Posted on 11/02/2015 12:33:38 AM PST by pboyington
The Navy SEALs have been everywhere in the media in the last few years: in films, books, magazines, video games, on news shows and the Internet. While publicity is always good for the military, is this the type of PR you want for a covert special warfare unit? Are the SEALs a special operations group or a circus act in wet suits?
Every time I turn on Fox News, some muscle bound SEAL is on promoting a book like “Manage your company like a SEALâ€, “The SEAL Cookbookâ€, “160 Ways to Garrote a Tango.†If they’re not pumping up a book, they’re constantly opining or shooting a back azimuth to Ainsley Earhardt’s green room.
The bad guys already know that the SEALs are top-notch killers, why the need to constantly self-promote? The SEALs are starting to look like the real estate broker who advertises on the front panel of a shopping cart. “Need help killing the Tangos? Call 1-800-USN-SEAL.†Maybe they could even do a buddy promotion like some real estate teams, “The Bizzy Blondes, Bob and Bud. We kill bad guys so you don’t have to.†“Have Glocks will travel.†“Terrorists check in, but they don’t check out.†“Just a little C4 knocks down the door!â€
Next thing these guys will be showing up on late night TV pushing meds and protein shakes with Chuck Norris and his wife. “When nature needs a little push, try some SEAL-LAX.†“Having gravity issues… how about a little SEAL-AGRA?â€
On Amazon, just typing in the term, “Navy SEALs†will get you 44,400 results. Typing in “Army Delta Force†will get you 1,213. Is there a problem here, SEALs? That’s one heck of a lot of publicity; everything from movies to books to toys and cleaning products that have to do with a direct action, special recon, anti-terror unit that supposedly operates in secret.
The public’s interest in the SEALs really started in the early 1990’s with the Charlie Sheen movie, Navy SEALs and the publication of the best-selling book, Rogue Warrior, by Richard Marcinko. Demo Dick Marcinko was the original commander and the brains behind SEAL Team Six. Marcinko was and is hated by the military establishment, which is why I like him. He has since gone on to write successful and highly-entertaining novels about fictional SEALs and SEAL operations.
After 9-11, with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan underway, the SEALs became the golden, go to boys of the Bush White House and then the Obama administration. If a couple-hundred terrorists needed to be greased, call the SEALs. If some troops on the ground were in a world of hurt, call the SEALs. If some old lady in Baghdad lost her cat in a tree, call the SEALs.
Perhaps more than anything, it was the Bin Laden raid in May of 2011 that really created the SEALs publicity monster. After the Bin Laden Raid, the SEALs seemed to be ubiquitous hybrids of rock stars and NFL Super Bowl champions. The Navy jumped on the bandwagon and whole-heartedly assisted Hollywood with the movies; Act of Valor, Lone Survivor and American Sniper.
Next came Fox News: the SEALs are Prime Rib with A-1 steak sauce for their conservative audience. One of their anchors, Jenna Lee is married to a former SEAL. The rest of the Fox News ladies are more than infatuated with the super troopers. Is it the sun tans, the muscles, the crew cuts; or the fact that they do more real world dangerous stuff in one afternoon than an anchorwoman’s husband will fantasize about in a lifetime?
But, the SEALs are not Top Gun pilots. Their mission is unique and their methods and operations are highly classified.
For instance, after the Bin Laden Raid you had several former SEALs, like Robert O’Neill who claimed to be the SEAL who killed Bin Laden, a fact that was disputed by other SEALs who also claimed to be the guys who whacked Bin Laden. How many SEALs did it take to kill Bin Laden? One, two, three; the world may never know.
O’Neill is not the only one who has come under fire. Former teammate Matt Bissonnette published the initial first-person account about the raid, “No Easy Day,†using the pen name Mark Owen and had to pay millions to the Defense Department from the subsequent profits. The Pentagon also has an open investigation into potential leaks provided to the producers of the blockbuster film, “Zero Dark Thirty.†And a 2012 trailer for a video game in the “Medal of Honor†series includes insights from two anonymous SEAL Team Six members who some accuse of releasing sensitive tactics and procedures.
And, then there’s Delta Force…
Until last week’s non-combat, combat raid, the only Delta the country knew was the airline that lost your luggage. Sure Delta has had a little publicity in the past. There were the Delta Force movies in the 1980’s and “Blackhawk Down†in 2001, but what does the public really know about Delta? Uh…not much. When does the public ever hear or see anyone from Delta? Uh…never and you know why? Because the public DOESN’T HAVE A NEED TO KNOW.
Delta has conducted hundreds of successful operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but they don’t send their alumni on Fox News in tight silk suits that are more expensive than Andrea Tantaros’ boob job. Delta knows what OPSEC (operations security) is and they maintain it.
Delta is also a different state of mind than the SEALs. Delta was molded by the late Colonel “Chargin’ Charlie†Beckwith who had done a couple tours with the famous British SAS. Beckwith picked up on their laid back, but deadly ways and transferred the mentality over to Delta.
Not only does Delta have a different attitude than the SEALs, but Delta guys look different. They are very rarely, the testosterone-charged, pumped up, swaggering linebacker SEAL type, but rather regular looking dudes that perform incredible feats. It’s their low-key demeanor that allows them to blend into dark and nasty places all over the world.
