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From: The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A Navy official says the service is investigating an allegation that the former Navy SEAL who claims he shot and killed Osama bin Laden may have revealed classified information to those not authorized to receive it.
Robert O'Neill has given numerous interviews since coming forward to say he was part of the operation that culminated in the death of the al-Qaida leader. O'Neill told The Associated Press last month that he has taken pains not to divulge classified information or compromise SEAL tactics.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Navy, Cdr. Ryan Perry, said in a statement that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service had received an allegation that O'Neill may have revealed classified information to persons not authorized to receive such information. "In response, NCIS has initiated an investigation to determine the merit of the allegations," Perry said.
A call to a spokeswoman for O'Neill was not immediately returned Tuesday night.
The revelations by O'Neill, who joined the Navy in 1995 and won two Silver and five Bronze Stars during his service, has generated discord among some current and former SEALs for breaking a code of silence regarding their missions. O'Neill has said that he believes the public has a right to know more details of the 2011 mission to bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Pentagon officials have said that it's not clear whose shots actually killed bin Laden. Another SEAL, Matt Bissonnette, has suggested that the point man who led the way to bin Laden's bedroom fired the fatal shots, and that bin Laden was already down when he and a second SEAL, presumably O'Neill, shot bin Laden.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/12/24/bin-laden-shooter-told/20850231/
WASHINGTON — A Navy official says the service is investigating an allegation that the former Navy SEAL who claims he shot and killed Osama bin Laden may have revealed classified information to those not authorized to receive it.
Robert O'Neill has given numerous interviews since coming forward to say he was part of the operation that culminated in the death of the al-Qaida leader. O'Neill told The Associated Press last month that he has taken pains not to divulge classified information or compromise SEAL tactics.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Navy, Cdr. Ryan Perry, said in a statement that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service had received an allegation that O'Neill may have revealed classified information to persons not authorized to receive such information. "In response, NCIS has initiated an investigation to determine the merit of the allegations," Perry said.
A call to a spokeswoman for O'Neill was not immediately returned Tuesday night.
The revelations by O'Neill, who joined the Navy in 1995 and won two Silver and five Bronze Stars during his service, has generated discord among some current and former SEALs for breaking a code of silence regarding their missions. O'Neill has said that he believes the public has a right to know more details of the 2011 mission to bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Pentagon officials have said that it's not clear whose shots actually killed bin Laden. Another SEAL, Matt Bissonnette, has suggested that the point man who led the way to bin Laden's bedroom fired the fatal shots, and that bin Laden was already down when he and a second SEAL, presumably O'Neill, shot bin Laden.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/12/24/bin-laden-shooter-told/20850231/
Posted in these groups: 
Osama Bin Laden
Navy
Osama Bin Laden Navy
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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He revealed details of a "special operation". It's that simple to me. The very fact that he was part of the operation is a detail. While the official existence of SEALS is common knowledge, their names are known only inside certain circles. Thier anonymity keeps them safe. The very nature of the media-at-large almost requires them (the media) to push for further details, if they have been given even the most inconsequential information.
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Suspended Profile
Please keep in mind the typical Military / Government / Contractor Non-Disclosure Agreement makes specific reference to the Classification Standards set forth in Executive Order 13526 and similar information security classification rules.
o http://www.archives.gov/isoo/security-forms/sf312.pdf
o http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-classified-national-security-information
The government will be required to demonstrate purportedly improperly disclosed information was clearly identified, properly classified, and subject to an organized classified information maintenance and disclosure control system.
The government will be required to demonstrate purportedly improperly disclosed information reasonably could be expected to cause damage to national security that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe.
These standards for prosecution may be difficult for the government to meet where a covert operation takes place in an uncontrolled environment where multiple independent witnesses not subject to any classified information control system survive in a position to disclose the purportedly improperly disclosed information.
Three foreign national women were in the room when UBL was killed . . . not subject to any US security laws.
With exception of nuclear weapons design information . . . I am unaware of any information automatically considered to be classified from birth . . . including personal observations . . . without substantially more due diligence effort by the government to clearly identify and control purportedly classified information and disclosures.
