Highlighted for the irony-impaired. :rolleyes:

Our standard line was:

"You got a question, you need to go talk to my boss."

"OK, where can I find your boss?"

"He's not hard to find - he wears two stars and is at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. End of conversation."

And so it goes...

Richard :munchin

Unfortunately a lot of the people I find myself surrounded by in my age bracket (mid 20s) are a true subscriber in "Generation Me." I was raised in an SF family, having two uncles proudly serve in Vietnam as SF and my father a Ranger. The first quote in my signature was drilled into me from a very early age and continues to be drilled into my child.

The piper gets a vote (maybe)
 

WaPo Link

Link to a 2 minute interview of the SEAL on 60 minutes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/the-os...00b_video.html

I pre-ordered my copy today,will be getting it around mid-september.

I have to wonder...
What would this guy be saying about "the book" if one of his platoon mates had beat him to the publishers?

Mr Bissonette: I have a story I'd like to sell...
Book Publisher: We're terribly sorry sir, it seems a young Petty Officer by the name of Salty McSeal has already sold us the story about how he saved the world from pirates and terrorists, and he only asked for 10 million dollars.

...I really have to wonder if his next line would be:
A) Oh, well I am so glad to hear of his good fortune. He is a really great guy.
B) What? Who does he think he is to sell out the teams like that?


Truth imitates art. I'll never again be able to think of this operation without having the image of Rob Riggle popping into my head.
Who would have thought when that video came out that it would turn out to be so close to the truth...

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_1?...qid=1346467484


Well if they charge him for anything. They will have to go after the authors of these books. 20 pages of special op's books.

If they do not go after him then the doors will be open and no one will respect what they signed and swore to do in not disclosing and or vetting any books/release of I formation in our future.

Is he a Hero...... Well they were a group of Highly trained SOF personnel that had a job to do. They killed an asshole that hated our way of life and our very existence. Do I think he was a hero No. He just did a job and did not do anything to make him stand out other than violating his team mates, SOF and the military trust in him to make money. He is trying to now use A PR campaign with sound bites to justify to the shepple that he did it to clarify what happened. I do not buy it.

He has a book deal a video game deal and is working on a movie deal. Those who are using him for all of those deals do ot care about him or his former teammates. They only worry about how much they will make. This Guy is clueless.

I hope they do go after him and all that are involved with him. We need an example to show that there are consequences if you violate you NDS you signed and swore to.

Doing a book the proper way is OK in my book and some others should be gone after also but I am not the king today so let's get this current one and try to put the teeth back into our system.

Sir, I agree with you. The key point here isn't the book itself, but the violation of the NDA.
Along those lines goes the breaking of a non written code of conduct with regards to present and past shipmates. There is a specific set of rules concerning the publication of one's involvement on past ops, training and endeavors of the like. Sanctioned ways. The violation of an NDA is not one of them. Others before have described their past experience as members of the military, may that be in an unconventional warfare capacity of not. Some complied with rules and regs, some others did not.
Looks like Mr. Bissonette just went for the big prize and now he's about to face the consequences of his deeds.
What he should be worried about, in my estimation, isn't really incarceration or a lawsuit. Rather, the loss of respect from former shipmates, from other members of the unconventional warfare community and from whoever believes in abiding by the rules.
To me, it looks like he'll soon be a persona non grata in many environments.

He is already PNG in the SEAL community. He has endangered himself, family and former team mates also. I am not against books being written but there is a place and time for them and a year later is not the time for this one. The enemy is out there and I guarantee that they have been working to find out who was on that mission. They want to kill the members who killed OBL and he has made their work easier. They are fanatics. The NDA is only one part of the issue.

Precisely. No one needs to issue any fatwah or even fund TDY; the task is an implied one. They are ruthless & target fixated & he's jeopardized his family as well.

His actions at penning the book aside, the outing of his real name is far worse on the list of 'nothing should be on this ****ing list'.

I'll be damned if I'll buy one!

A friend of mine got his copy yesterday.He gave it to me and I just finished reading it.

Yesterday's DOD Press Briefing discussion of the matter.

http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/t...nscriptid=5107

Richard :munchin

That article was, clear as mud.

...sensitive?...classified?...which?...common sense...sensitive and classified?...both...sensitive...possibly classified...explain the difference?...I couldn't have been be more clear...

The white page compared to PS.com hurt my eyes! I have a headache. :(

If they tell you what it is they will have to Kill you......:p

I read the book over the past couple nights and really enjoyed it as an outsider (non-QP). Seems like it probably violated quite a bit of OPSEC.

I would've enjoyed reading more about "Jen" and her team and their analysis skills, but yeah, that's not going to happen. In my mind it solidified my perception of the professionalism of everyone involved.

