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Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images
Copies of a book by a former Navy SEAL, titled "No Easy Day," are displayed at a bookstore in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
At least one nonprofit organization is saying they won't accept any donations from the proceeds generated by the new book about the deadly raid on Osama bin Laden.
A controversy erupted when a former Navy SEAL, going by the pen name "Mark Owen," co-authored "No Easy Day," a book about the infamous event that killed the al-Qaida leader. Pentagon officials allege the book, which was released on Tuesday, contains sensitive and classified information.
On its website, The Navy SEAL Foundation said it "will not be accepting any donations that are generated from the book or any related activities.
"The Navy SEAL Foundation is committed to providing immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families," the statement said.
Owen asserts "No Easy Day" is about 9/11, not politics.
Related: Navy SEALs reveal too many secrets, commander says
Related: Former SEAL sought advice before publishing book, lawyer says
It's still not clear whether the Justice Department will pursue criminal charges again Owen, according to Pentagon officials. However, it is possible the U.S. government could seize all money paid to the former SEAL and the publisher under a non-disclosure agreement.
The book remains No. 1 in book sales on Amazon.com.
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Leave a Comment:
To..Sandra"""
Who told you that...
Give the money to Romney. He'll take anything from anyone. Not just money if you get my drift.
James, make some sense and stay on topic.
It was all taped and the truth is on the tapes that will probably be revealed after the election. Regardless of what went on in BinLadin's place, he's dead and an American killed him at the direction of our President. The President was made aware of BinLadin's existence way before the "take down". The President chose to risk his own chances of getting a 2nd term if things went bad like with the Iranian hostage debacle. Those that want to bash the President are unpatriotic, stupid and not worthy of breathing American air. Our President gave credit to the Seals many times and didn't say "he got" BinLadin. He gave the order as Commander in Chief. We're still here to talk or write about it and that means we've been kept safe by our leaders and soldiers. Unfortunately, some of our soldiers have acted inappropriately with several things and they'll be dealt with accordingly. As far as the "topic" here........ I applaud the Navy Seal charity for NOT accepting and of the proceeds from this book.
That Owen was on the BinLaden raid. So clearly NOT a disgrace to the SEALS. The SEALS would not jeopardize their mission whatsoever. Owen apparentely did prove worthy of his skills and commitment to the cause. However what he did afterward is not as skillfull as his performance in the raid. Being in the civil world is somehow very different. He just did not adapted back into society. His heart is in the right place as he avenged 9/11 for all USA and the West. But his teammates deserve some credit too. He was not there on his "Ow(e)n".
So... by your logic, if he had broken his oath while in the military, instead of a civilian, it would be acceptable??? REALLY?!?!?!
The fact of the matter is that this Marine knew he was breaking an oath; did it intentionally; thus deserves our disdain, if not prosecution. I took my oath 30+ years ago. I have not broken it to this day.
PERIOD.
no more tea, Whoopee for you...Hope you don't break your arm patting yourself on the back.
I would bet money, you did something wrong along the line.
Sure have. What I have never done is defile my service, nor that of my Brothers by breaking my oath. Doing so would be dishonorable. To some, that means more than their life.
Hoo-Rah!!!
bottom line. there is a reson they are the dam few.say nuthing bottom line
As a member of SOCOM, I have to say this guy is pathetic. He's already disliked within the SEALs now. They have a duty to keep their mouths shut about the missions they embark on. He's looking for the big payday and didn't follow the proper procedures required of his position. I'm taking nothing away from his job, talents, due respect, etc. But to open the world even deeper into the SEALs world is not a good idea for anyone in America.
HOO-RAH!!!!
He is a hero, period! For risking his life and protecting us from greater evil!
The fact of the matter is that this Marine knew he was breaking an oath; did it intentionally; thus deserves our disdain, if not prosecution. I took my oath 30+ years ago. I have not broken it to this day.
PERIOD.
Susan, you are so correct.. Obama couldn't wait until he ran in front of the camera...You would have thought he was there..
He also brought Hollywood in for a private play by play, for a Movie... So who is wrong?
This Seal put his life on the line and hooray for him. Also obama spoke too soon.. The Seals
said he compromised security big time. A glory seeker.
And what Seals stated that, Jean? You don't know what Honor is.