Along with Delta remaining mute, when was the last time you saw guys from the Army’s super-secret Green Beret/Human Intelligence collection unit, known as “The Activity†pumping up a book on Fox News. Newsflash – guys from The Activity were on the ground collecting intelligence for the Bin Laden Raid. They were collecting intelligence for the SEALs. But, they never said anything. They never do.
It’s just not their style.
The problem is not really the release of classified information by former SEALs, but the inundation of the public with a myriad of open sources. There is so much information out there about SEAL training, weapons, equipment, methods, operations, utilization of intelligence sources, etc, that it is virtually a field day for enemy intelligence services. Believe me, there are enemy intelligence personnel who have created an excellent picture of SEALs order of battle, capabilities and dispositions just from the plethora of SEALs information that’s out there.
So, what’s the solution? Besides having SEALs sign NDAs, you can’t stop someone from writing a book if it doesn’t contain classified information. You can’t stop people from promoting themselves and trying to make money. That’s what freedom is all about.
But, there comes a time when former SEALs need to think long and hard about what they’re writing and what they’re talking about and if their constant media presence is endangering SEAL operations and personnel worldwide.
If Delta and The Activity can keep their mouths shut, so can the SEALs.
It’s time for the SEALs to return to the shadows with their special operations brothers.
I always wondered why so many ex-SEALS talked so much. Always seemed odd to me that special-ops guys would blab about their deeds. Must have been the $$$.
Because like the bald police chief in Mad Max said when Max told him he was quitting.
“The World needs it’s Heroes Max!”
If the SEALS are everywhere, it’s because someone wants them everywhere.
It has to do with several idiots in the fly infested White Hut bragging to Hollywood about what happened with Obama Bin Biden.
Welcome to Free Republic, 7 Military threads in 7 days. Like or dislike the Military?
Ping
Note to Ray Starmann: Has it occurred to you a$$hole not to write articles like this?
“always wondered why so many ex-SEALS talked so much. Always seemed odd to me that special-ops guys would blab about their deeds. Must have been the”
Well, keep in mind that Seals are all enlisted. Meaning that they don’t make much money will they’re in nor is their retirement overly generous. Consequently, I’m ok with them making some money off of their many years of dangerous missions, physical hardship, etc.
It’s the selfie generation... Also the generation when their parents clapped every time they said thank you or took a step.
If money is more important to you than the lives of those who come behind you, then write a book.. Disclose the tactics and ops of your brothers in arms.
The generation who didn’t need an audience to adore them because they fought in the worst conditions and won.. Is slowly dying.
Kids usually walk and say thank you.. Don’t clap for them.. Encourage them, but don’t reward them for mediocrity.
And thanks to this author The Activity is coming out of the shadows ...
It seems to be an American thing. The British/Australian/New Zealand SAS guys have been doing all sorts of crazy stuff since 9/11 and you rarely hear a peep.
I know of Aussie SAS guys from the Vietnam War who still won’t talk about what they did because to them keeping secrets means, unless ordered otherwise, you take them to your grave.
Mind you, not all American SF are big talkers after the shooting stops. It’s just that the ones who do talk, talk a lot and loudly.
no...the SEALs need to stop serving a role as Obama’s bodyguards . He uses them just like he uses a fleet of mil aircraft . To haul his ass around , to guard and protect his numerous holidays . No C&C could be least worth their efforts . Well, maybe Bernie Sanders .... It’s time for our military to find it’s balls again , to start telling the civilians what is acceptable and what isn’t , and to have the courage to tell the civs to go pound sand , if & when necessary .
I know , I know , they are sworn to protect and defend and all that stuff . But the current questionable leadership , that a dimwit and deluded American electorate ( along with vast vote corruption ) is NOT WORTH THEIR OATH(s) .
I wish ALL SEALs and Armed Forces members in general would keep in mind the words of Robert E. Lee , delivered long ago and yet more true than ever today :
†True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary , at one period , to that which it does at another , and the motive which impels them – the desire to do right – is precisely the same . The circumstances which govern their actions change ; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things “
SEALs ( and others ) are the spear point. They deserve the best leadership . Not this sad lack of leadership that they suffer under today . I hope and pray they find a way to throw off this ridiculous burden .
Unfortunately, this is true. And some special ops fellows are on record to say that it must stop, that their identities and exploits must return to being unnoticeable, even more than what the title of this thread implies.
Judging by his name, I’d guess like...
Note also that one Ray Starmann seems to be the sole author on US Defense Watch; further that all posts by FRer “pboyington” are from that same site.
Coincidence?
What’s with the weird ascii characters surrounding every other word? It makes it hard to read!
Ed
And that's for smaller countries.
For countries like China, it's enough to give them a competitive edge. Again, not enough to be as good or better than DEVGRU, but still enough to make it not matter as much.
I personally believe the average age difference between a SEAL (including DEVGRU) member and that of a Delta member is part of the reason why you don't hear Delta talking as much. They do as many missions, but it's rare to hear about it.
In fact, it is such a stark difference that when 2 weeks back a 'special operations team' rescued those hostages (at the cost of one of their own) I immediately posted it has to be Delta. Why? Simply because the story didn't have lots of details released (at least initially), and didn't have details such as which SEAL team plastered all over. If it's hush hush it's probably Delta.
Defeat your enemy first in his mind.
NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooo!
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