The U.S. Department of Defense said if a member of the special U.S. military team who killed terrorist leader Osama bin Ladin has disclosed classified information in a new book, the matter could be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.
"We remain concerned about the release of classified information," Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jim Gregory said. He added that the Defense Department only learned of the book from the publisher on Wednesday.
U.S. publisher Dutton says the book was written by a Navy SEAL member writing under the fictitious name of Mark Owen, in collaboration with journalist Kevin Maurer. The book titled, "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden," will be released on September 11, the anniversary of the deadly terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.
This May 2, 2011 file photo shows Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan shortly after the raid that killed the al-Qaida leader. (AP)x
This May 2, 2011 file photo shows Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan shortly after the raid that killed the al-Qaida leader. (AP)
The author issued a statement through Dutton saying it was time to "set the record straight" about last year's raid on the Pakistani compound that killed the leader of the al-Qaida terrorist group, which carried out the 2001 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.
The CIA has also said it had not reviewed the book to ensure no classified material is revealed. Former military and intelligence personnel are required to submit any writings to their agencies before the work is published.
Dutton said the book was reviewed by a former special-operations attorney.
The book's release comes as the Obama administration is being criticized for leaking classified details about the bin Laden raid for what some say are political reasons.