Navy SEALs: The Secrecy Debate Rages Among Current and Former Operators

I have represented members of Special Forces, Special Operations and elite Special Operations units.  Some of these cases have involved classified and/or national security information.  I have dealt with cases in which the government has claimed the classified information privilege (Military Rule of Evidence 505), I have prepared for court-martial hearings and trial in a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility), and I have had closed-door classified court-martial sessions.  So, I have been exposed to the secrecy not only required within these communities, but expected of, and between, the warriors within these communities. 

The coverage of the Bin Laden raid was both gripping and shocking, as normally protected information was publically reported and discussed by U.S. government officials.  With the release of the new Bin Laden raid book, and past books by former operators, a debate is raging within the Special Operations community, particularly that of the Navy SEALs. 

The latest CNN story addressing this issue - "Navy Seals: A battle for the conscience" by Barbara Starr appears here:

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/06/navy-seals-a-battle-for-the-conscience/?hpt=hp_t1

By: Attorney Richard V. Stevens

Civilian criminal defense lawyer and military defense lawyer

Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.

http://www.militaryadvocate.com

 

Blog postscript: Attorney Frank J. Spinner and I (attorney Richard V. Stevens) are former active duty military lawyers (JAG). Our perspectives and advice, therefore, are based upon our experience as military defense lawyers and as civilian criminal defense lawyers practicing exclusively in the area of military law and military justice. This blog addresses issues in military law, military justice, military discipline, military defense, court-martial practice, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and other military and/or legal topics. Nothing posted in this blog should be substituted for legal advice in any particular case. If you seek legal advice for a particular case, please contact The Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens and The Law Office of Frank J. Spinner for a free consultation. These military defense law offices are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Southern New Jersey, but the military defense representation is worldwide – when necessary, the attorneys travel to wherever the client is stationed.