The Department of Defense is looking into ways to "pump up the security" for the team of Navy SEALs who helped kill Osama bin Laden after the commandos expressed concern for their safety and the safety of their families, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.
Gates made the comment in response to a question at a town hall meeting at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. A Marine asked what measures were being taken to protect "the identities and the lives" of the SEALs involved in the takedown of bin Laden in Pakistan a week ago, as well as other troops deployed in the region, from the threat of retaliation.
"We are very concerned about the security of our families – of your families and our troops, and also these elite units that are engaged in things like that. And without getting into any details ... I would tell you that when I met with the team last Thursday, they expressed a concern about that, and particularly with respect to their families," Gates told the audience.
"Frankly, a week ago Sunday, in the Situation Room, we all agreed that we would not release any operational details from the effort to take out bin Laden. That all fell apart on Monday, the next day."
Gates' comments offered the first insight into the mindset of the team members since they carried out the risky operation.
SEALs, short for Sea, Air and Land teams, are known as "quiet professionals." They keep a low profile because of the classified nature of their tactical operations.
The team, known as SEAL Team 6, is widely believed to have returned to American soil. But the unit is covered with such a degree of secrecy that the military won't confirm its presence.
The Marine's question underscored sentiment among military and intelligence communities that identification of the team signified an unprecedented breach of confidentiality.
Gates acknowledged the threat of retaliation against Team 6 and troops deployed in the region.
"There is an awareness that the threat of retaliation is increased because of the attacks – because of the action against bin Laden," he said. "The one thing I would tell you, though, is that I think there has been a consistent and effective effort to protect the identities of those who participated in the raid, and I think that has to continue."
A Pentagon spokesman later cautioned against interpreting Gates' response "as a criticism of any particular person or office."
"He was indeed voicing his concern about the breakdown in operational security after the killing of Bin Laden," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Geoff Morrell said. "Anonymous sources revealing secret information about the tactics, training, and equipment of covert forces put at risk our ability to successfully mount similar missions in the future."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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It amazes me to see how many citizens of the greatest nation on Earth are IGNORANT of courtesy and lack the skills to properly research a topic before commenting. This shoot-from-the-hip mentality is destroying the comment section of all cnn posts. And I bet these same uneducated louts are all better qualified to run our country?
Thanx to CNN for allowng people to comments on all its posts. It makes some under-achievers sitiing infront of a computer feel like heros and super-thinkers when posting useless, zero-sum, convoluted lines of arguements and comments. They will criticise anything and offer an laternative philosophy for any issue. Keyboard geniuses of 21st century?. But they still recoil into their sad lives pitiful lives as soon as they walk away from the keyboard and the monitor. The simple silly things you scorn, like hididng the IDs of the navy SEALs are the ones that make the world roll. Not you!!
It is called FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Don't like it? Move to North Korea where the government controls the media.
Obama sent a team/group in with a Kill not Capture mission. Why? Why not capture and question for more information? What were they so afraid of? Why Kill on site? He is not the president/man that I voted for. I agree it is time for a change and Mr. Paul has my vote if he runs in 2012.
Unless you were actually with the Seals who performed the operation, you are in no position to "judge" what they should or should not have done. Their lives were at stake in every moment of the operation. All indications are that bin Laden would have fired back, if given the opportunity. I understand that he was not armed, but that there may have been weapons in the room.
If one of your family members served on that incursion, you would want them to come back safely. As far as bin Laden "talking" that would be highly unlikely, and I believe you and I both know that. They got a treasure trove of intelligence from the compound that will probably shock al Qaeda for years to come. There was no compelling "need" to capture him alive. bin Laden had the opportunity to just wave a white flag, or lie down on the floor. Had that happened, he would have "forced" the Seals to take him alive. But he did not.
You are very judgmental in an area where you have no expertise.
sanjosemike
Whatever happened to "media responsibility?" Military secrets exist for a reason. I don't want to know who the Navy Seals were that killed bin Laden. You shouldn't either.
Anyone, any organization, etc., that releases these men's names should be tried for treason and sent to jaik for life.
Ding Dong Bin Laden's dead, which ond ist, the terrorist, Ding Dong Osama Bin Laden's dead, Team 6 woke him out of bed, a double tap to the left of his head, Ding Dong Osama Bin Laden's dead.....
Kill a man and become a murderer, kill a million people and become a conqueror. Or even better, kill a most wanted terrorist and become scared to death (and worried about the safety of your family) for the rest of your life. Nice.
Obama did it. Something white man couldnt do for 7 yrs. Black man gets it done in lil' over 2 yrs. Quote: " HIRE A BLACK MAN IF YOU WANT TO KILL SOMEBODY".
incredibly shallow and opinionated. why do so many people still hang on to simple minded ideas based on color. judge a president by his actions or lack there of, and before you coment pubicly at least have some knowlege based on actual facts. not just emotions and a desire to be heard. no wonder there is so much hate in this country. i did not vote for Obama, and do not agree with much of his policy... i just have little use for opinions based on jiberish.
Why did the Seals sign up in the first place if they have concerns for their families?!?!
Is there any way you can be any stupider than you already are, Ricky?
Stupider?
I once worked in special ops for the USAF as a AFSOC helicopter crew chief. I can tell you, the seals are a quiet bunch of people. Not once did thay responcd to my questions when thay boarded my Airforce helicopter.
I would have to say, who ever leaked that it was seals that did the raid on the Bin Ladden compound only increased there family sense of vulnerability and stress level. Living on a base takes some of your freedoms away "always in the presents of authority" so, alot of men and woman on base leave the base for a night on the town to blow off some steam and be whole thay are for fun. Now, this leak happens and I am not impressed.
Forget about our President because unfortunately he gets the crap end of the stick should anything happen. my comment is as follows. If the people who are responsible for keeping the information " TOP SECRET " screw this up and there is in fact retribution. Our gov't better prosecute the responsible individuals to the full extent of the law under military tribunals. The fact that somebody is leaking this information or could be starting to, this is a complete stab in the back to our great men in the SEALs.. Shame on the leakers how dare they. when will this country wake up? when will our elected officials fight for our security not just national how about armed forces as well. The last time i checked they are citizens as well. This is to the person or persons who are leaking this information. YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED. YOU WILL BE FOUND AND IF CAUGHT, YOU WILL NEED MORE THAN GOD TO HELP YOU!!!!!!!
There are so many Muslims in OUR government and I believe their the ones betraying us with the releasing of SECRET Military operations.
Thank-you SEALs for getting this evil man. I will be praying for you and your family. Why does our government always tell what needs to be kept secret and keeps secret what needs to be told.
"SEALs, short for Sea, Air and Land teams, are known as "quiet professionals."
So,what are they afraid of?
JPalto
It is called FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Don't like it? Move to North Korea where the government controls the media.
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OK. So, you approve of PFC Bradley Manning's actions, too? Or are you one of the hypocritical lynch mob who would make him do a gallows jig without the benefit of a trial?
MAYBE the administration should have given out fewer details on the mission, instead of identifying the team, their home base, etc. No forethought into making preventing these servicemen, and their base and families a target? One in awhile, the government should share less. This administration continues to operate like amateurs.