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Report: Under Secretary of Defense Disclosed Name of SEAL Team Six Member to ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Filmmakers

Dec. 17, 2012 9:17pm Jason Howerton

Report: Under Secretary Michael Vickers Provided Sensitive Information to Zero Dark Thirty Filmmakers

FILE – This undated publicity film image provided by Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. shows elite Navy SEALs raiding Osama Bin Laden’s compound in the dark night in Columbia Pictures’ gripping new thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow, “Zero Dark Thirty. ” Credit: AP

A yet-to-be-released report by the Inspector General for the Department of Defense criticizes the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers for providing sensitive information to the filmmakers behind “Zero Dark Thirty.”

ABC News, citing anonymous sources, reports Vickers is believed to have disclosed the identify of a member of SEAL Team Six to the filmmakers, however, it was not one of the SEALs involved in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s Pakistan compound. Names of members of the team who killed the al-Qaeda leader are not to be released to protect them from retaliation.

Per ABC News’ Jake Tapper:

Some in the Pentagon think the Inspector General is holding the report until after the current Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, retires so as to not sully or embarrass him.

A senior defense official disputed that. “It’s wrong for anyone to suggest the investigation has been held up for political reasons or to avoid embarrassment,” the official said. “The investigation simply hasn’t concluded. These things often take time.”

The official added that Pentagon officials “really don’t think this will amount to anything.”

Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the conservative government watchdog group Judicial Watch revealed that Vickers told the filmmakers he would give them the name of a “planner, SEAL Team 6 Operator and Commander” at a June 14, 2011 meeting.

“The only thing we ask is that you not reveal his name in any way as a consultant because . . . he shouldn’t be talking out of school.” Vickers said. “This at least, this gives him one step removed and he knows what he can and can’t say, but this way at least he can be as open as he can with you and it ought to meet your needs.”

The previously mentioned senior defense official said Vickers was asked by the Pentagon to talk to the “Zero Dark Thirty” filmmakers and “others in the entertainment industry to provide unclassified information on the bin Laden operation. He wasn’t doing this on his own. It’s appropriate for department officials to work with the entertainment industry to try to inform how stories are told — especially those associated with one of the greatest intelligence and military successes of a generation.”

“Vickers is one of America’s top defense and intelligence professionals who has closely guarded secrets for decades, and is highly respected in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community,” the official added.

Featured image via AP

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Comments (53)

Henry22
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:04am
Why hasn’t he been arrested and when is the trial…………….?????????

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- becca_leigh
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 3:20am
  This is straight from the book “No Easy Day”
  “I was astonished. We’d kept this whole thing under wraps for weeks. Now, Washington was leaking everything, and we were going to get the lecture for it. It felt like it was only a matter of time before some of our names appeared on the news. We just killed the number one terrorist in the world. The last thing we needed was our names attached to it. We simply wanted to fade back into the shadows and go back to work.”
  BTW, if that is supposed to be a pic of the raid, then they don’t have the details because the guys roped in and landed on the roof. It’s obvious that they didn’t speak to any of the guys that were actually there and I strongly recommend getting the book “No Easy Day” if you want the truth and not just a “bad action movie” which is how the SEALs described the reports following the raid!!
  
  Report this comment
- txgrrl
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:26am
  This is that transparency Obama said he’d give the citizens. haha.
  
  Report this comment
ColoradoNative
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:27am
“It’s appropriate for department officials to work with the entertainment industry to try to inform how stories are told — especially those associated with one of the greatest intelligence and military successes of a generation.”

Let me fix the above quote for the administration:

It’s appropriate for department officials to work with the entertainment industry to try to INFLUENCE how stories are told — especially those associated with one of the greatest intelligence and military successes of a generation.”

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GuruMeditation
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:51am
Under cool.

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barber2
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:16am
A senior ( Obama ) defense official doesn’t ” think that this ( investigation ) will amount to anything.” And you can bet that they, and their Lap Dog Media, will see that this investigation will certainly not amount to anything ! Well, unless there is some conservative involved that they wish to target and character assassinate …..

