OPSEC forms to combat intel leaks, launches 'Dishonorable Disclosures'

By Kerry Patton

OPSEC's motto sums up the standard for special ops and special forces; secrecy is key. [Screen snip from OPSEC website]Former CIA and Special Operations members announced the formation of OPSEC, a new nationwide public campaign to combat the spike in leaks and politicization of Intelligence and Special Operations missions that threaten their effectiveness and the safety of Americans who conduct them.  This initiative has placed the current administration on the run.

OPSEC, short for Operational Security, seeks to eliminate or reduce the exploitation of critical information. OPSEC launches with the release of Dishonorable Disclosures. The short documentary film highlights the problem from the perspective of those who have served in these critical positions. The film will also serve as the basis for a TV and online advertising effort.

Reuters attempted to counter any claims made by OPSEC today with comments from Admiral Bill McRaven. “At the end of the day, make no mistake about it, it was the president of the United States that shouldered the burden for this operation, that made the hard decisions, that was instrumental in the planning process, because I pitched every plan to him.”

Let’s not forget that the majority of high ranking military flag officers are political puppets. They saw what happened to their colleague, Gen. Stanley McChrystal when he didn’t play nice with the current administration. But despite McRaven’s claims, high ranking officials dispute the Bin Laden raid Commander’s comment.

Former senator and Navy SEAL Bob Kerrey, who is also a Medal of Honor recipient, was quick to protest the leaks after the Bin Laden raid. “By describing certain methods—the name of the unit involved, the kinds of equipment employed, the nature of intelligence collected, and techniques of insertion and extraction used in the operation—the President violated a key rule of clandestine work.”

Yet according to an Obama campaign official, media believe that Admiral McRaven knows more about the President’s role in the Bin Laden operation than any member belonging to the newly created OPSECTeam.org group. What a pompous statement, when considering how many former National Security Advisors and CIA operatives belong to the group.

As a friend who will remain anonymous explained to me earlier, “These disclosures are actually worse than the Democratic Party's campaign against the CIA and the Military in the late '70s. Then we had a Congress and Administration which gutted our HUMINT and physical defenses. Now we have an administration that is not only betraying our personnel in the field, but endangering those who have allied with us.” These thoughts evoke the1970s Church and Pike Committees which crippled US Human Intelligence.

The lives of our best and brightest are always at risk. The enemy would love nothing more than to take their lives. It is inexcusable to have any political member belonging to any political party increase that risk by spewing highly sensitive or classified information into the public domain—yet it happens way too often these days.

“Intelligence and Special Operations members are angry and frustrated at how our work has been used for political advantage by officials across government, including President Obama himself who bears special responsibility as Commander in Chief,” said Scott Taylor, chairman of OPSEC and a former Navy SEAL.  “We want the American people to understand the cost of these leaks and politicization both on those who serve and on our national security and to hold those in positions of leadership accountable if it doesn’t stop.”

OPSEC is made up of individuals who served their country in the CIA and Special Operations Forces (SOF) consisting of Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Marine Corps and Air Force Special Operations.  It is organized as a 501(c)(4) nonpartisan public education campaign and is independent of any political party or campaign organization.

Dishonorable Disclosures is a documentary short film relates the impact of the increasing number of leaks on Intelligence and Special Operations missions, tradecraft, tactics and capabilities from the perspectives of those who have relied on these tools to carry out similar missions and protect themselves and others who serve.

The film will be shown at events in key states across the country over the next several months, including Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, North Carolina and Nevada.  Dishonorable Disclosures can be seen here.

“Countless leaks, interviews and decisions by the Obama Administration and other government officials have undermined the success of our Intelligence and Special Operations forces and put future missions and personnel at risk,” said Fred Rustmann, an OPSEC member and 24-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency.  “OPSEC will carry a strong message across the country that it’s time for President Obama and other administration officials to stop jeopardizing national security operations for political gain.”

More information about OPSEC and news about the release of Dishonorable Disclosures can be found at www.OPSECTeam.org.

One thing is clear. Our best and brightest will do anything and everything to protect this nation against all enemies foreign and domestic. The current administration is not necessarily a friend to our special operatives and their intelligence counterparts.

Kerry Patton, a combat service disabled veteran, is a published author and senior analyst for WIKISTRAT. You can follow him on Facebook or at www.kerry-patton.com.

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