‘Operation Dark Heart’: Pentagon Seeks to Block Book on Afghan War
- Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:10pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Shaffer has worked in intelligence operations and led special forces black-ops in the war to prevent a Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan. Now that he’s back stateside, however, he’s engaged in a different kind of battle. Shaffer is currently engaged in a legal battle with the Pentagon over the rights to publish a book — a story he claims is about what went on (and what went wrong) behind the scenes in Afghanistan.
On the eve of 9/11′s ninth anniversary, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is attempting to block publication of Shaffer’s book, titled “Operation Dark Heart: Spycraft and Special Ops on the Frontlines of Afghanistan — and the Path to Victory.” In a letter obtained by Fox News, the DIA claims that publishing Shaffer’s book in its current form would represent a breach in national security. The DIA is also contesting Shaffer’s accounts of “Able Danger” and is attempting to block key portions of the book that claim the mission successfully identified alleged 9/11 hijacker and ringleader Mohammed Atta as a potential threat before Sept. 11, 2001.
In his book, Shaffer, now a senior fellow at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies in Washington, claims that a number of covert operations had been planned and aborted, including cross-border surveillance using advanced eavesdropping technology. These operations would have focused on high-level known al-Qaeda operatives camped in the tribal areas of Pakistan. However, the operation was shut down by military officials concerned about offending Pakistan, Shaffer claims.
Shaffer and the Pentagon appear to have agreed on the contents of the book’s second printing, but are debating what to do with 10,000 copies already published. In what Shaffer characterizes as a “highly unusual” move, the DIA is locked into negotiations with Shaffer’s publisher, St. Martin’s Press, to purchase all 10,000 copies of the book’s first printing in order to keep it off bookstore shelves. Even though the U.S. Army signed off on the book’s release, the DIA insists references to American intelligence personnel and a meeting between Shaffer and Dr. Philip Zelikow, the executive director of the 9/11 Commission, should be removed. It’s in this meeting that Shaffer alleges the commission was told about “Able Danger” and Atta, but the final 9/11 Commission report makes no mention it.
According to Shaffer, Zelikow approached him at the meeting and stressed that the “Able Danger” revelations were “very important,” and asked Shaffer to contact him when he returned from his deployment. When Shaffer returned to the U.S., he says he contacted the commission but that they were no longer interested in his intelligence. An inspector general report by the Department of Defense concluded there was “no evidence” to support Shaffer’s claims. But, according to Fox, an unredacted copy of the IG report contained names of witnesses who backed up Shaffer’s story when contacted for comment.
In a statement, the Pentagon said the “manuscript did not undergo a pre-publication information security review as required by DoD regulation. This became known to the Department only recently, and after the manuscript was printed by the publisher. DoD has been working closely and cooperatively with the publisher, LTC Shaffer and his counsel to address the problem and any potential issues involving classified information.”
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Comments (48)
ozarkd
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:15pmErasing history right in front of us??? Where can I buy a copy??
Report Post »jlromero
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 11:47ammakes me want to read it MORE!
Report Post »rdk
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 10:08amIf covert operations were planned but aborted because Pakistan might be offended, how were they covert?
Report Post »adifftake
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 9:02amMy question would be : If the information is already in the public domain as the writer and the Publisher claim, why not talk about the information directly?
This book is about past events is it not? I’m pretty sure the author knows not to reveal certain things like names of agents and locations of those agents. So that begs the question. What cover is the DoD trying to afford the Administration that was on watch prior to 9/11? Mmmm.
Report Post »andrey1279
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 7:47amWelcome to the Comunist Russia , where you willl only know what your goverment wants you to know. And if you try to say more, you will be sillenced. We are loosing our liberty day by day.
Report Post »Ming The Merciless
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 6:53amamazon.com says a revised addition will be coming out – below is the statement by amazon:
On Friday, August 13, 2010, just as St. Martin’s Press was readying its initial shipment of Operation Dark Heart, the Department of Defense expressed concern that its publication could cause damage to U.S. national security. The publication of the initial edition was canceled. However, after consulting with the author, Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, St. Martin’s Press agreed to incorporate some of the government’s changes, which includes redacting classified text, into a revised edition, which is releasing on September 24.
Report Post »red penny
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 5:46amPublish the damn book! I spent many years in the military and know that someone here is trying to cover their ass! How about all of the emails,photos and other documents that this administration has released in the past——-many of those contained unfavorable info but duh????
