While I fully appreciate and respect the idea that secrets must be maintained for a variety of reasons, I think a major play here is that why can’t the military members make money on their fame just like the politicians do? I mean, if Obama and his staff can leak the information for political and financial gain then why can’t the frogs leak it for the same reasons? The information is going to be leaked so why let the polidiots have all the glory?
Clinton leaked information that still has the intelligence community hurting and no one said anything so it has continued to this day. There has been a systematic dismantling of our most critical secrets that the general public would never know about, so this isn’t just about the SEAL teams, but about the entire presidential level players due to an abuse by the likes of Clinton, Obama and others at that level, including some Republican players. The necessary level of trust by the military operators of the executive branch just isn’t there anymore. No one trusts anyone else anymore.
When there is a breakdown in discipline and loyalty to the country by those in DC it will affect all levels of players.
But recently retired SEALs should stick to a higher standard. It is their own buddies who are still down range. That said, I haven't read the new book, and don't know how many operational secrets have or have not been compromised.
Admiral McRaven, the top SEAL on active duty, who is now threatening jail to SEALs who write unapproved books, also sets a terrible example, glory-hounding the OBL raid in his own way. He's spoken at Soros' "Aspen Institute" and other venues where he promotes specwar (and himself) as if he were a corporate CEO flogging a new product line. His brown-nosing of Hillary Clinton has also been disgusting to watch. And not even POTUS can force him to pimp himself in uniform, wearing his SEAL trident at the last SOTUA on camera while Obama thanked him for the OBL raid. He could have bowed out of that gig, but didn't.
Instead of looking for a book or movie deal payout, McRaven seems to be angling for political office or an agency directorship after he retires in the near future. SEALs are already dangerously overexposed, and McRaven is just another self-promoting glory hound at this point.
There has been a generation weaned on self-disclosure, (probably done to get dirt on their parents) between the VN Era SEALS and those now serving. The whole culture has gone nuts about gossip shows, magazines, Facebook, and other emetic media which provide information about personal lives once held sacrosanct.
So few understand operational security because they practice no discretion whatsoever in their private lives. Instead, the revelation of all is lauded, and those who do not are suspect.