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Gates: We Agreed We Wouldn’t Release Details About Operation Against OBL But 'That All Fell Apart'
ABC News ^ | May 12, 2011 2:41 PM | Jake Tapper

Posted on 05/13/2011 10:03:28 AM PDT by newzjunkey

Speaking at a town hall with Marines at Camp Lejeune on Thursday morning, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Special Forces who participated in the successful mission to kill Osama bin Laden were worried about their safety, and that he was concerned that so many details of the operation had become known to the public.

“Frankly, a week ago Sunday, in the Situation Room, we all agreed that we would not release any operational details from the effort to take out bin Laden,” Gates said. “That all fell apart on Monday -- the next day.”

Gates’ response was prompted by a question from a Marine in a Medical Logistics Company, who asked “what measures are being taken to protect the identities and the lives of the SEAL team members, as well as the lives of military forces deployed that might have to face extreme retaliation from terrorist organizations that want to have those identities known?”

Gates said that “there is an awareness that the threat of retaliation is increased because…of the action against bin Laden. “ He said there “has been a consistent and effective effort to protect the identities of those who participated in the raid, and I think that has to continue.”

The defense secretary said that “when I met with the team last Thursday, they expressed a concern about that, and particularly with respect to their families…I can't get into the details in this forum, but we are looking at what measures can be taken to pump up the security.”

Asked for further clarification of Gates’ remarks, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said that Secretary Gates was "not pointing fingers at any particular individual or any particular building" for details becoming known. "But all of a sudden airwaves and newspapers were filled with details about a covert military and intelligence operation and that's concerning because one of the reasons that these operations -- and this operation in particular -- are effective is because how they do their work, how they're equipped, how they're trained, their tactics and procedures are all secret. The more that's in the public domain the less likely we'll be able to pull these operations off in the future."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2012; binladen; gates; obama; obl; osama; spikingtheball
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Full title was too long: "Robert Gates: We Had Agreed We Wouldn’t Release Details About the Operation Against OBL But 'That All Fell Apart'"
1 posted on 05/13/2011 10:03:34 AM PDT by newzjunkey
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To: newzjunkey

I really am beginning to hate this administration. Prayers for those who carried out the mission and their families.


2 posted on 05/13/2011 10:05:29 AM PDT by proud American in Canada (To paraphrase Sarah Palin: "I love when the liberals get all wee-wee'd up.")
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To: newzjunkey

And Panetta insisting the SEALs made the kill decision all on their own. They, the SEALs turned off their cameras for 25 min.

This administration has turned this kill into the butt of jokes around the world. Deadly results will be realized everywhere.

This is O’s brand of brilliance. This from the man the left said is so smart taking the presidency was a step down?

God help us.


3 posted on 05/13/2011 10:06:18 AM PDT by Carley (We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail. W, 9/20/01)
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To: newzjunkey

After the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan.....These idiots believe Americans can’t handle seeing the pictures of this idiot? Give me a break. These guys need to be run out of our government.


4 posted on 05/13/2011 10:06:51 AM PDT by RC2
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To: newzjunkey

The only thing that distinguishes this operation from Desert 1 is the fact that none of our guys got killed. Other than that it’s a complete cluster****.


5 posted on 05/13/2011 10:07:05 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: newzjunkey
My guess: these leaks came from the WH to help make Lt. Commando 0bam Bam look like the military action hero toy doll that Nancy Pelosi knows he is.
6 posted on 05/13/2011 10:07:44 AM PDT by mojito
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To: newzjunkey

7 posted on 05/13/2011 10:08:26 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: proud American in Canada
I really am beginning to hate this administration

Only now?

8 posted on 05/13/2011 10:09:06 AM PDT by grobdriver (Proud Member, Party Of No! No Socialism - No Fascism - Nobama - No Way!)
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To: proud American in Canada

I went way beyond hate a long time ago.


9 posted on 05/13/2011 10:09:55 AM PDT by surrey
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To: newzjunkey

Real title;
“Robert Gates: We Had Agreed We Wouldn’t Release Details About the Operation Against OBL But ‘That All Fell Apart’” because of Ubama’s Big Mouth.”


10 posted on 05/13/2011 10:10:37 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: proud American in Canada
I really am beginning to hate this administration.

I agree. It is absolutely disgusting what is being allowed.
We need a leader that says release details and that's your @ss. This administration is an abomination. God will certainly have a say so for the decisions made during this time. Putting people's lives at stake who have defended our country - already putting their lives at stake is hideous and heinous.

11 posted on 05/13/2011 10:13:41 AM PDT by Bitsy (!)
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To: surrey; grobdriver; All

LOL! No, I guess it’s been for quite some time, but I was trying to be polite. :)


12 posted on 05/13/2011 10:13:43 AM PDT by proud American in Canada (To paraphrase Sarah Palin: "I love when the liberals get all wee-wee'd up.")
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To: newzjunkey

There’s an old saying that two people can keep a secret only if one of them is dead.


13 posted on 05/13/2011 10:15:04 AM PDT by fredhead (Liberals think globally, reason rectally, act idiotically.)
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To: newzjunkey
"Robert Gates: We Had Agreed We Wouldn’t Release Details About the Operation Against OBL But 'That All Fell Apart...
...because there's a reelection campaign to be run"

14 posted on 05/13/2011 10:15:27 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen (The 'Land of Opportunity'... NOW BECOMING... The 'Land of Entitlements'!!!)
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To: Owl_Eagle

I keep seeing this picture. Who IS this guy?


15 posted on 05/13/2011 10:15:41 AM PDT by SMARTY (Conforming to non-conformity is conforming just the same.)
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DONATE


16 posted on 05/13/2011 10:15:54 AM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: newzjunkey

What’s important to our commiemedia, our SEALs safety or their messiah’s re-election?

God Bless our Troops


17 posted on 05/13/2011 10:16:31 AM PDT by bray (What do you think of water boarding now, Obama?)
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To: newzjunkey
I'm thinking the Seals should go "full Valerie Plame" on the jacka**es in the WH - 0bama and Biden. And this time it would be for the actual leaking of covert operatives' identities.

Can you say Intelligence Identities Protection Act (IIPA)? Paging Patrick Fitzgerald. Please pick up the white courtesy phone in the lobby.

Fitzmas anyone?

18 posted on 05/13/2011 10:17:02 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free!)
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To: newzjunkey
Meh...what's a few innocent family members of SEALs safety? We're talking about POLL numbers - THAT's what's important.

As Biden would say..."this is a big f*****g deal!"

Obama is an embarassment - to national security, to patriotic Americans...to anyone that holds liberty near and dear...

19 posted on 05/13/2011 10:17:22 AM PDT by NorCoGOP (Obama's approval ratings: so low that Kenyans now accuse him of being born in the USA)
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To: newzjunkey
I've never agreed with this policy. Terrorists have never struck within the U.S. against operators or family members as specific revenge, and they're not hard to find. You could shoot random people in North Carolina and have a 50/50 chance of hitting someone involved in the GWOT.

I used to joke with my commander about updating my Facebook page with operations I've been on, different objectives, etc. Why hide? That's good advertising. OPSEC be damned, let the terrorists know what they're in store for if they come knocking. Fear of consequences is the only deterrent that they understand.

(Obviously, most people don't feel that way, and I respect the rights of those wishing to remain anonymous to do so, etc, etc.)

20 posted on 05/13/2011 10:22:19 AM PDT by Steel Wolf ("There are moderate Muslims, but Islam itself is not moderate." - Ibn Warraq)
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