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Former CIA Operative Mike Baker on recent national-security leaks and the impact it has on national security.
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Before talk about a -- Did you or your read this alone no reason today yeah America -- sinister -- this is well known but missiles and maybe the -- and six guy who wrote a book a -- Establish some cooperation.
-- -- Donald Sullivan laden.
Right it's a story of he talks about you know it decision going to the seals say you know that that that process.
The training what that's like -- any any leads into the bin Laden raid and and the aftermath.
And here's my take on it.
Is it's a good read it no doubt it's a good read because it's it's a fascinating world that you don't often get a look into the and the fortunate part of it is is that.
We're getting more and more of a look into that world I think it's depressing.
And somewhat.
Sad very disappointing that he decided to write this book.
We have gotten to a point well because this commitments this honor there's.
Disciplined.
You sign up -- -- whether it's the teams whether it's the CIA wherever may be when you're going to be involved.
Either handling of dealing classified operations and intelligence.
You're signing agreements.
And those agreements don't shift in and in in it's not up to the individual decide what's okay and what's not.
You know he and the author both -- the co author both said well we we went to great pains.
To make sure that we were releasing information that we shouldn't really it's not up to the individual.
That's not their decision it has appointed -- right well.
Yeah I mean it and we've seen one more of this I think to some degree I think part of the problem is that some of the younger folks that are out there now whether they're writing a book when they get out of whether they're they're talking out of turn about things they've done.
I think part of it is there -- to some degree because they're seeing senior officials doing this more more often and now we're getting these these stories New York Times now the can be based entirely on an anonymous White House officials.
Talking out of turn and I think that continually that drip drip drip it lowers the bar.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Was that he wanted to set the record started.
Because it does so much.
Information attempt from the White House and the president and the -- people about the raid that apparent London stock market cycle -- -- And you eat what you you court the trial sun up to him to set -- -- -- up to him to honor his -- is up to anybody to do that with the taut against not just him but.
Anyone who does this.
-- and -- I don't look at the world in black and white you know I spent too much time in the outfit and and doing other thinks it.
Acted to think that it's not a murky gray world out there but there are certain things you have to hold to your principles your morals your commandments.
And and this is where I really have a hard time accepting this now there was it remember the -- -- -- to came out talking and they were very punitive.
Created -- a video outraged over the White House Intel -- and a and and I've been paying out about those White House until weeks for some time they've got to get to the bottom of it they've got to they've got a hold the line.
But some of those same people are now you know trying -- somewhat defend.
This this this -- -- right to it to produce a spoke in part I think because well he's a he's a fellow warrior he's out of the seals now but.
Here is award you I don't think that's ships it doesn't it doesn't.
Yeah you can't build the suit.
Either you honor your commitments regardless or you'd do you don't it's not up to him I don't think to set the record straight.
We -- -- the idea I'm gonna get off my soapbox in no second but we had operations.
It in the outfit need to seek.
Over the years we get our ass kicked.
And -- -- constant trekking up to it to Capitol Hill by some our senior people can just just getting smacked over the head consulate.
Nobody in the outfit selected they were gonna have to go out there and set the record straight all right -- do you take a beating.
Fine you just continue to march on to what you're supposed to be doing and and do what you told.
And if that you know you'd it turns out otherwise out in the press and and -- people on Capitol Hill wanna have a field -- -- -- so be it.
But our job was it was to -- the -- -- just carry on.
-- -- -- Respect for tuners.
And Covert operations and a CIA.
About -- on.
-- pseudonym for this guy.
Who was shelter and -- guy who wrote the book on orders today turn on -- -- estimates didn't -- -- one.
It is it is Islam wants to perhaps but I actually don't right now it once just that I thought borrower -- it's absent -- -- -- fascinate and and and thin and saying what I'm saying.
Takes nothing away.
From the respecting your honor that that did in the admiration you have four of -- you know that the men and women that did did -- do this sort of where -- -- -- that's not the point it's like saying I disagree with -- with Afghanistan a nation blowing up innocent people say well -- dishonor and the troops no I'm not.
You know -- we feel we -- get past sort of -- a motive side of this so if I'm criticizing the fact that this gentleman wrote this book because I believe he's got commitments to honor.
And.
-- -- -- -- Or on an operations.
Thank he says in turn it to a couple of apparently.
Some element of wisdom -- story here are -- -- but.
Yahoo! answers to the folks I've talked -- there's there's some unhappy campers.
This -- folks that.
That see the same thing Tennessee it's.
It's again -- the continual.
Lowering of expectations.
And people say well there was you know it's not really classified information that he's put in there.
Well you can Parse that a million different ways but the point being is that.
It lowers expectations.
You know and -- -- I did every of at some point -- gets a trophy well.
It at this point you know everybody can talk -- -- turn nobody has to worry about keeping a secret.
And I don't like that as an example my dad you know was it was in the old and army air -- -- -- seventeen driver in World War II went to work for the government.
He -- secrets to his grave.
And I know that for a fact and he didn't talk about and nor did all his compatriots I think it's a generational thing in part I think part of its -- it is sort of the instant.
Access to information.
Sort of the ADD that we all have now because we're bombarded constantly with -- with things like directions chasing the next shiny object.
So I don't think we we have that same ability to keep our yap shut that we have before.
And -- -- -- on a more fundamental level.
-- -- -- -- Yes yes that's.
That's yeah that's that's exactly right and and and again I'd I'd I sound like you know some sort of cynical -- you know and talking this way but.
You're right.
I think it's it's it's demeaning to the service in a sense now yes he's -- did some of the proceeds are going to the family's -- -- -- a -- we don't know and and and that's an honorable concept but unfortunately it does seem to get rolled out constantly when people doing something that.
You know fundamentally I think deep down he knows he shouldn't have done a sack and I think anybody who -- honorable and could yet take set -- Discloses information you know on the edges even.
You know and he knows he shouldn't do it.
But in in this particular book.
You could argue that -- jettisoned a lot of information related to their training to their operations logistics you know the sort of the mindset.
Methodologies.
And and and again -- -- concerns creditor of a preponderance instruments.
-- apportion Protestants.
-- southern -- don't know what proportion -- us via the don't know who's gonna count Puerto.
And it doesn't negate the fact I -- go -- -- that kind of got beat you over the don't they just need to climb up his soapbox and library it doesn't it doesn't negate the fact that it's it's just something that.
That shouldn't be done now you look at the White House and Intel leaks and again I think that's this is a real key part of the problem.
Is when you when you look at that and you see well these guys are doing it.
So you know what about me I was actually there and I can understand that mindset that says.
I want to talk about this it shouldn't be some White House spokesman behind a podium doesn't know anything about what this is all about.
But that's not the case -- with -- -- with -- folks in terms the White House until -- right now not to gear off topic you know who knows how much money.
Possibly they're going to spend on the city of congressional investigation -- doubt that's gonna go anywhere.
But there's a short list of individuals who have access to operational information.
You take that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula story take some -- the other stories you combine those.
Take that short short list of people who had access to information and you you asked them to submit to a polygraph if they say no -- take their clearances away.
But it -- finds.
