Pentagon tries to buy entire print run of US spy expose Operation Dark Heart

[Vinnie From Indy]

Source: The Guardian

The US defence department is scrambling to dispose of what threatens to be a highly embarrassing expose by the former intelligence officer of secret operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and of how the US military top brass missed the opportunity to win the war against the Taliban.

The department of defence is in talks with St Martin's Press to purchase the entire first print run on the grounds of national security.

Shaffer describes in the book how he was part of the "dark side of the force" that operates outside the usual constraints of the military system. He led a group that called themselves the Jedi Knights and specialised in "black ops" including "striking at the core of the Taliban" inside Pakistan. He says that US forces were gaining the upper hand until the military brass involved itself, curbing operations in Pakistan and permitting the Taliban to strengthen again.

Shaffer, who used the pseudonym Christopher Stryker, fell foul of his superiors several years ago after claiming that an intelligence programme he was working with identified Mohammed Atta as a terrorist threat to the US before he led the attacks on 9/11. He was later sacked by the DIA over alleged violations of rules and excessive expense claims.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/13/pentagon-afghanistan-spy-book-pulp

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I find it astonishing that the Pentagon would even be allowed to purchase the entire run of the book. Is there any doubt that many of these "senior" officers would simply prefer being able to toss Shaffer into a bottomless pit somewhere and confiscate the book from St. Martin's and threaten the publisher with being tossed into the same hellhole as Shaffer if they publish anything.

[xultar]

1. No one would have paid a bit of attention if they'd left it alone.

If people did read it then others would have recommended they wear tin foil thongs.


Now they've given the book street cred. Way to go fuckers.

[ClarkJonathanKent]

4. Agreed

Totally agree.

[nosmokes]

8. "tin foil thongs"- har!

i'm thinking you'd need some triple super medicated gold bond powder if ya wore those, eh?

[indimuse]

2. knr! n/t

[denverbill]

3. Geez. I guess the need to print more copies.

[jwirr]

9. Or just put it online so everyone can read it.

[mattvermont]

5. is Maxwell Smart at the helm? nt

[davepc]

6. So when does it wind up on wikleaks?

[kgnu_fan]

11. Soon, hopefully

[whosinpower]

7. I don't believe this

I think this is just an attempt to create controversy to sell books.

False flag....

AND - the Pentagon is not so stupid. IF they buy the entire edition - this creates demand for yet another edition.

Color me skeptical.

[provis99]

10. yep. Bullshit article. St.Martin's probably wrote this one in house.

They've done it in the past. Note how they never say who in the Pentagon is trying to buy the books, and give no sources for this claim.

[Bigmack]

12. Tried to buy this book

from the University of Washington bookstore, and initially "they" took my order, saying that they expected the book to be in soon, and then I got an email back from them saying that the book would NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE, and that they were canceling my order and would not charge my card. So I'm thinking there's something more here than a publicity stunt by St Martin's press. Ah but not to fear. We live in a land of freedom with a free press.......... Ms Bigmack

[liberalla]

15. I was just notified by Amazon today:

"We're happy to let you know that the item you requested is now available to order from Amazon.com."

FYI.

[Swamp Rat]

13. Best publicity ever.

Shaffer must be thrilled. :D

[G. L. Herter]

14. Time to get modern.

This sounds like an excellent opportunity for, say, the Kindle. It'd be pretty hard to buy all digital copies, no?