angry reaction from some military commanders and fellow SEALs.
Panetta said the Defense Department was examining the book to assess what classified information had been revealed but said that regardless of what the review shows, the author had a legal obligation to submit the manuscript to Pentagon officials before publication.
When US forces fail to uphold their pledge to protect sensitive information, "we have got to make sure that they stand by the promise they made to this country," he said.
By spilling secrets, "it does indeed jeopardize other operations and the lives of others that are involved in those operations," he added.
He also said the author, who wrote under a pseudonym but has been identified in media reports as Matt Bissonnette, had put his own life in danger by publishing the book.
"He was very much a part of the operation that got bin Laden. You know, there's no question that that should make him concerned. It makes us concerned about his safety," he said.
US officials and legal analysts say it's likely the government will take Bissonnette to court over non-disclosure agreements he signed while in uniform but stop short of criminal prosecution alleging the disclosure of classified information.
If Bissonnette is found at fault for violating his confidentiality agreement, he could be forced to forfeit any proceeds from the book.
Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved. More »