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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:
he did everything that was required. what dose that mean. there is just some things you don't do. he's not a Navy Seal he's a Navy Squeal. freedom of speech . i don't need to know any of the crap he is putting out in the book and probably not many other people do ether unless your into the soaps. charities don't want the book money. him and Obama can both go down the road.
I have no idea why any of you are angry at this Navy Seal...The reason the White House is upset, is because the story probably is not what they told..
If you remember correctly, just a few days after the raid, obama brought all of Hollywood into the W.H. Theater and gave them a play by play account.. This was to promote a Movie.. Now why can't the man that was in the raid, write a book? I see lop sided feelings on this.. The man was there, HIS life was on the line, not obama's.. Obama spoke of the raid, immediately and compromised security big time.
jean
How?
Sandra-2020671 Spoken like a true Wingnut
At the very least, all income should be siezed and the author and the publisher should have to eat the expenses.
I am completely disgusted with this SEAL member for publishing this book without following protocol. What he has done has served as probably the biggest recruiting tool that Al Qaida has had for a long time. What an idiot. I am very glad that the charity has chosen not to accept any ill gotten gains from this book.
why is it that it's ok to leak sensitive information if you are part of Obama's administration, but not if Obama's administration is against you?
this non-profit is just afraid of the backlash from the Obama administration, who have proven they will go after any person or organization that differs from their view.
chris
Where is your proof? I know, it's in your mind. That would make it very little proof. Did you ever notice that no one knew about the raid? Until they started calling the repugs to let them know about it. Then flox news went on the air with it.
What world do you live in? You actually believe the administration would stop folks from giving to an organization that supports soldiers. This is the same administration that passed the new GI bill, increased VA funding to its highest levels ever (PS Romney plans to cut it), provided incentives to businesss that hire vets (has been pretty sucessful) too. At least Obama wasn't ashamed to mention the troops during his acceptance speech and try to explain the oversight by saying troops aren't a priority (Romneys a real winner).
I wish he had written a tell all book on the "Fast & Furious" obama & holder assault on the 2nd admendment that got Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry killed.
who is this chairty?????/- free money is free money- look where you get your money from now- bet that most of it is dirty money- if the money is to be used for a worthy cause to feed hungry or help homeless- take it- or get out of the charity work-to refuse money for help-your not a real charity-----
Blowbama's money is dirty as well, yet HE has no problem taking billions in special-interest donations all for his cronies...
Once again, I suggest, if you don't know this "charity", look it up and read about it. Or ask the men and their widows, children and family members who are recipients of the good work this "charity" does. Look at their website and read:
"Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.
Statement of Purpose
Established to serve U.S. Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) support personnel, and their families, the Navy SEAL Foundation offers critical support to Naval Special Warfare commands, active-duty personnel, their families and veterans of NSW. As the duration and frequency of training and operational deployments continue, and the stress on the families and operators grows, this important community requires support today more than ever."
This is NOT some hoax charity set up to bilk the public but then uses contributions frivolously or to line the pockets of the founders. The foundation uses contributions exactly as they say in their Statement of Purpose. Their causes are worthy. Contributions go directly to the men and their families who are out "there" today and everyday doing the jobs they signed on to do. Why accuse them of taking "dirty money"? And they have the integrity not to want money from a book they do not condone because it conflicts with their philosophy!
THIS IS AMERICA BABY! Land of the Free, Home of the Brave!
I want to read this book. The author wants me to read this book. You don't like it? Kiss my ass.
Y'allz callz Obama communist? Y'allz the one's supporting a gubment trying to restrict what I can and can't read.
Take your lithium....... get some sleep !
Is this getting to funny or what??
The Pentagon has had a copy of the book, The White House has had a copy of the book and no NEITHER of them have condemned the author or found ANYTHING confidential, secret, or top secret in the book
It reads exactly like what it is a personal account of one mans activities
It's like saying "I went to the grocery store" or "I drove to town",,,,,You can speculate, You can guess, You can hope, But you cannot say for certain what I bought at the grocery store or what roads I took to town. I can talk all day long about working on radar systems, But unless I start quoting frequencies and specifics I have divulged absolutely NO military secrets.
