On September 11th, the 11th anniversary of the largest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, a book is going to be released that has the potential to send shockwaves throughout our country and the world. “No Easy Day” by Mark Owen (a pseudonym) is a first-hand narrative on the finding and killing of our former Public Enemy #1 Osama bin Laden. The author, who’s real name has been revealed, used a pen name and changed the names of the other operators to protect their identities and the identities of their loved ones from potential attacks. Another reason, just as important, for this is because some of them are current and active members of the SEAL teams or Intelligence agencies. I respect these men’s privacy which is why I for one will not use his real name, even if it is out in the open. If you want to know who he is then all you have to Google the book.
Since word came out about this book being written there have been a number of issues being discussed in the popular media from: “are they allowed to reveal this information?” to “is this politically motivated?” I am a member of the military, but I have not written a book, so I cannot speak from person experience, but often the Department of Defense will review books written by members of the service for accuracy and to ensure that no classified material is being leaked. As far as I know this is not required, but never the less a reasonable thing to do.
In this case, the author is no longer in the military. As he is not in the military any longer the DoD doesn’t have control over what he chooses to write and he isn’t obligated to share his book with them.
As for the issue of “is the release of this book politically motivated?”… well that’s a tough one. I don’t know the author so I don’t know his motivation. It’s no secret that a safe majority of the military would say that they lean more toward the Conservative side of the political spectrum. Given that fact, there is reason to believe that this could be politically motivated, but I would like to throw out there another more powerful reason for the book: Pride, regular every day pride.
I am sure that these men are proud of the fact that they finally rid the Earth of this terrorist. Even more so, I believe they were tired of their efforts and the effort of the intelligence community being misrepresented and credit being taken from them by people who had little to nothing to do with the actual mission. In the military, being able to trust the person next to you is important. When there is a question as to whether the truth is being told, that trust goes away.
I am a big reader, especially when it comes to Military History. I’m very much looking forward to reading this book when it comes out, and probably not getting much sleep in the process because I have the feeling I won’t want to put it down.
When I think of this book I don’t think of ulterior motives, I think about how I am going to be able to find out what actually happened without a Government or Media filter on it. Some may try and discredit it because the author isn’t using his real name, but I don’t care if I ever found out who these quiet professionals are. I’m sure in 50 years it will be declassified, but for me, just knowing that these brave Americans in the military and intelligence communities exist is enough for me.
If Owens ever held a clearance (and of course he did), the responsibility of protecting classified information does not end when he leaves cleared employment. He should have asked the DoD to review his book prior to publication.
Was in over forty years ago. Odd thing. You’d hear, from a lifer, about “these burly guys running around Country X with crew cuts, hawaian shirts, kakhi pants, low quarters and white socks, thinking they fit in.” Ostensibly, it was, “these guys, sheesh”, but the take away was “country X”. There’d be rumors. Then a novel. Then it comes out. See Site 185. Ended better in the book some years earlier. “Barbara” aka “Hell Has No Heroes”, about tankers in the ETO kept referring to the disaster at Slapton Sands as a storm. But it was never classified, at least… Read more »
I watched two different news segments on two differnt networks, Fox, and NBC.
In the reporting of Fox, it was reported that mony raised from this book would go to charity but NBC, known for doing this sort of thing, made it sound like the author wrote the book just to make some money. Now who do you say is more fair and balanced in there reporting?
When the book comes out, I want to read this book and I want it as it has been written.