Report Post »killray
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 11:22pmI know some people( whos names im not at liberty to give) did an unknown number of…things. in the cold war and those are some wild stories but really the intel community isnt run they way back then, because back then this guy would have been missing at the first sight of a book like this or his house would have been burnt down with the book and what ever in it… so he is lucky personaly i wanna read this book…. plus the DOD gets RAPED by china daily…found out the other day they get hacked every day by China and that been happening since Bush… so this is all about saving FACE nothing more
Report Post »OneRepublic4us
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:49pmWhy didn’t we nuke the middle east when we had a chance?
Report Post »killray
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 11:27pmbecause they couldn’t put enough pork oil in crop dusters to spray every major city in the area and then nuke it…. and even though they eat pork in secret they still get “clean” by there God… but the real answer is in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah…which happend and can be seen to day…. point is “if there be 10 good people, would you stay your hand?”
Report Post »jcatlanta
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:47pmAdd your comments
Report Post »Topcat
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:30pmIs it National Security or is it Egg on Faces … I would suspect its probably the latter.. We had many such instances in Vietnam , and I remember a few during the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the Kurds in the North.
Report Post »jbrookins
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:29pmWithout actually reading what‘s in the book it’s hard to say if something should be removed. The fact that the Pentagon already approved it then the DIA decided it had problems then the Pentagon decides that the book didn’t go through a review is worrisome. But then again this is typical of the government bureaucracy.
The truth is most of what is classified today shouldn’t be. Embarrassment is not a risk to national security and in fact can often leads to fixing problems. Remember you can‘t fix it if you don’t know it’s broken.
I don‘t know Shaffer but my guess is they’ll work this out. The problem is that if the DIA buys the first ten thousand books that really means we all buy it.
Report Post »GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:29pmAs a Lt Colonel with more than a few years of experience in this area, it is unlikely the author would write anything that would put the lives of any of his fellow soldiers at risk.
What is likely is that there will be some red faces, and perhaps a few careers cut short due to bad decisions and/or incompetence.
Report Post »michaelv
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:55pmyou are a lieing sack.
Report Post »GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:04pmMichaelV- Apologies if i wasn’t clear. Wasn’t trying to say i am a lt col, i was referring to the author. I may be a liberal, but i have too much respect for men in uniform to try to pass myself off as something i am not. without them, i wouldnt have the freedom to write anything.
Report Post »jjllvegas
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:05amI’m an 18 year vetran and I saw the waste and abuse in the service (2 baracnes, 3 and 15) but more inportant then that , I learned that MOST officers are over paid , cluesless and yes men! I’ve meant only 2 acadimey officers that were worth a crap, the mustangs had about a 60% that had a clue. You will never be 1% of what Beck is, remember we salute the uniform!
Report Post »The enlisted are the ones who make america great and I would give my life for them.
Mybe your just one of the farleft that like to clam they served, or letme guess NG, Show me your DD 214 and I show you mine!
welovetheUSA
Posted on September 12, 2010 at 2:16amI agree Colonel.
Report Post »RoseAnnaDanna
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:53pmDay of the Condor
Report Post »jcatlanta
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:44pmIf you will listen again to what was said at the end of the video. All the information in the book from the public domain. The assertion was that Mohamad Atta was identified as being dangerous by the government but yet nothing was done. This is the sort of thing that can topple regimes. Who knows why he was allowed to get away, but its sure to be political. Having worked in the Middle East for the DOD during the 80′s, my guess would be it has something to do with Saudi Arabia. I say this because if it was anything that Obama could pin on George Bush, he would in a heart beat; however, if it put a bad light on the Saudi’s, then I‘m sure he’d cover it up. (remember the bow to the Prince by Obama and remember the photo of Bush hand in hand with the Prince as well) The heads of our government have been in the pocket of the Saudi’s for some time.
Listen to the video report again, it has some very interesting facts.
Report Post »smartypoop
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:39pmPerhaps they are removing the parts where Clinton had the opportunity to end Al Qaeda and didn’t.
Report Post »Fine if it’s an issue of national security, but in my life experience the military and the government uses “classified” as a means to hide their mistakes.
Question; It wasn’t specified in the article, but you can infer a lot of things. Which military administration reviewed it the first time, before it went to printing (this fellow does not strike me as the kind of guy to skip protocol), vs. which military administration reviewed it again after printing and found some of the information objectionable? Who, what, when, where and why? Doesn’t anyone ask these questions anymore? Inquiring minds want to know!
Luker410
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:31pmWrong. He is expressing the frustration of those at the tip of the spear being prevented from getting the job done due to political BS and the sifting of sand in the sandbox.
Report Post »RayGone
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 7:26pmLooks like another Reichwinger trying to make some Fast Bucks by spilling our DoD’s secrets…..