This entire hooplah is the product of a couple of neo-conservative military personnel who are trying to be "in the news"
Plain and Simple, If the book held anything classified what-so-ever,,,,,,It would NOT be printed
WAKE UP
Talk about a poor choice of words; this is an implication that taking out the World's #1 Terrorist Leader was the equivalent of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
It is just too bad that they can't issue (as they do in the Military) Article 15's for Journalism; Although in this case a Section 8 discharge might be more to the point.
Disappointed that the organization is turning down any monies the book generates in profits. If it could in any way benefit the families of the soliders who died that seems like a benefit. Seems a little extreme and somewhat political to turn down the money. And who really cares that the SEAL disclosed information. Have we forgotten that the administration revealed information the next day?
@Bo-1925019
That about sums up my thoughts exactly. I might add that he would have consulted with all his team-mates to ensure many things and retain their trust. Amazing how people who havent yet read the book can claim they know what's in it and be all judgemental. SEALs do not sign confidentiality agreements. They sign Secrecy Agreements that has stated penalties under title 18USC. I wouldn't give the money to charity at all. I'd spend it all building a monument in Washington D.C. in honor of the SEALs. Their own monument. Just sayin.
Pay attention all you politicians out there, the Seal charity has just demonstrated what integrity is.
Read the book, it is just a war story. And i for one am glad i get to read the first hand account, however modified by the grunts who were there and not some trumped up byline from some PR folks in the pentagon or white house. ALL upset over how his account differs from the "official".Hey there are others, read "We got him" by retired Lt Col. and "Capturing Saddam" written by a still active duty Soldier. Whats the deal. He was a SEAL and served his country more honorably than most. And as a retired MI guy with 30 years of service, I didnt see anything wrong. get over it.
S-3...is that field operator S-3; or REMF S-3?
YOU don't see anything wrong? Who cares what you think. read below to see what SEALS think.
I worked NavSta SD and NAB Coronado. I got to know several operators. Craziest bastards I ever knew. I served 4 years with IMEF. These guys make Marines look tame! (Sorry, guys, I loved my FMF, too)
Would party with them....no matter how drunk....they would NEVER talk about what 'they had been into' Trust me, I tried. One that I got to know real well, gave me a knife, total of 5-6" long, as a token of friendship. I still have it. Has a big divit out of the non-serrated side of the blade. Said he was issued a new one because he "damaged it on someone". Still in touch and to this day try to get him to give me details.
SEALs and FMF Marines....no 2 groups as a whole are better people...I'd say field Corpsman, but would be egotistic.
This buttmunch author is the only SEAL, I have ever known to not live by that......it is theirs and theirs alone.
Watched charlie sheen on "Navy SEALs" too many times. groupie.
This seal that wrote this book, is looking for nothing but recognition, which is wrong wrong wrong! just couldn't keep his mouth shut, gotta get me some attention...and I don't blame this group for turning down the money, they know this seal sold out his country for fame...so plain as the nose on our face
Yeah, that's probably why he used a pen name.
How exactly did he sell out his country? Please give me some example of how he is getting recognition? Could you pick him out of a line up?
Maybe we Americans could not pick him out of a line-up; but rest assured, Islamic Terrorist Hit men danged well can.
PEOPLE: His real name has been leaked by a news network...don't want to use the network name....would turn it into a liberal vs conservative media masterdebation.
I have tried to find it, unsuccessful so far. but it has been leaked.
Let the facts come out before we judge. I took oaths etc in the 80s to never speak of activities and operations within S.O.D. And 25 years later never have. However, not sure this whithouse wants to point fingers regarding revealing "secrets"......Hmmmm
TIM,
S.O.D.???? I assume you mean DOD.
Cheney is still pissed off that Obama ran an endgame around him and his 'private contract' army known as the CIA and killed Bin Laden anyway. That is the real story here. The CIA knew exactly where Bin Laden was and if you see the video showing Cheney getting the call about Obama's raid, that knowledge is all over his face and he's enraged. You can really see what a dangerous fascist he is in that few seconds. The Retaliban Party's reaction to the news was also a dead give away of their conspiracy. The Retaliban's put the CIA in the Oval office when they elected Bush with Reagan as the front man. When a democrat is in the Oval office, then you know the CIA has a gun to the back of their head 24/7. Nuff said.
Are you wearing a tin-foil hat? Whatever you're smoking is making you hallucinate.
How can you tell what's going thru someone else's mind? I didn't see "KNOWLEDGE" written anywhere.
