Letters to the Editor
National security details should be kept secret
I fully understand our constitutional right to freedom of speech, so allow me to start by slightly paraphrasing our First Lady's words spoken nearly four years ago.
For the first time in my adult life, I am ashamed of our president.
While filtering through a stack of recent e-mails, I nearly deleted one except for the sender had attached a “must see” which caught my attention. The email included a video, and despite nearly 21 minutes in length, I watched and listened in sheer amazement as both current and former Navy SEALs, high ranking national security personnel and generals berated President Obama for his open-mouthed boasting in the hours and days following the successful raid to rid the world of Osama bin Laden.
Hang on, it gets better. Not only did they accuse the president of taking full credit for giving the green light to proceed with the plan, but they said he revealed numerous national security secrets which will undoubtedly jeopardize future attempts concerning covert actions.
He has given our enemy a blueprint for defensive awareness and success. He outwardly named those who participated in the raid and held a front yard party for all to see. This blunder immediately placed those soldiers and their families in harm’s way.
Our military personnel sign on to do a job and they do it better than anyone. We train, equip and give them every opportunity to secure the upper hand, regardless of the task at hand. We even decorate these brave men and women when it is appropriate to do so without breaching our national security.
The element of surprise complements security. Strike the enemy at a time or place in a manner for which he is unprepared. Surprise plays a tremendous role in both strategy and tactics. Our history books are littered with battles and wars won due to the element of surprise.
Mr. President, I firmly believe you have overstepped your boundaries as our commander-in-chief solely for political gain. Congress has passed laws and statutes that punish conduct which undermines the government or national security. The
discipline administered is to be both severe and vigorously carried out. If my deceased father, a WWII Marine veteran, were still alive, he would personally lead a charge up the White House steps. And I dare, no double dare, anyone who supports the president’s brazen leak of intel to meet me a Fountain Square at high noon.
The writer lives in Pawleys Island.
Editor’s note: The nonpartisan PolitiFact has determined many of the allegations in this video, “Dishonorable Disclosures,” to be either untrue or heavily skewed. Find more information at their website, politifact.com.
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