Pentagon To Bin Laden Raid Leakers: SHUT UP
HUFFINGTONPOST.COM - Gossip and unauthorized leaks from U.S. officials, politicians and retired military officers about the highly classified raid to kill Osama bin Laden have jeopardized the ability of special forces to carry out similar operations in the future, said Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
"Too many people in too many places are talking too much about this operation," Gates said, adding that the level of disclosures and blabbing violates an agreement reached in the White House Situation Room on May 8 to keep details of the raid private.
"That lasted about 15 hours," Gates said sourly.
The cascade of details surfacing about the highly classified event makes similar operations in the future "that much more difficult and riskier," Gates told reporters at a Pentagon briefing Wednesday.
"It is time to stop talking," agreed Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a pointed directive to officials, politicians and the retired military officers often featured on cable news programs, he added, "Get off the net."
Members of the Navy SEAL team that tore into bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and killed the 9/11 mastermind had expressed concern to Gates about the safety of their families after the team had been identified publicly and officials from the White House, the Pentagon and Congress widely discussed the operation.
In a meeting with hundreds of Marines at Camp Lejeune last week, Gates acknowledged such concerns. He said the Defense Department had mounted "a consistent and effective effort" to protect the identities of those who participated in the raid. >>>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Most Popular StoriesMost Popular StoriesMore>>
Court documents offer disturbing details in Spokane infant's death
Court documents offer disturbing details in Spokane infant's death
SPOKANE, Wash. - Court documents are offering more details about a disturbing case of child abuse in Spokane. Investigators arrested 33-year-old Erik Sherman in the death of his baby Thursday. One doctor who witnessed the abuse told investigators in court documents it was "one of the worst cases of child abuse he had seen in 23 years of practice."
>>SPOKANE, Wash. - Court documents are offering more details about a disturbing case of child abuse in Spokane. Investigators arrested 33-year-old Erik Sherman in the death of his baby Thursday. One doctor who witnessed the abuse told investigators in court documents it was "one of the worst cases of child abuse he had seen in 23 years of practice."
>>Legal battle raging over home owned by Shasta Groene but used by her dad
Legal battle raging over home owned by Shasta Groene but used by her dad
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - 13 years ago Shasta Groene lived through unimaginable horror. In mid-May, 2005, her mother, her mother's boyfriend, and her oldest brother were murdered in front of her. 8-year-old Shasta was kidnapped and, along with her 9-year-old brother Dylan, tortured and sexually abused for weeks.
>>COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - 13 years ago Shasta Groene lived through unimaginable horror. In mid-May, 2005, her mother, her mother's boyfriend, and her oldest brother were murdered in front of her. 8-year-old Shasta was kidnapped and, along with her 9-year-old brother Dylan, tortured and sexually abused for weeks.
>>Lawyer says girls' bodies were submerged in oil
Lawyer says girls' bodies were submerged in oil
FREDERICK, Colo. (AP) - A lawyer for a Colorado man suspected in the deaths of his pregnant wife and two young daughters says the daughters' bodies were submerged in crude oil for four days before they were found. Defense attorney James Merson made the statement in a court motion Friday. The motion asks a judge to order that DNA samples be taken from the children's throats.
>>FREDERICK, Colo. (AP) - A lawyer for a Colorado man suspected in the deaths of his pregnant wife and two young daughters says the daughters' bodies were submerged in crude oil for four days before they were found. Defense attorney James Merson made the statement in a court motion Friday. The motion asks a judge to order that DNA samples be taken from the children's throats.
>>Chick-Fil-A location coming soon to Gonzaga
Chick-Fil-A location coming soon to Gonzaga
SPOKANE, Wash. - A beloved fast-food chain well known for its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries across the nation appears to be coming to Spokane. According to its website, Chick-Fil-A says a location is coming soon at Gonzaga University. The location is listed as 502 E Boone Ave, Spokane, WA 99258. The website says the location will be operated by Sodexo, a company that runs the Zag Dining service at Gonzaga.
>>SPOKANE, Wash. - A beloved fast-food chain well known for its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries across the nation appears to be coming to Spokane. According to its website, Chick-Fil-A says a location is coming soon at Gonzaga University. The location is listed as 502 E Boone Ave, Spokane, WA 99258. The website says the location will be operated by Sodexo, a company that runs the Zag Dining service at Gonzaga.
>>100-year-old Spokane Valley man says caregiver stole his dog
100-year-old Spokane Valley man says caregiver stole his dog
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. - A 100-year-old man says his caregiver stole his dog while he was getting ready to evacuate during the Upriver Beacon Fire. “She was very fond of Roy,” said Margel Jones, the wife of the dog’s owner, Roy Jones. Those closest to Roy say a caregiver took the dog, a 9-year-old Japanese Chin named Tinkerbell, while he was sitting in his car waiting to evacuate. “And I went out and said does anyone know where the dog is?”
>>SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. - A 100-year-old man says his caregiver stole his dog while he was getting ready to evacuate during the Upriver Beacon Fire. “She was very fond of Roy,” said Margel Jones, the wife of the dog’s owner, Roy Jones. Those closest to Roy say a caregiver took the dog, a 9-year-old Japanese Chin named Tinkerbell, while he was sitting in his car waiting to evacuate. “And I went out and said does anyone know where the dog is?”
>>Exposed handlebar grip kills 6-year-old Pullman boy in bicycle crash
Exposed handlebar grip kills 6-year-old Pullman boy in bicycle crash
PULLMAN, Wash. - Six-year-old Denny Curran should be enjoying his last few days of summer before first grade. He should be teasing his brother, splashing in the pool, giving his parents a hard time about vegetables. Instead, Denny is dead, the victim of a horrific, freak bicycle accident that could happen to your child too. "Denny was an extraordinary child," his father Keith Curran told KHQ.
>>PULLMAN, Wash. - Six-year-old Denny Curran should be enjoying his last few days of summer before first grade. He should be teasing his brother, splashing in the pool, giving his parents a hard time about vegetables. Instead, Denny is dead, the victim of a horrific, freak bicycle accident that could happen to your child too. "Denny was an extraordinary child," his father Keith Curran told KHQ.
>>
