Earlier today, we posted about Fox News outing the name and location of the Navy SEAL involved in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden – and who had written a book about his experiences under a pseudonym. Now we learn that websites affiliated with Al Qaeda have posted the man’s name and photo with calls for revenge. (h/t Think Progress)
NBC reports
Users on several militant Islamic websites affiliated with al-Qaida have posted the name and photo of a former Navy SEAL identified as the author of an upcoming book on the commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The posts called for his "destruction" in revenge for the al-Qaida founder’s killing.
NBC also reported that the Dutton, the publisher of the SEAL’s upcoming memoir asked news outlets not to report his name.
Ironically, Fox outed the SEAL’s identity and his location as part of its supposed concern for spilling national security secrets.
Because nothing says “concern for national security” like painting a virtual target on the back of a SEAL who helped assassinate one of our country’s biggest enemies.
But where’s the outrage? Too many of our fine, upstanding politicians are afraid to take a stand on this issue….at least until they know what is in the book.
But, whatever is in the book should have no bearing on ‘right or wrong’. What Fox did is horribly wrong, and exceedingly dangerous. If they get away with this, welcome to the ‘slippery slope’ angle getting even steeper. But the truth is, they will….and nobody will stop them.
This was not the first time (fact) nor will it be the last time (speculation which will be validated by next week).
The SEAL Fox News sold out? He knows who the other members of Team Six are. That means they have a direct line to all of Bin Laden’s killers if they take him alive. If he’s already relocated, they don’t know that- they know where to show up and look.
What’s to stop them from just showing up and opening fire on the town until the military shows up to stop them? If they want to do it quietly, what’s to stop them from kidnapping people close to him?
God, I can think of literally a hundred ways Fox News will have blood on their hands soon… and the only way to stop it is to get every attempt with perfect precision- otherwise, the panic will spill a fair deal without them.