If you are planning to buy the book, consider to donate to the Navy Seal Foundation instead.
Great Suggestion!
The profits should go back to the Pentagon or United States. He was a paid employee of the United States.
Wrong Eric.
Employment by the United States gov't doesn't give them automatic legal right to intellectual properties generated by their employees.
Nice communist touch, though.
I haven't seen the book, but I am so tired of everything being "classified" Really? My guess is most of this information is already in the hands of our enemies so why can't WE read about it? It's not like he's Wilkie Leaks. It's odd, but the whole war in Afghanistan is off the news. Why?
Because our boys and girls are fighting and dying in these places and the Seals do the most dangerous tasks. When you reveal information about how they operate you put the future combatant Seals in danger. Why don't you get it?
luvssake,
Why did obama run to the camera's before they could go through what they had gathered?
The Military said that obama should have waited, but he chose to be a glory seeker.
Then he also had Hollywood come in for a private tell all.. This is for a Movie..
Leave the Seal alone.
Jean... you are not only dishonorable, you don't have the first idea what it is to be Special Forces.
november6 You are another lying Repugturd ignoramus. Where we came up with people like you is beyond conpunction. If you are looking for thieves, look nor further than Halliburton and their no-bid contract to rob America. President Obama has been cleaning up after the worst Repugtard or Democratic administration since Hoover and Hoovervile gave us the great depression. Why don't you get an education and then come and join the adult community. You demon serving unAmerican turd.
As for the Seal. It is a shame because he signed two non-disclosures and the organization is one that goes into the teeth of danger. There are proprietary information that helps them in the dangerous missions that they undertake and he is sharing it with the world. I think he has opened himself to criminality much the same as someone who reveals sensitive US national security information to the enemy. Who is to know what his revelations will do to the proceedures of the Seals. It is a shame. He should have never signed on to the Seals.
Just a thought: By our government going after Mark Owen, does that tell everyone that what is in the book is true OR is it a way for our government to manipulate our psyche so that we assume that our country has the best of the best at every point and can't be defeated no matter what and we all keep secrets? If the latter is true our enemies will "think" it is true. If the former is true our enemies will "know" it is true.
He might have stepped over the line, but if the Pentagon approved of the book before it was published, then our government has nothing to stand on.
Hello? Was an offer made to the charity? The website said several inquiries were made about receiving money from the book's profits. That doesn't mean they got a genuine offer from the author or publisher. What a lousy, misleading headline.
The charity referenced in this article was not one of those the author listed in the back of the book as the primary beneficiaries of the book's profits. I read the Kindle edition released 9/4/12.
So, basically, this is just as newsworthy as my statement that I do not plan to accept any proceeds from the sale of this book . . .
Kind of funny that this supposed traitor has more integrity than his Commander-in-Chief. Ever think of that?
Well im almost done reading the book. I have one question for all of the people ready to hang this man. What classified information did he leak? I'm in the military and i Have not read one thing i could not have found out on google. there's so many of you out there wishing to see him on trial, when you have absolutely no idea what your talking about.
The point you obviously can't comprehend is that it is NOT FOR YOU TO JUDGE. No one cares about your opinion on what is classified and what is not. The fact of the matter is that this Marine knew he was breaking an oath; did it intentionally; thus deserves our disdain, if not prosecution. I took my oath 30+ years ago. I have not broken it to this day.
PERIOD.
Those of you who have never had access to classified information and had to protect it have no clue. I am a veterran of the cold war and knew lots of classified information and have never revealed any of it. My son is a Green Beret and would never divulge any classified information. Hell, he won't talk even about his training and I respect that and don't ask specifics. He thinks this guy is a traitor and has endangered everybody in SPEC OPS and their families. He needs a 7.62 between his eyes.
I find it odd that the peanut gallery is so quick to convict and condemn the Administration. I remember fush's speech about the leak that outed Valerie Plame. A special op soldier of whatever stripe violates his oath and training when he acknowledges a mission much less describes it. He has endangered his associates and their families. The timing of this book can only have political overtones if not an outright political agenda. Also a violation of oath and training. The SEAL charity is not an entity that involves itself in controversy. How OBL died is of no interest to me. His demise relieves a nagging need. I am not concerned for him. fush and heney should face prosecution for crimes against humanity. Loser owen needs a stiff fine and prison sentence also.