If Dick Chaney wanted Bin Ladin dead....Dick would have taken Osama hunting.
I've seen lots of pix of President Obama.....where is the guy with the gun to his head?
"NUF SAID"......that's the only thing you are right about. Go back to the Twilight Zone.
The young pup violated unwritten SEAL Code and written US Code....... give him his dues back and let the circus begin with his lawyer being disbarred for ignorance and stupidity....... his teammates have been endangered, including their families, and future missions are in jeopardy....... as much as I disagree with having a non-Veteran in the White House, the initial press release on the mission was crafted totally in keeping with SPECOP policy on unclassified release of necessary info.
You don't get called MasterChief unless you've earned it.
Thanx for your service.
Wouldn't 4 years of government service of some sort required of every citizen be cool?
Then, turn Congress over to the Retired E-9 community of all branches.....s**t would get done.
MASTER CHIEF Keep trying for that grant. The way things work you will probably get it.
BMCM, USN, RET 1960 Mar to 1991 Aug
Fair Winds
First of all they are Navy SEALs, NOT seals - an acronym, not an animal. If you don't know who they are and what they do, you should not be commenting. Secondly, all of you who have an opinion should take 2 minutes and make a donation to the Navy SEAL Foundation (navysealfoundation.org) or The Travis Manion Foundation (travismanion.com) or the Jessie Pittman Scholarship Fund or The Wounded Warrior Project. All of the organizations are legitimate and honor the service of American heroes. Third, we should not be talking about, buying books about, or broadcasting on national news information about the missions of our servicemen. SHUT UP AND PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS. Signed -- Mom of a brave and honorable Navy SEAL.
As the mother of a SEAL don't you feel that there shouldn't be a need for the charities you mentioned above because our government should be taking care of any needs a soldier or former soldier has(medical, schooling or mental health and decent wage/retirement)? Why are athletes and the cast of Jersey Shore, among others, getting paid more than our service men and women? Why shouldn't this man profit from his book when his bosses(our government) and the media have already released names and other confidential information? Finally, as American tax payers we should have the right to know exactly what our money is helping to fund(ie: missions, weapons etc.) Lets be realistic this book is not going to teach anyone who wants to execute an attack on America (or anywhere else for that matter) anything they don't already know or information that they couldn't get access to in another way.
ALICIA, LOLOLOLOL......
Why is the cast of Jersey Shore even in our face....let alone getting paid.
My son tells me it's entertainment.
Correct about....the people we are trying to keep info from, probly have it. The people that don't have it, don't care.
But anytime we can secure a source of information....make em find that other source.
Sure I think the government should provide everything our survivors need, but since I AM REALISTIC, that isn't going to happen today or tomorrow. So... meanwhile, we as Americans who have the right to express our opinions, should do what we can do to support our servicemen and their families. Is is better to spend $15 or $20 on a book that is going to benefit publishers and someone who has chosen to divulge information his teammates and their families feel he should not divulge, or is it better to donate that money to a worthwhile charity? If you knew the guys who serve on the Teams, you would realize they vow to " draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates". The guys on the Teams do not respect his decision to publish a book, so the Navy SEAL Foundation has every right to decline money from the sales of the book. Do you not have the common sense to realize this kind of publicity further incites the insurgents to attack the guys who are in active war zones? Don't you read the news and realize what is happening everyday to the guys who are working with and training the locals? Don't you realize that the SEALS who live among us in the United States try to keep their identities and the identities of their families secure so they don't have to worry about the safety of their family members? Have you ever been the wife, daughter or mother of a member of the military? (My husband and son have both served in the Navy.) Have you ever had to say goodbye to your son knowing he is going into the most dangerous situations imaginable? Have you ever had to say goodbye to your husband so he can go away to defend the rights and freedoms of the people who express some of the idiotic opinions I have read regarding this story? As AMERICANS, we do not NEED to know everything the military is doing on a day to day or mission to mission basis. Remember the old saying" Loose lips sink ships?" It still applies! I repeat -- make a donation and do something productive. Don't just blather about issues you don't understand. If you don't know what the organizations I listed do for our service members and their families, you could use the time you are wasting reading the book in question and read about the foundations instead.
Read more: #ixzz25oaKM66T
Sharon,
Thank your son for me....and tell him I think he's crazy....like a fox.