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yougottabekidding
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:00am
Following right along in the time honored tradition of fast and furious
We going to make him a hero

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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 5:00am
Osama’s death didn’t even occur at the time it was reported. It occured a few days before May 1. The release of the death was timed to preempt another news story that 0 did not want attention.

http://www.westernjournalism.com/obama-military-lied-about-osamas-death-date/

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spfoam1
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:06am
If this happened under a Republican administration the entire MSM would have this on the front page until someone was in jail. This administration is full of traitors, from the top down.

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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:37am
First let me say my assessment is not an assessment of the SEAL team it is an assessment of the civilian leadership directing the mission. The only success in this mission was the job SEAL Team 6 did, as for the civilian leadership, well, I want to ask who’s idea was it to leave the helicopter there for the Chinese and who thinks Pakistan is or ever will be our friends? Now is the time for ultimatums. Tell Pakistan if they want to retain our aid they have to unequivocally give us the terrorists and the ability to root them out there. Finish it there and finish it now.

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- NOTMOHAMMED
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:50am
  Right sentiment, wrong president.
  
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Becks_Art_Obama_In_PeePee
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:30am
“Report: Under Secretary of Defense Disclosed Name of SEAL Team Six Member to ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Filmmakers”

Barack Hussein Obama, AKA Barry Obama, AKA Barry Soetoro (Kenyan born illegal alien) … release your birth certificate, your school records, the visa records, …
So let’s get started:

* Obama’s REAL “BIRTH CERTIFICATE” (not a dime-a-dozen-to-anyone-who-asks Hawaiian “certificate of live birth”):
http://i3.ytimg.com/bg/jKZugo0aaREqEyqXIzGDVw/102.jpg

Okay, Barry, take the ball and let’s see the rest of your “transparency”!

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valleyfever
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:57am
Nothing to see here folks…move along now.

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aproudinfidel
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:33am
Treason, no?

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RaydocX
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:32am
So the ONLY thing the administration is ‘transparent’ about is sensitive data that should not be released.

Someone please ask George stefanopoulos about bias in te media when he and the rest fail to give this moron the scooter Libby treatment…

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right field
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 11:47pm
The Federal government seems to be full of cowards who are just doing time to get their perks and retirement on the backs of hard working & brave Americans. The media should do their job and expose the corruption and theft. The media should be attacking and exposing the corruption everyday – 73% of all new jobs are in government, which is officially bankrupt yet demands the “rich” pay higher taxes so they can steal more money and elections. This must be stopped.

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- fmadsen
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:10am
  Most of the mainstream media is either too lazy, incompetent, or just buys into the Progressive puppy dog and moon-beam policies.
  
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neverending
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 11:28pm
I am sure that we will find out that is not all they disclosed.

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fmadsen
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 11:21pm
DetroitGunClinger ‘what you talkin ’bout?’ From your comments not sure if we agree or disagree……… Plame was not an active CIA agent and Libby didn’t release her name. Robert Novak did. Novak died. Libby was convicted on 4 counts of false testimony. Whoever released a Navy SEAL name should be prosecuted. When I was in the military we could not even mention the name SEAL Team 6.

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Salamander
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 11:17pm
It ought to be a violation of Title 18 of the U.S. Code to disclose specifics that would identify a Seal Team member! One might as well hang a target on their back and that of all their immediate and less-immediate family members! Surely, such an offense is punishable by, say at least 3 years in a Federal Prison!

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fmadsen
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 10:22pm
Should be prosecuted just like Scooter Libby, except this is really serious and could put the SEAL in harms way.

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- DetroitGunClinger
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 10:42pm
  Yeah, really. Weren’t all the Dems crying that the Plame thing was grounds for impeachment or at least criminal charges against G.W.? What’s good for the goose……
  
  Report this comment
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 11:26pm
  absolutely, though as long as Obama or a Democrat holds power, it will never occur.
  
  Report this comment
ginger100
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:55pm
I support the special operators, but I will refuse to give hollywood any of my money, I’ll wait until laying around for someone to pick up

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- becca_leigh
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 3:27am
  they don’t have the details of what happened that night anyways…..get the book “No Easy Day” if you want the real story….there was no video feed streaming into the situation room and the pic was staged!! the SEALs used a satellite radio to report to their commander that they got UBL
  “For God and country, I pass Geronimo,” Jay said. “Geronimo E.K.I.A.”
  
