The Harm of Leaking KIA Information to the Press

Instapundit received an email from one of his readers, John Lucas:

One of the most despicable reactions I have seen from the US to this incident was the fact that the initial press reports quoted an unnamed government official as confirming that the KIAs were from Seal Team 6 and the 160th Avn. Bde., which is the special ops aviation unit. This unnamed person requested anonymity because the families of the KIAs had not yet been notified. Whoever this irresponsible government official was, he should be drawn and quartered. I can tell you from personal experience, when families back her he reports of a downed helicopter or some other incident with significant casualties, they are on pins and needles until the names are announced. Their hearts race every time the telephone rings. The fear is magnified if you think the casualties are may be from the area where your loved one is deployed.

The Specials Ops community is very small. And, the number of Navy Seals and 160th Aviation personnel in Afghanistan is even smaller. From the time this government creature could not resist making his unauthorized disclosure, he put every family of every deployed Seal and 160th crew member through unbelievable mental anguish, waiting to hear if their loved one was one of those killed. Having identified the units that the KIAs were from, he put every family on notice that there was a very high chance that their husband, father or son was dead. Is this guy so stupid that he didn’t know this or did he just not care? That some government official would do this shows how out of touch they are with the military and military culture.

I can't imagine how difficult this has been for those people.

Thanks to commenter "Retread."

posted by rdbrewer at 09:15 AM

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