Regime Getting Slammed For Releasing Info On Foley Rescue Mission

Obama’s decision to release the details of an unsuccessful mission in Syria last month to rescue several Americans held captive by ISIS is being slammed by critics who suggest that they did it  for political reasons – which is the reason this Regime does anything.

Via Hot Air: 

“Two Defense Department officials, who spoke separately on the condition of anonymity because of the operation’s delicate nature, expressed anger at the administration for revealing the mission,” The New York Times reported. “One of the officials said the aborted raid had alerted the militants to the Americans’ desire and willingness to try to rescue the hostages, and, in the aftermath, had probably forced the captors to tighten their security.”

According to a National Security Council statement, the administration was simply trying to get ahead of reporters who were going to reveal the details of the raid with or without government collaboration. The administration, the NSC claims, would have preferred to have been able to keep this failed mission a secret indefinitely.

“We never intended to disclose this operation,” said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden. “An overriding concern for the safety of the hostages and for operational security made it imperative that we preserve as much secrecy as possible.”

“We only went public today when it was clear a number of media outlets were preparing to report on the operation and that we would have no choice but to acknowledge it,” she added.

Why then, Noah Rothman asks, “would they not simply confirm that the raid occurred to press outlets making that inquiry?”

Why release details of the forces and equipment used, the faction of ISIS responsible for the hostages, and the mission goals?

As usual, to make Obama look less like a clueless Golfer-in-Chief, they released the details of the mission he was hesitant to even want to authorize.

This administration knows how to keep secrets when it comes to protecting their own hides – no matter how many media outlets are on the case.

Rep. Buck McKeon (R., Calif.) on Thursday called  for an investigation to track down the people who first disclosed the information to reporters:

“Disclosure of these missions puts our troops at risk, reduces the likelihood that future missions will succeed, and risks the lives of hostages and informants alike,” he said in a statement.

Here are some others who are excoriating the Regime for this latest leak scandal. I saved the best one for last.

General Jack Keene: ‘No reason’ for White House to disclose failed rescue of American hostages:

Appearing on the Kelly File, August 20, shortly after the news broke:

JACK KEANE, FOUR-STAR GENERAL (RET): Yeah. I think as a matter of principle, Megyn, we really shouldn’t talk about these operations. And certainly an operation like this is no reason to disclose it. At deference to Mr. Foley’s family, I probably would have told that family what we had attempted to do at least and give them some comfort that we may did try to rescue him.

But, you know, even going back to the bin Laden raid which was obviously successful, the amount of information that was released after that infuriated the secretary of defense. I know if our special operators were here, they don’t want these things talked about. They don’t want them out in the media.

What will happen now because we disclosed the event, journalists will pursue with sources to get more information about the details of that event. And that is what the special operators don’t want out there.

KELLY: And if you look at what the White House has revealed, I mean, it’s lengthy. They go into all sorts of details about the operation and what parts of it failed and where they were carried out and how they were carried out. And then, it’s also being reported that there is some concern among military personnel that the release of this info will impede them from being able to carry out this information or this kind of operation in the future. Do you share that concern?

KEANE: Oh yeah, absolutely. Listen, here’s what they depend on. You know, first of all, they need accurate intelligence. And obviously in this case they didn’t have it. Secondly, they need the element of surprise because we plop them downright usually in the middle of the enemy. And after that they certainly have to rely on their extraordinary skill and also on their daring and courage. All those elements contribute to success. And certainly surprise is something they absolutely need to have or else they lose the advantage.

And so, they don’t want people on their guard about these kind of operations. We’ve got about eight hostages in seven different country. You can know for a fact that every one of those people who are holding them captive are looking at where are they, should we move them, what’s the circumstances, do we have enough — do we have enough prevention here in the event that somebody was coming after them.

AMB. JOHN BOLTON:

AMB. JOHN BOLTON: I think this is a stunning breech of security for the United States. Obviously, ordered by the White House, I cannot conceive of the Pentagon releasing this on their own. This is exactly the sort of thing that should remain completely confidential for 50 years, number one, because it tells people what we try to do. Number two, it’s an admission of failure. Well, the United States tried again and couldn’t do it. Number three, whoever was — we relied upon, whoever gave us the tip is now in jeopardy from the Islamic State and they will be dead already. This is just not something do you.

 

LT COL PETERS: OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ‘MURDEROUS,’ ‘UN-AMERICAN’ FOR RELEASE OF RESCUE DETAILS

Peters said the released remind him of “Stalinist bureaucrats’ and the “administration acted disgracefully” and purely for “political cover.”

“I have got to address not only disgraceful, but murderous release of details of this raid,” Peters said. “You just don’t do it. The special operators are furious because the administration rolled them on the bin Laden raid.”

“Why do I say murderous?” he continued. “Not only because detailing which units are involved, tactics, how we did it, not only does that endanger our fighters, if we go in on a future raid, but the administration didn’t think about the hostages still being held. They released the data, to the information that we got intelligence from released European hostages. do you think the Islamic State is going to release more hostages? We signed their death warrants by compromising that information.”

“I’m a former intelligence guy,” he added. “You do not compromise a vital, above top secret national security information for five minutes of political gain. It’s un-American.”