And what peanut gallery would that be? So far every thread I've seen is a giant circle-jerk of people thinking if we all close our eyes and plug our ears our country will somehow be safer.
This is from from the American Legion
http://burnpit.legion.org/2012/09/navy-seal-book-released-over-pentagon-objections
Hoorah!!! Those are my people at the charity.
This fiasco has been HUGE PR for the book. I wonder how popular the book would've been without all this media hoopla. But because of the whole taboo topic, this book has skyrocketed in sales because of people's curiosity in finding out what's so damaging about it.
Great PR campaign.
Some people seem resistive to the 21st century. There are no secrets anymore. Welcome to the digital age. If our government is operating under the assumption that wars are won by keeping secrets, we are in trouble. I might be a bit of broken record here, but fewer boomers in congress might set things right.
Hell, if the charity doesn't want the money, I'll take it.
Of that Tom, I have no doubt. You would take it. The very reason no one would ask you to be Special Forces.
The fact of the matter is that this Marine knew he was breaking his oath; did it intentionally; thus deserves our disdain, if not prosecution. I took my oath 30+ years ago. I have not broken it to this day.
PERIOD.
"All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting." ~George Orwell
Hahahaha POMOUS Obama's Magical Seal Story Is Just Like The Energizer Bunny It Just Keeps Going & Going & Going....And Still Not A Lick Of Evidence Has Been Required Or Provided!
This Fantasy Starts Out With a Wimpy President Fixing To Be Impeached Over a Far Away UN Conflict That He Refused To Get Authorized through Congress.... Suddenly Just Before The Vote Of Impeachment (Literally The Day Before) Magical Seals Locate 300 Miles Inland (The NAVY Might You Not The Anti-Terrorist DELTA Team) then claim to Kill bin NOBODY The World's #1 Terrorist. Then Magically They Whisk Something away and toss it into the Ocean or at least so they claim!
Sorry Folks Extraordinary Claims Requires Extraordinary Proof.....Barry Bush-Wacker is just trying to use a FANTASY Created To Get Out Of Impeachment NOW To Try And Get Re-Elected!
If This Story Was True They Would Have Buried This Magical Seal A Long Time Ago and EVERY NORMAL PERSON KNOWS IT! Corporate Trolls Out To Built False Consensus And Spread Disinformation on the Other-hand..........
bin NOBODY'S body just one more Reason To Refuse To Re-Elect ANY Of These Wall Street Sponsored Incumbents NOT WAR Profiteers and Professional Liars like I don't need no stinking bin NOBODY Obama!
Psst America also NEVER listen to ANY of these UN Patriotic Or Nationalist Nicknamed TROLLS....For that is all they are...Corporate Trolls Out War Profiteers Trying To Start Another Not War Just To Drum Up a Few Billion Bucks More For Their Bosses On Wall Street!
Speak of Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Proof.....If You REALLY want to know what this is ALL ABOUT Watch This PBS Documentary And Think About What It Means To Be Truly American........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l-8PFk8j5I
Let US Demand an End To These Endless Not Wars For Banksters & Corporations Fun & Profits!
“You are a slow learner, Winston."...."How can I help it? How can I help but see what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four."...."Sometimes, Winston..... Sometimes they are five..... Sometimes they are three..... Sometimes they are all of them at once..... You must try harder..... It is not easy to become sane.” ~ George Orwell, 1984
If the head of a company wants to give away trade secrets, it is different than if an employee does.
This guy signed a non-disclosure oath. If it were the righteous thing to do, you would see a number of other versions from his former teammates. None of them are sticking up for what he did. He wanted money and/or glory. He deserves to be held accountable.
I also think that anyone who buys this book shows a lack of care for the other service members. Fox was wrong for printing his name, but that is something he should have known can happen. It must not have been too hard since they are not in the practice of dealing with facts.... Fox and he are responsible for at minimum, giving the other team members and their families reason to fear reprisals. He should have used more common sense, sensitivity and modesty. If there is any doubt, have the book cleared first by the people in charge and not a bought and paid for lawyer who will make money as a defense witness at a trial.
Good!!!!! This Navy Seal is a disgrace to his country!!!!!! You NEVER disrespect your Commander and Chief, EVER!!! Ashamed of him. He is not a true Seal.