Fox News, and more specifically reporter Justin Fishel, revealed the identity of a Navy SEAL who is planning to write a book, using a pseudonym, about his participation in the Bin Laden raid.
Fox News said that “multiple sources” told the news outlet Owen’s real name but Fox did not provide any details about its decision to publish it. The book seemingly provides some clues as to the SEAL’s real identity as, according to the New York Times, Owen “recalls his childhood in Alaska.”
Defense Department, CIA and White House officials said they have not reviewed the content of Owen’s book and that they first heard of its existence from media reports. And as the Fox report publishing Owen’s name notes, he “could be exposing himself to legal trouble, as the Pentagon has not vetted the account“
First of all you can't expect anyone to believe Fishel revealed his identity without clearance from the brass at Fox HQ.
Secondly -- what happened to secrecy? Fox News has lead the charge in accusing the White House of leaking secret information, and now they're outting a special operative who participated in the raid to kill Bin Laden.
Whether or not it was appropriate for "Owen" to be writing the book, it is grossly irresponsible and hypocritical for Fox News to make an attempt to ensure the book never happens.
Because that's what this is. An attempt to stop it. Fox News is a political operation. They do not want Americans to be reminded of the Obama administration's successes, and they do not want details of the raid published. And the best way to ensure it never happens is to out the man writing it.