Report Post »Workforit
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:01pmYou wish… Tony Schaffer looks like a guy that gets “it” done… and I don’t care what “it” might be… I for one believe that the names Tony discloses have more to with covering the rear ends of the 9/11 Commission than National Security. I think you should buy his book just to say “thank you” to him for laying it all on the line for you. It is the LEAST you could do. I try to buy 2 of every veterans book I can, 1 for me and one to give away. Do yourself s favor and read “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Lutrell… If you still think our service men and women are in the gig to make “Fast Bucks”… I guess I wouldn’t be surprised you being a lefty-progressive and all….
Report Post »The Patriot
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 7:14pmPeople sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. George Orwell
Report Post »MissCherryJones
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 7:09pmIf the original printing does actually have classified information (as I heard on FNC today) then I will back the Pentagon. But if they just don’t want potentially embarrassing details getting out, then too bad.
Report Post »JeffW65
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:23pmMissCherry
They can classify anything they want to. What matters is does it pose a security risk in regards to safety. The government has been caught before hiding facts that would simply hurt their reputations or expose lies behind the word “classified”. I seriously doubt that this soldier would put troops at risk.
Report Post »Time 2 Revolt
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:27pmRegulations, reviews, sign-offs… sounds a little contradictory to “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press”.
I understand that military personnel have certain restrictions while serving, but afterward (or published by someone else), it’s all fair game to me.
For those of you who scream “national security” about this stuff – keep in mind the reason for the 1st Amendment in the first place; to free people from the oppression of secretive and restrictive government. Throughout history, peoples own governments have caused more grief than out side governments waging wars.
We don’t want a secretive government where the things they do are both out of the control and restricted from the people.
If they‘re doing things they don’t want people to know about (after the fact), then maybe they shouldn’t be doing it.
Report Post »baldwin4freedom
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:44pmExactly!
Report Post »gapch68
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:22pm1st off for full disclosure, my husband is military. I do agree with you for the most part. I don‘t know what all is in the book so I’m not sure what all he is disclosing BUT I will say that we have to remember we are still in 2 wars (whether you like it or not, we have OUR soldiers still putting their life on the line for this country). If the info in his book does not endanger our soldiers or their mission, let him talk. But, if what he is revealing puts them in further danger, National Security should prevail….for now. Once our soldiers have come home and the war is over, then all is fair. He should be able to write whatever he likes. And for my 2 cents on the wikileaks soldier, he should be tried for treason and sentenced to life if not death! He has put our soldiers and the allies we worked so hard to make in grave danger, all for his liberal idealogy (kind of like our POTUS).
Report Post »merillorang
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 12:45amSorry to say, we already have a secretive government.
Report Post »MIKEBIRK
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 9:17pmI agree completely!
Report Post »robert5635
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:24pmWelcome to the beginning of the end Now to protect highly placed military and political figures and kiss up to foreign nationals(terrorists) that POTUS is in bed with, freedom of speech has ended. We as citizens have to face terrorists face to face, as well as have a gun pointed to our heads by ‘our’ own ‘elected’ officials. Am sure pelosi will feel safe going home at night with her gavel, not only to protect herself, and will be hard pressed to part with it when she is replaced.
Report Post »RealityCheck
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:23pmSure they want to ban a book when it exposes these people but to ban a book which is a self proclaimed manuscript on Child molestation well we don’t want to infringe on the freedom of speech.
Don’t move the mask because people will die, don’t even talk about burning the koran because people will die, Ya it all makes perfect sense, a world held hostage.
Report Post »baldwin4freedom
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:22pmI am sure that someone is making sure their ignorance is not going to be exposed.
Report Post »poppopschell
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:48pmIgnoraqnce may be an issue but more important is TREASON involved.
Report Post »theresajohnson23
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:18pmTried to get the book. I’m a librarian I believe in information for the people. No luck yet
Report Post »CherryBomb
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:18pmI wish they were so eager to go after the Wikileak weasel.
Report Post »poppopschell
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:50pmCherry: Have you been in the military? I have and KNOW that much is covered up because of national security matters when what we’re actually about is lies and coverup.
Whistleblowers are heroes.
Report Post »CherryBomb
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:03pmNo, but I did stay at a Holiday Express last night.
Report Post »Lester Willox
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:20pmOh, really? How was it?
Report Post »PeterBreitholtz
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:47amOmg!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 12:10pmI love when people ask ” Have you been in the military?” As is if that you are only supposed to have an opinion on military matters if you served. I‘m sure the same people that use that logic never comment on proffessional sports since they didn’t play or polititcs because they were never elected to anything. Get over yourself.
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