Have you done anything to help try and change the way our military personnel is treated by the government? Before you ask, yes I have. I write letters/emails and make phone calls on a continuous basis trying to get our legislators to consider a change.
I do have common sense and it leads me to believe that insurgents that do have the time to watch CNBC, FOX etc are not being encouraged to attack because of what they see on the news but from what they see going on right on front of them. I am fully aware of what is happening on a daily basis because I find it important to continually educate myself on the world I live in.
I have several family members and friends that have served in several branches of the military and have sent someone I loved deeply to war to never see him return, then saw as my family was disrespected by the Army personal who came to deliver the news and watched as my family was further disrespected by Army for months after he was killed.
Allow me to correct you on one point, our soldiers are not fighting a war to protect our freedom to comment here or to express our opinions anywhere. In fact, since the beginning of this war MANY of our freedoms have been taken from us. We are fighting a war in a country that had nothing to do with 9-11 under the guise of retaliation for 9-11. I am PROUD and THANKFUL for the men and women who risk their lives everyday BUT it disgusts me that they are there under false pretenses, they are not taken care of the way they should be, they are using our brothers, sisters, fathers, mother, sons, daughter, our loved ones as pawns in their sick, real life game of Risk.
As for your "loose lips sink ships" reference...YES, Americans should have a right to that information if they want it. Do you really think that if the government offered us a way to have access to that information(after the mission was completed) that every single person in America would go look it up and then proceed to discuss it at length? NO, because THE MAJORITY DOESN'T CARE. It's sad but true, most Americans have no clue what is really going on or why we are still fighting because America has become the narcissist nation, if it doesn't benefit them they don't care. For the select few who care to look outside themselves and want to know what is going on, the information should be available. Period.
Lastly, I think it is pretty clear that I am not "blathering about issues I don't understand." Again, I am an educated individual with strong opinions that I can express without insulting the person I am having a disagreement with. It would be nice if you could do the same.
Tom, I understand what you are saying by making them go to another source, but THAT is the point, there is always another source and even the government gets hacked on a regular basis. It's crap but it's reality, there is really no way to keep information secure.
On a lighter note.. Maybe the fighting continues because they have seen Jersey Shore and are hell bent on exterminating ALL Americans.
Finally! the answer to why they hate us.
I saw some of the most ridiculous information in Secret Documents.
How the hell do any of you above KNOW what was marked "SECRET" or why. Are you in the Chain-of-Command or custody of the information?
Telling people to read the dam book means nothing to those of us who don't know or care about spec ops secrets. It is about "gleening the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle the way I was told". A piece here, a piece there.....all of a sudden the enemy has the big picture.
Pretty much says it all...VFW...I refused to join and wish they'd stop trying. Group of people who think they know better and are better than everyone else. Resting on their laurels and beer-bellies.
More people busted for DUI within a few blocks of VFW than the rest of town. Yeah, I'm a retired vet but spend my time volunteering, and working the election polls instead of sitting in the VFW commiserating with others hanging on to the past.
That is why I don't like the VFW. Bet ya' couldn't tell.
And this BOY is an insult to every spec operator who did their job and kept their mouth shut. THAT is brotherhood, loyalty, and patriotism.
I heard his real name got leaked. GOOD!!! Now let's sit back and watch what "loose lips" will do for him. Al Queda has a serious bounty AND hard-on to get one or all of these guys.
If they can kidnap him, he will probly give up the names of the entire team under torture.
GEE, it's only his name that got out there, what's the harm in that???
So, why don't you VFW bozos go have another beer, sit down, and be quiet. You don't know any more than I do....and I can't believe the flippant attitude about national security.....ridiculous info or not.
Oh yeah, the dam hat tells me you were a "ZERO". Figures............took the act of Congress to make you an Officer and idiot.
Take the $$ an donate it to Wounded Warriors or (they just had a story re:) Vets with PTSD & the VA denying them service dogs - give it to them with the stipulation that it goes for that purpose!
The Pakistani doctor who found bin Laden has already been outed by the Obama campaign. This author must not be prosecuted until after those in the Obama administration and campaign have been brought to justice.
The assets of the Obama campaign should be siezed before the proceeds of this book.
