When Sarah Palin was announced as John McCain's Vice Presidential pick, I found it a little disturbing that she told the public that her oldest son, Track, would be deploying to Iraq on September 11. Generally, disclosing the date of deployment is against Operational Security (OPSEC) and illegal.
Calling around to a couple of Public Affairs Officers (PAO) who would be handling the flow of information about Track and his unit, VoteVets.org found out that, first, Track is not deploying on September 11. He may be part of a deployment ceremony that day, before going to Kuwait, though one Public Affairs Officer said that any details of the upcoming ceremony hadn't been made public yet by the military.
Governor Palin may have spilled the beans on that one, while showing she doesn't know the difference between a soldier deploying to Iraq vs. one preparing to deploy to Iraq. And while not illegal, if she really did believe that's when he's deploying to Iraq, then she didn't know enough to keep quiet about that to keep from violating OPSEC -- something a potential Commander in Chief should know.
But, more disturbing, and definitely in violation of security, are an explosion of stories that say specifically where in Iraq Track is deploying to, which have been dutifully eaten up by right wing websites, and reprinted. I will not reprint it here, because I would only be compounding the issue. But, unfortunately, it is very easy to find on the web at this point.
It is simply impossible that any reporter could figure this out on their own. Just by knowing Track's name and the date he is heading to Kuwait, one could not figure out specifically where Track and his company would be going in Iraq. There's a reason it's impossible to figure that out -- because the military doesn't want that information out there. It only serves to aid the enemy to know where are troops are moving.
Did the Pentagon release that information to the press?
No, according to another PAO that VoteVets.org talked with. In fact, this PAO said, the military was actively trying to quash this story, and keep reporters from repeating all these details, because it was a clear OPSEC violation. The PAO was adamant that the military has no idea how these details got out there and doesn't want them out there.
So where is this information coming from, if not the military? Certainly not the Obama campaign, which would not gain anything by promoting Track's service. The only people who I can think of would be those in the McCain-Palin campaign.
If the McCain-Palin campaign has disclosed details about Track's company's movements to gain stories in the press about it, they will have put many American lives in danger -- not the least of which would be Track's.
Senator McCain and Governor Palin need to immediately find out if someone in the campaign violated OPSEC by giving a reporter these details, and if they did, the campaign needs to find out where the source got this information from. Whoever that is, is in it deep.
Crossposted at VetVoice.com
Follow Jon Soltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jonsoltz
I hope the military cancels his individual deployment much like the Brits were forced to when Prince Andrew's info became public. Serves her right and more importantly, protects her son's life from her foolishness. This is reminiscent of Geraldo drawing that map in the sand when the war began. He was booted out of country for that one. Ms. Palin should face the punishment she deserves for this blunder. I am glad my son is not in her son's unit and fear for the safety of those who are.
Potential comander in Chief? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know all veterans are not monolithic in their support of OIF and OEF but readers should know your views are those of a very small minority. You are certainly entitled to your opinion but really cheapen your cause with idiotic articles like this. Anybody in the military knows this line of attack to be a partisan crock of dung.
Wow, but you have high expectations, Mr. Soltz.
The next thing you know, you'll be expecting Republicans not to "out" covert CIA agents even if they have something to gain by doing exactly that.
9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11
Baseball moms for obama unite!
If everyone remembers, when Biden stated his son was deploying (as a JAG officer, not a combat position, but still . . . ) to Iraq with the Delaware NG, he did NOT give a specific date. Just sometime in the next month, or something like that. I'm sure that the Republicans would've jumped ALL OVER Biden if he had given a specific date for HIS son's deployment.
Don't pretend that it's all a huge secret.
The biggest problem you guys have is her son is serving in the military and it looks good for the Republicans. McCain has 2 boys in the military and 1 just got back from Iraq.
On the other hand you on the Left have Code Pink and videos of a protester spitting on a vet.
Face it. That's your real problem with her mentioning Track's deployment.
Thank you to all of our military men and women for their incredible service. I just wish that all of you were being more fairly and wisely utilized by our country's leadership.