You know if he did not violate the NDA he would not have been burnt. He made his bed and caused this situation. I do not want anything bad to happen to his family but he created the situation.

Ithe press has no Honor so I expected them to out him after they started the PR campaign.

I finished reading it today. I'm sure that those against it will always be against it, whether the timing of the release, or the description of tactics and equipment used. But I thought he did a good job of saying a lot without saying much of anything. Nothing in the book "would have" said anything the dimwits in the media and powers to be hadn't already said, and too much was already said - last year. All the people who "talked" talked after the event and Fox News did the ultimate sin - they connected a dot and it went viral.

It reads like a Tom Clancy action novel by a BTDT. I didn't see anything earth shattering or compromising (those who know, know you can find it all in an open source FM, and those that don't know still wouldn't understand it even with pictures.)

I'd say he just wrote a SEAL recruitment book for those on the fence.

It was professional, humble, and funny...capturing what many of us know but could never explain to an outsider.

If he has to forfeit all the royalties from the book, I think he would be fine with that. He truly sounds like he just wanted to correct the misinformation and tell his story about being a SEAL and about the biggest success in the WOT (that's debatable) and give credit where credit was due. He pays a lot of respect to his team mates and the SEAL mission. Nothing really political and keeps an even keel about HQ and the powers to be. "Just Another Dog and Pony Show"

I don't know how a book this important to history (current history) could have waited - enough - time to come out. He should have gone through the process but I doubt we would have had the same book had the DOD vetted it. I don't find anything wrong with what he said, glad he said it. The cloak of conspiracy should be lifted: UBL is dead, the bad guys still hate us and DEVGRU did it! :rolleyes:

ETA: (edit again, they just moved it) I don't know why SOCNET can't talk about the book without throwing the author under the bus, but I'm guessing there are some with petty differences and maybe closer to the author - bad blood now.

I have read a couple of article over the past couple of days about the author and his book. As far as the author goes, it is said that he wrote it, not because he had an ax to grind per se. But after the mission and he got home he decided he was getting out, and his team basically treated him like shit afterwards. That is when he decided to write the book. (I will try to find the article to post).

Secondly, yesterday I read another article that said the SEAL Foundation would accpet NO money from him as far as charitible contributions. He has pissed off his brothers, and at least that charity is not willing to have it's name connected with this book in any form, shape or fashion.

Cut my head off and put it in the team room safe with the dusty red side drives...oh shoot, did chief close the safe and sign the SF-701? That head in there is starting to smell funny! :D

Anybody remember this article? It was in the Sunday papers nationwide on 2, Aug 1981.

Those are B and C Company 1-7th guys with full flashes - MID guys with the recognition bars. The NCO above the word "Berets" is Jerry Infanger, the TmSgt for the C/1-7th PIG Team.

And so it goes...

Richard :munchin

I actually have a copy!

Just go to the 7-11 and get some of those little pine tree smelly things and it will be ok.

I read nothing like that in the book. He basically said he was burned out and tired of putting the Navy first and second, and his personal life and health third, time for the young guns to carry on. There was no animosity towards anyone in the military anywhere. Any bad blood is not coming from him unless in an interview, he's just been thrown under the bus, no wait, the "Speeding Train" as he puts it. He asked to get off and his command and team mates tried to keep him. The idea for the book came as a refute to all the politicians and former SEALs (Marcinko) taking credit and talking too much.

There is no direct mention of him donating to any specific charity only that he is donating a majority of the proceeds to charity. He asks others to make a sacrifice and donate or contribute time to veteren's organization. He lists three all related to Navy SEALs.

He also is not "retired" he just got out with 14-years, ten spent in combat rotations.

+1,I really liked your review of the book.From what I have seen all the QP's have shown a great deal of decency with regards to this matter.The media on the other hand has pounced upon this issue and created BS rumors like he was treated like shit by his own team.When I read about the experiences of the QPs on this board,it is impossible to believe an SF,SOF unit will treat their own like crap because he wants to leave after putting in a long time.

Thank you for providing your insight. I am interested in reading the book and will after your review.

In all the years I have been a member on military community boards, I have heard it over and over... OPSEC / PERSEC and the importance. It is for this reason, I understand some of the concerns and criticism expressed towards this SEAL by his brothers. So much is at stake for individuals and our country. I guess what I don't fully understand, is the animosity and personal attacks prior to reading what is contained in the book. I believe any legal ramnifications will be his to bear, as they should be, if he violated the terms.

I can't help but wonder if he would have taken the same actions, if this administration had not already broken the cherry (to public after the mission and to movie industry for the film).