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- ChildOfTheKing
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 1:44pm
  Yeah, I won’t see it or rent it either. HOLLYWOOD SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR SUPPORTING THIS EVIL PRESIDENT. In my mind, they are accomplices after-the-fact.
  
  And, ANYONE, including this evil President OR his administration, should be HUNG for revealing ANY Seal’s identity, no matter what. BUT, this cowardly Congress will do nothing about it. THEY NEVER DO BECAUSE THEY ARE SLIMY, GREEDY, WEAK COWARDS.
  
  Report this comment
LakeHartwellSailor
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:51pm
That’s just beautiful. Vickers has potentially put this SEAL’s family in jeopordy. Under-Secretary of Defense…..I guess this brings new meaning to the title.

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- rickc34
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:57pm
  My thoughts exactly. What a bunch of morons Obama surrounds himself with.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:39am
  RICK: The Obama people have to feed the Media Beast which protects and fosters the administration. A symbiotic relationship.
  
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- ChildOfTheKing
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 1:46pm
  @rickc34:
  Evil follows evil. And now, what is evil is called good and what is good is called evil.
  The President holds himself up above God, but soon, GOD WILL KNOW HIM OFF HIS SELF-INDUCED PEDESTAL. AMERICANS: please do NOT nominate this creepy Vice President Biden in the next Presidential election. If you do, I am going to Canada.
  
  Report this comment
gyro
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:50pm
this story will vanish and never be talked about in the media

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- LakeHartwellSailor
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 10:06pm
  I know.
  
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garbagecanlogic
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:48pm
Some idiotic underling wanting his 15 minutes of fame – at the expense of the military.

Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

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- LakeHartwellSailor
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 10:04pm
  I don’t think the Under-Secretary (aptly titled); was out for 15 minutes of fame. I think he was being a good boy and promoting his boss…..based on what I heard about the movie is that may not have worked out. Be that as it may, when the film was in production, I think the UNDER-Secretary was hoping to further his career with respect to Obama (if the film worked out) and beyond.
  
  No, I don’t think he was after fame…just watching out for his career….at the expense of OpSec; and subsequently has the potential to put that sailor and his family at risk. Nice, isn’t it?
  
  I was a squid in the early 80′s…..I didn’t do anything special, but man, I feel for all of our military personnel these days. Back when I was “in”…it was Cold War stuff; Russia vs. US….maybe some small stuff on the side, like the Iranian Hostage Crises. Now, we got guys that go in to hot spots in small teams, i.e, SEALS in the Navy’s case; but every branch has their small teams in one way or another. These guys get right personal, they don’t need their names revealed; that is dangerous to themselves, as well as their families.
  
  This is another example of incompetence on the part of this Administration. Ranks right up there with Benghazi, and Fast & Furious. And that is just on the international front.
  
  Report this comment
- ChildOfTheKing
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 1:50pm
  I agree with the Psalms 109:8 scriptures, but please, DO NOT PRAY THAT WAY PERSONALLY. THAT was the Old Testament. Jesus, in the New Testament, tells us to PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES, WHICH WILL MAKE GOD ANGRY TOWARDS OUR ENEMIES. So, if you pray for YOUR ENEMIES, then God will allow things to happen that are not Godly. His hand of protection will be removed from them. UNDERSTAND YET?
  
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Chromo200
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:45pm
Nothing will happen. The Administration believes it is above the law and can hide information, lie to the public. The believe they can do anything and anyhow and the 51% will be on their side.

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mrunner
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:37pm
No way this type of crap happens under Reagan, Bush, Clinton or Bush. Not that I respected all of the forementioned- but they did take their jobs seriously and had their staffs- as imperfect as they may have been- didn’t act like a bunch of wayward imbicles…

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Grey Eagle
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:31pm
They wanted to make Obama look like he was aggressive in killing Bin Laden. Well it did not work.

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- chips1
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:17am
  Obama can’t even prosecute the Fort Hood terrorist. Obama is an ignorant muslim brotherhood lover.
  
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:30pm
Its just like Moochelle’s question, All of this for a flag?! They act as all of this real secret stuff is fun and games and actually silly….until it comes to covering their own asses for the stupid things THEY do. For that they will burn somebody of course.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:36pm
  Oh yeah, after this and his time with the Clinton Administration, its good to finally see Alf retire.
  
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