Posted on Sep 6, 2015
Do you think books about the Special Operations community should be allowed?
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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/
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/
Posted in these groups: 
National Security
National Security
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 11
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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CSM Carl Cunningham
What about a reporter, like in the book I mentioned, that got his information verbally from persons in that community?
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CW5 (Join to see)
There is a balance that has to be maintained. Reporters can protect their sources in order to ensure that people actually talk to the press. The crux is when the person reveals classified information to someone who is not cleared or has 'need to know'.
Those types of sources should be drawn out and publicly exposed. It is unfortunate that social media has propped these types of people as modern day heroes.
Those types of sources should be drawn out and publicly exposed. It is unfortunate that social media has propped these types of people as modern day heroes.
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