Just remember, it's only one side of the issue and it's his side in the book. I'm only trying to view this as someone less interested in the politics of it and more interested in the actions related to the history of this event.

Yes,that is what the book is about-the men,the event and also how he was feeling throughout the op as an individual.

Please do correct me if I am wrong but I think politics and military never mix well.I believe the last thing you guys want is to be treated like celebrities,your work is way too serious for that.Its serious enough that is beyond the understanding of average folks like us and the media always ruins it when they portray it.

Anyone plan on watching the 60 minutes interview tonight...

I haven't watched, but have been listening while doing other things. And I feel some shame in doing so. I'll admit I was more interested in his attitude than waiting to see if he jumped further across the line than he already has.

He certainly must have just pissed off the EOD guy on his team. Told an anecdote about blowing up the chopper that made his team mate sound... less professional than I am certain he is. Gave credit to the perimeter team for the specific difficulties they faced, but IMO, he shared several key details that are meant to feed the mass media madness, and nothing more.

There is a little bit of axe grinding going on.

No Easy Day....Easy read.
 

I waited to chime in on the actual book until I had read it. I missed the interview last night. I too have wondered about his motives and I don't think you are going to find them in the book. He tells the story and it is a fast easy read. Whether or not you agree with the writing of the book on the basis of "He's a professional" or "He signed a NDA", it has been written. Now the question is...did he violate OPSEC?

I have signed NDA's and none of them would prevent me from writing a book on my experiences. Two things, I would still have my book vetted AND I didn't go and shoot UBL. That being said I didn't see anything in the book that wasn't already open source and there were a lot of things we know about that he didn't mention in the book. Even if it was all open source it would still depend on what his NDA said, which....we don't know. I remember the days when you couldn't even mention the word JSOC, when you had to put on and take off your IR tape on the aircraft on infil and exfil, and the days when you couldn't talk about FAST roping, nowadays it's everyday vernacular.

I found one thing very interesting was that Adm McRaven was mentioned to be an awesome commander but very political in the book. Adm McRaven has been one of the biggest outspoken critics of "OPSEC" violations (and I'm sure this book) and yet he held a news conference where he was admonished by the former Delta boss for flapping his own gums. Even if you don't like that he wrote the book based on our community silence, he shouldn't be hunted down by our own. Many here have said he has become PNG within the community, isn't that enough?

Timely. Good cue to remind folks that just because something becomes "open source" doesn't mean it was declassified 30 seconds after WaPo printed it, or it hit FB or your publisher wrote you a nice advance. Right, wrong or indifferent, classified is classified, applying as well to any handling instructions appended to UNCLAS.

I finished the book last night and it was a good read. I will not opine on OPSEC as my opinion is pretty much worthless. However my gut tells me the current administration would like to crucify this guy in order to divert attention away from the leaking and other nonsense that has gone on.

One interesting comment in the book that occurred at least twice - the author thought killing UBL would guaranty Obama was re-elected. I cannot say that I agree. He also said that none of the folks on the team were fans of Obama. They were pretty pissed about how the administration tried to take all the credit on the Somalia pirate incident.

Bissonette is a s%#t
 

I DEROS'd in Dec '70 from MACVSOG SOACCN. I did not talk about nuts and bolts. I admitted that MACVSOG existed, using the official cover story. It was not until it was declassified for the Presidential Unit Citation did I tell my family and friends. Even though there had been some open source books.

J R sends
De Oppresso Liber

Depends on the Scope of the NDA. I have signed some that stated very specific items.

He complemented many but understand that this was taped weeks ago before McRaven, DC, DOD etc started to jump on this.

I can see how it might look like he was portraying the EOD guy as a fool, but that wasn't my take-away at all. As the author stated in the book, due to the chaos of the operations, several elements were unaware the helo had crashed, including the EOD guy. It seemed more like the author was trying to relay a funny "had to be there" SNAFU story (on hindsight, as no one died).

I commented on that:
My NDA's were general and specific. I know of one in my MPRC file that was a general NDA covering classified information and the other from the 18D course, very specific. I did CSSP back in the day but didn't sign a NDA; I STILL don't talk about that. I did one other course in SF that involved classified information but I didn't sign a NDA specifically for it, not that I would talk about that stuff either as well as many other things that I did or used in Afghanistan whether they are classified or not.

What I do NOT agree with is, an Admiral giving movie writers access to information about the raid and then turning around an condemning someone on the raid that wrote a book about the same information. I see the tentacles of the WH pushing for their version to reign supreme.

Unfortunately that's an approach that has worked on large numbers of people throughout history.

The unnamed SEAL who referred to the VP telling bad jokes "like someone's drunken uncle at Christmas..." is probably waiting to be 'McChrystal'd'.