Every day thousands of Americans working for the U.S. government spend all their waking hours keeping their fellow citizens safe. The vast majority of them work quietly -- and anonymously -- as they track our enemies, aid our allies, and seek out any and all threats to our country. And most of the men and women don't give a damn about the absurd posturing and contrived drama generated by America's political process. As I learned first-hand in 2003, there are times when the politicians bring the posturing and drama to you.
I served my country, loyally and well, as a covert CIA operations officer focused on stopping nuclear weapon proliferation until the Bush administration decided to betray my secret identity as payback for my husband questioning the White House's justification for the Iraq War. The lesson was simple: If you offer the public a true story that is at odds with what the government wants you to know, they will stop at nothing to destroy you, your reputation, and the reputations of the people around you.
In the past few weeks, we have heard riveting stories of heroism and valor from one of the U.S. soldiers who participated in the combat mission that killed Osama bin Laden. His book, written under a pseudonym (his true identity was subsequently made public by Fox News), is by most accounts devoid of any classified information. In fact, most of what is in the book had been already leaked by top officials of the U.S. government themselves. I am dismayed to read the steady stream of criticism flowing from the U.S. government aimed at the book and its author. The Defense Department and administration officials have called the author's decision to publish the book the "height of irresponsibility." Former CIA Director and current Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has even gone so far as to say, "I think we have to take steps to make clear to him and to the American people that we're not going to accept this kind of behavior."
At the same time that they threaten the author and try to "make clear" they're not going to accept an honest account of what happened in Abbottabad, Americans have also recently learned that the CIA and other U.S. government agencies have been cooperating with Hollywood figures on a movie about the same topic. In fact, according to CIA emails released recently, one writer was given a "deep dive" inside the Agency as they wrote a screenplay on the bin Laden raid. Are U.S. government officials angry that the author wrote a book, or that his book came out before their movie? This, of course, comes after the U.S. government officials have participated in and been sources for newspaper articles, magazine features and even movies -- like Act of Valor.
It is time for the public to make clear to our government that we will no longer accept their unsubstantiated or spoon-fed version as the only one of significant historical events. I don't believe that cooperating with an author or a screenwriter or even a movie producer on an authentic account of what happened in war is necessarily a bad thing, as long as no classified information is jeopardized. In fact, it has happened throughout American history and inspired many Americans to serve our country in their careers -- myself included. However, next time you hear an American government official attacking the author of No Easy Day -- stop and ask yourself why they are trying to bully an American hero. I just wish the officials making these threats would do the same. Our government has survived as long as it has because there are those prepared to hold it to account for its words and deeds. It's the essence of our democracy.
Kevin Maurer: Why No Easy Day Matters
David Uberti: Does It Matter Whether Osama bin Laden Was Armed?
John Ziegler: Conservatives Take a Dive on Fox News Navy SEAL Leak
Or maybe this is simply hypocrisy and people who secretly have low self esteem and who abuse their power because it is possible to do so, and doing so tricks them into thinking they are better than they really are.
The black strips do slow down reading, especially when I try to fill in what is missing. Having a good imagination, this makes the book interactive.
Thank you for your service, and thank you for speaking out, again.
The proposed 2013 defense budget to include off budget items, wars, intelligence, Homeland Security, and etc. is nearer $1.2 trillion. THAT’S 45% OF TOTAL US REVENUE OF $2.7 TRILLION! This is morally criminal and treason since it’s destroying the country economically. Investment in technology and the economy trumps everything. Five years after WWII the whole war could have been won with one US aircraft carrier.
This American War Machine is a crime against humanity and especially the American taxpayer as the Soviet Union war machine was to the Soviet Union:
tomdispatch.com/archive/175361/
We (US) are a ‘garrison state’ and destroying the very qualities and virtues and principles we originally set about to save.”
I was a patriot when I went to Vietnam and a patriot when I returned and protested and demonstrated against the war, Military Industrial Complex, the Pentagon and Johnson.
-USN/USMC First Marine Division, I-Corps, Vietnam, 1967-68
What defines someone as an "American hero" should be the question that people ask themselves. The dictionary defines hero as "a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities". How does the writer of this book fall into this category? He did did his job admirably, but not heroically. He did the same as every other man on that mission and at the direction of his commanding officers. He was paid by the American people and now he is going to benefit again and again and again. Personally, having served this great country myself- for pay- I find his actions since the killing of Osama disgusting.
I get that we need to have our heroes, but this guy is not one. As for the epilogue, I would not buy this guys book. I have already paid, trained, and thanked him for his service. I would not pay him one cent more for doing his job.
This guy is seeking to cash in, and he broke the normal chain of events of having the Pentagon clear materials such as this.
If he cared or was a "Hero" then why won't he participate in the military way of going about getting a book published?
and it is those of his fine being who make Our Country safe and strong!
Whether or not I agree with him is not relevant...
Our government has survived as long as it has because there are always those who step forward prepared to lay their lives on the line to defend it, be it right or wrong! (Yourself included)
Check out this new article! Looks like there is a NEW book coming out 3 weeks before the election on Bin Laden!!! (One that McRaven and Obama sat down and provided interviews for.) Hmmmm... this ALL makes perfect sense now!!!