Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

alp227

(32,023 posts)
Fri Aug 31, 2012, 04:25 PM Aug 2012

Pentagon Threatens Legal Action Against SEAL Author Matt Bissonnette

Source: The New York Times

The Pentagon on Friday threatened legal action against the former member of the Navy SEALs who has written a first-person account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, but the author's lawyer and the book's publisher, Penguin, said they were proceeding with publication on Sept. 4.

The Pentagon press secretary, George Little, told reporters in a briefing on Friday that the book's author, Matt Bissonnette, was "in material breach of nondisclosure agreements he signed with the U.S. government" to not reveal classified information and to submit his book to the Pentagon for review.

Mr. Little said the Pentagon was "reviewing all options" against Mr. Bissonnette, but he would not specify what those options might be and repeatedly declined to say whether the Pentagon had determined if there was classified information in the book. Mr. Bissonnette did not submit his book to the Pentagon for review.

Mr. Bissonnette's lawyer, Robert D. Luskin, responded in a letter to the Pentagon that the author, who wrote under the pseudonym Mark Owen, had "sought legal advice about his responsibilities before agreeing to publish his book and scrupulously reviewed the work to ensure that it did not disclose any material that would breach his agreements or put his former comrades at risk."

Read more: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/09/01/us/pentagon-threatens-legal-action-against-seal-author-matt-bissonnette.xml



From what I've heard, this book casts doubt on the official account of the bin Laden raid. So I wonder if this book is a last-ditch anti-Obama effort.
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pentagon Threatens Legal Action Against SEAL Author Matt Bissonnette (Original Post) alp227 Aug 2012 OP
The timing is too coincidental with the 22 minute video done by ex-navy seals Iliyah Aug 2012 #1
Can't anyone keep a secret anymore? Scairp Aug 2012 #2
I don't know how it could be a hit piece EC Aug 2012 #3
The CIA wants this book's version out, otherwise it would have been squelched. Festivito Aug 2012 #4

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
1. The timing is too coincidental with the 22 minute video done by ex-navy seals
Fri Aug 31, 2012, 04:44 PM
Aug 2012

so with that I would say yes it is a parallel between the two, and shame on these soldiers.

Scairp

(2,749 posts)
2. Can't anyone keep a secret anymore?
Fri Aug 31, 2012, 04:47 PM
Aug 2012

I realize there is a big market for this story but he should have kept it to himself.

EC

(12,287 posts)
3. I don't know how it could be a hit piece
Fri Aug 31, 2012, 05:04 PM
Aug 2012

Obama does everything by the book, since he knows everything is going to be investigated by repubs. I think it's more of CYA because of the repubs accusing Obama of leaking classified info about this operation.

Festivito

(13,452 posts)
4. The CIA wants this book's version out, otherwise it would have been squelched.
Fri Aug 31, 2012, 06:35 PM
Aug 2012

happyslug said it better than me.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014213563#post7

(This story keeps getting posted at intervals.)

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Pentagon Threatens Legal ...