Seal tradition notwithstanding, it is hard to believe a very highly decorated covert operator committed a criminal act.
Given extensive disclosures to date . . . what purportedly improperly disclosed information remains classified?
o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Osama_bin_Laden
o http://www.archives.gov/isoo/security-forms/sf312.pdf
o http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-classified-national-security-information
The government will be required to demonstrate purportedly improperly disclosed information was clearly identified, properly classified, and subject to an organized classified information maintenance and disclosure control system.
The government will be required to demonstrate purportedly improperly disclosed information reasonably could be expected to cause damage to national security that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe.
These standards for prosecution may be difficult for the government to meet where a covert operation takes place in an uncontrolled environment where multiple independent witnesses not subject to any classified information control system survive in a position to disclose the purportedly improperly disclosed information.
Three foreign national women were in the room when UBL was killed . . . not subject to any US security laws.
With exception of nuclear weapons design information . . . I am unaware of any information automatically considered to be classified from birth . . . including personal observations . . . without substantially more due diligence effort by the government to clearly identify and control purportedly classified information and disclosures.
Seal tradition notwithstanding, it is hard to believe a very highly decorated covert operator committed a criminal act.
Given extensive disclosures to date . . . what purportedly improperly disclosed information remains classified?
o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Osama_bin_Laden
CPT Jack Durish
As usual, you reveal the irony of the situation. You juxtapose a precise discussion of the need for security with an illustration of details that seem to contravene the essence of security.
That being said, allow me to address one of your final points: "Seal tradition notwithstanding, it is hard to believe a very highly decorated covert operator committed a criminal act."
I believe that every person has their breaking point. I saw excellent soldiers in Vietnam driven to the edge by combat loses that were the direct result of politically motivated Rules of Engagement, who then committed criminal acts out of frustration. Is it possible that the shooter of Osama Bin Laden was similarly frustrated to see his Commander-in-Chief using classified information, and most egregiously naming the specific clandestine group who participated in the operation, as he took a very public victory lap as though the achievement and all glory for it were his?
Does this excuse a criminal act? Hell no. It is merely an attempt to understand why a "very highly decorated covert operator [purportedly] committed a criminal act".
That being said, allow me to address one of your final points: "Seal tradition notwithstanding, it is hard to believe a very highly decorated covert operator committed a criminal act."
I believe that every person has their breaking point. I saw excellent soldiers in Vietnam driven to the edge by combat loses that were the direct result of politically motivated Rules of Engagement, who then committed criminal acts out of frustration. Is it possible that the shooter of Osama Bin Laden was similarly frustrated to see his Commander-in-Chief using classified information, and most egregiously naming the specific clandestine group who participated in the operation, as he took a very public victory lap as though the achievement and all glory for it were his?
Does this excuse a criminal act? Hell no. It is merely an attempt to understand why a "very highly decorated covert operator [purportedly] committed a criminal act".
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It is my understanding that the details of special operations such as the one that assassinated Osama Bin Laden are kept secret to prevent other targets from knowing and preparing for the tactics employed, both in preparing and executing the operation. Thus, it is tempting to condemn O'Neill's disclosures. However, it appears that he revealed little more than did the President in taking his victory lap as he announced the death of Bin Laden except to correct certain misconceptions created by the President's versions of events.
Obviously, we will have to wait until the matter is put before an impartial judicial body that has access to all of the facts and the time and wisdom to give the matter due consideration. I must admit that I possess none of these qualifications, especially impartiality.
Impartiality may be the most difficult to find. The current President and Administration have garnered more distrust than any other in my lifetime which spans Presidents Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama. For this reason, I doubt if the majority of Americans will accept their judgment regardless of what it may be.
Obviously, we will have to wait until the matter is put before an impartial judicial body that has access to all of the facts and the time and wisdom to give the matter due consideration. I must admit that I possess none of these qualifications, especially impartiality.
Impartiality may be the most difficult to find. The current President and Administration have garnered more distrust than any other in my lifetime which spans Presidents Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama. For this reason, I doubt if the majority of Americans will accept their judgment regardless of what it may be.
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