Do you think books about the Special Operations community should be allowed?

CSM Carl Cunningham — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 17:08:05 -0400

There have been many books written in recent years about the special operations community. This new one, "Relentless Strike" is one of many that detail the operations and structure of units in the SOF community. Now, I do not consider a book equal to the press. It isn't an article, it isn't breaking news. So I would like to hear thoughts from RP if we should allow these books (which could potentially harm national security) to be publicized.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/09/01/six-little-known-stories-about-secretive-joint-special-operations-command-as-told-in-a-new-book/

Six little-known stories about secretive Joint Special Operations Command, as told in a new book

'Relentless Strike,' written by veteran journalist Sean Naylor, was released Tuesday.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 6 at 2015 5:11 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 17:11:05 -0400

Yes as long as they have reviewed with sensitive information redacted CSM Carl Cunningham. Operations that can be found in open source information should be able to be written about with sensitive information redacted. As I told my son in 3/75 Rangers years ago if the operation is not listed in open sources don't discuss it.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 6 at 2015 5:35 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 17:35:11 -0400

In the US, it's never about what should be "allowed." It's always specifically about why something should be disallowed. Everything is allowed until the Government can give a very pressing reason why it shouldn't be.

When it really boils down to, we can find the information. We can put it together. Research can make amazing leaps, and those leaps by an "outside source" are the press, but an inside source aren't? Where do we draw the line?

So what we do is have it go through the channels, and sanitize it. Make sure there is no classified. And that's it. Find the stuff that can't be put out there, and remove it.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 6 at 2015 6:04 PM

SGT Scott Bell — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 18:04:20 -0400

Response by SFC Joseph James made Sep 6 at 2015 10:08 PM

SFC Joseph James — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 22:08:03 -0400

Change the Names, Places, and don't talk about Secret stuff? Good with me!

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 2:35 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 02:35:03 -0400

Just because you can, does not mean you should.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 10:00 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:00:29 -0400

It depends. National security should not be harmed in the process but memoirs or the like can be published in a way and a time that this won't happen. I think a book on any real military event should probably be screened by the pentagon (who I'm sure has specific positions for this already) to ensure declassification. The problem is the border between that and free speech. It's a hard line to find.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 10:09 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:09:37 -0400

Masters degrees are usually only very loosely based your Undergrad degree if at all. If you want a technical masters you may have some prerequisites for it. An MBA (the most common masters) doesn't matter at all what degree you had before.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 7 at 2015 9:33 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 21:33:44 -0400

No. The less the enemy knows the better the missions will become.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 11:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 23:53:59 -0400

When soldiers leave an assignment involving classified work, they have to sign a non-disclosure agreement; if they violated that non-disclosure agreement, then there should be appropriate consequences. I would assume that if a retired or former member writes a book about such operations, it would be looked over by security and public affairs people to make sure classified/sensitive info is not released. I would assume there is such a process in place for authors before publishing a book.
That being said, I would think the spec ops community should determine some things that can be released in order to develop public support and encourage recruitment. Obviously, classified or sensitive information that can aid the enemy must be edited out.

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Sep 8 at 2015 12:26 AM

SPC George Rudenko — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 00:26:29 -0400

We know of the great stories from OSS to Combined Ops teams (my Dad was in one in WWII) and people want to know that stories. The books provide insight but can NEVER provide an inside the ropes look. Think of all that really goes into special ops? Air, land, sea assets. Air support, supply, intel from all sources, planning, and finally implementation. Nobody understands all that other stuff, so if someone sees an operator shooting like Annie Oakley. There is a lot that the layperson doesn't know, and these story books won't begin to tell them.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 10:07 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:07:40 -0500

So long as the operators are out, no classified data is released, and other laws are adhered to (protection of individual names etc.)