By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – The commander of U.S.
Special Operations is expressing concern about former members of the community
who he said “are using their ‘celebrity status’ to advance their personal or
professional agendas,” and warned those who divulge classified information will
be held accountable.
Navy Adm. William McRaven raised the
issue in an email sent to the entire special operations community following
several recent incidents involving former special operators. The latest was the
announcement that a former Navy SEAL who participated in the raid that killed
Osama bin Laden will publish a first-person account of the operation without
first getting the book reviewed by the Defense Department for clearance.
“While as retired or former service
members, they are well within their rights to advocate for certain causes or
write books about their adventures, it is disappointing when these actions
either try to represent the broader S.O.F. community, or expose sensitive
information that could threaten the lives of their fellow warriors,” McRaven
wrote.
At the Pentagon Friday, Spokesman George
Little told reporters defense officials have not read the book, but do expect
to “assess it for the potential that it contains classified information.” Any
possible prosecution over leaked material would be up to the Justice
Department, he said.
Adm. McRaven acknowledged the benefit of
reading other special operators’ stories. He noted that his thesis while
attending the Naval Postgraduate School was based on “a rigorous examination of
available literature” and provided background for his own book, “the Theory of
Special Operations.”
“Most of these books were wonderful
accounts of courage, leadership, tough decision making, and martial skill, all
of which benefited me as I tried to understand our past and how it could affect
missions in the future,” he said in his email.
McRaven also recognized the value of
movies that provide insight into the lives of special operations professionals,
noting that seeing John Wayne’s appearance in “The Green Berets” influenced his
own decision to become a special operator. “Countless stories have been told
through the medium of film that needed to be told and I am thankful that they
were,” he wrote.
But he drew a distinct line between what
he called “recounting a story for the purposes of education or entertainment
and telling a story that exposes sensitive activities just to garner greater
readership and personal profit.” It’s a line he said must be respected – even
after leaving the military.
“Every member of the special operations
community with a security clearance signed a nondisclosure agreement that was
binding during and after service in the military,” he said in his email. “If
the U.S. Special Operations Command finds that an active duty, retired or
former service member violated that agreement and that exposure of information
was detrimental to the safety of U.S. forces, then we will pursue every option
available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where
appropriate.”
Current and former special operators
have both a moral obligation and legal duty to submit their works for
pre-publication security review. “We are fully prepared to work with any author
who is looking to tell his story and wants a straightforward assessment of the
potential security impacts of their work,” he wrote.
Addressing a related issue, McRaven
expressed concern over “the growing trend of using the special operations
‘brand,’ our seal, symbols and unit names, as part of any political or special
interest campaign.”
“Let me be completely clear on this
issue: U.S.S.O.C.O.M. does not endorse any political viewpoint, opinion or
special interest,” he wrote.
McRaven said he strongly encourages
active-duty special operators to participate in the political process, as
appropriate under ethics rules, and for retired members to do the same.
“However, when a group brands itself as special operations for the purpose of
pushing a specific agenda, then they have misrepresented the entire nature of
S.O.F. and life in the military,” he said.
“Our promise to the American people is
that we, the military, are nonpartisan, apolitical and will serve the president
of the United States regardless of his political party,” McRaven emphasized.
“By attaching a special operation’s moniker or a unit or service name to a
political agenda, those individuals have now violated the most basic of our
military principles.”
McRaven encouraged former special
operators to “voice their concerns from the highest hilltop” when acting as
private citizens. However, by claiming to represent a broader SOF constituency
as they do so, “they do a disservice to all of their S.O.F. teammates who serve
quietly and respectfully in support of this great nation,” he wrote.
“Our reputation with the American people
is as high as it has ever been,” McRaventold the special operations community.
“The sacrifices of our men and women downrange have earned us that respect. Let
us not diminish that respect by using our service in special operations to
benefit a few at the expense of the many.”
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