Robert56
You say that the BUMMER has had nothing but respect for our military. Well let me just mention one, and probably the first, in total disrespect and that was the day he said that he wanted the troops to pay their own medical bills since they all volunteered to join and go to war. REAL RESPECT don't you think?
WHAAAAAAT? Mike, I take from your post above you are a retired MasterChief.
Where in the HELL did you find that. I try to stay up on news about the few the proud the military and vets.....
nowhere never have I seen that.
Give me a reference source or I'm gonna take your health record to the fantail and make it fly!!!! :)
Guess what I was and don't say peckerchecker or I'll call you a deckape.
You are real Navy and MasterChief. I respect and thank you for that. FYI I did my seaduty with FMF...IMEF four years.
Just so you know....I have 20 years active Naval service, only screwed up by 30 days on one of those big grey boats. FMF HAS to depend on you for that....but I didn't like it. GQ drills, slammin' hatches. Like being locked in a coffin, just couldn't do it.
Plus the fact that Blowbama's big "plan" is to cut our military budget to the bone to pay for Jokebamacare (among other Gub'ment departments and programs facing severe cuts...). WAKE UP America. The whole operation was a SHAM. Bin Laden was already dead and Mr. OBlame-a used the operation for political gain. I would like to know why there was no video or pictures or other proof that we truly got Bin Laden. Up until now, it has been the word of the president, a few photos of the 'situation room' (Hi Hilary...watcha lookin at?), one photoshopped 'death' picture with Bin Laden's chin pasted onto the bullet-riddled head of some unknown Pakistani, and the left-wing media's cracker jack "reporting". There seemed to be PLENTY of video and pictures and reporting around the world when Saddam Hussein bought the farm....and yet, the Bin Laden operation was wrapped up nice and neatly and swept under the proverbial rug. Where was the body?Oh, that's right...supposedly dumped into the briny blue.... What happened to Obama's promise to bring Bin Laden back alive? How about Obama's promise of a military tribunal? I would have thought there would have been fanfares and parades and tea parties (no pun intended...) for 'killing' the greatest criminal of the past 60 years...I find it fascinating that so much happened, yet so little happened. Add to that, the sheer gall and egotism of Mr. Obama for taking all the credit for something that was purely staged. It boggles. The gullibility of Americans...true lemmings.
White Sox Fan...the name figures. Real fans are CUB FANS.
Dipstick. the proof you are talking about does exist...with a big "SECRET or TOP SECRET" on it.
IN SOME CIRCLES THERE IS STILL RESPECT FOR THOSE THINGS.
Take your paranoia and go find a Conspiracy Theory website.
Your rant is just foolish nonsense. Everybody acts all shocked about it bein a kill or capture mission. So what if they don't come right out and say they had no intention of taking bin Ladin alive. Think of the cost of 'keeping' him.
And I don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that Al Queda would have cooked up a hostage situation if he were indeed in our custody.
Your blanket statement about Mr Obama 'taking all the credit' is ludicrous. I bet you think the lunar landing was staged also.
Mr. Obama rightfully deserves the credit as Commander-in-Chief for giving the order which set the rest of the operation in motion. Heroes from top to bottom. Consider the courage to say "GO", knowing that a billion things could go wrong, and political career would be in the toilet.
I guess everyone involved has far more brains and guts than you sitting at your computer spouting nonsense.
Oh, and throwing parties and rejoicing in the death of a combatant.......only one of small mind would think it to be appropriate.
Sit back and think how you felt when Somalians celebrated and paraded the bodies of our soldiers. How did you feel watching the hostage beheaded on video. How did you feel watching people rejoice in the streets on 9/11.
If you want to be judged to be that calibre of person.....go throw a party and one man parade.
One thing I couldn't determine from the article:
Did Buttmunch Owen offer money to the SEAL foundation, or was this article about a "pre-emptive strike"? like, don't bother 'cause we don't want your money.
Good way to get the existence of a support organization out there. I been around them and never even knew this existed...assumed they would be supported by Navy Marine Corps Relief Society.
What a great deal. Not taking away from the families of ALL deployed military.....but I don't even want to THINK about the effect on SEAL families when their SEAL is gone....nobody ever knows where they are going when they are gone, or what dangerous stuff they are doing.
Let me say to all family of military members....THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. I try to do that whenever I see or hear a vet.
I just did my job, but I served with an awful lot of outstanding individuals...even some real heros.