I’ve just read the May 15 front-page article titled “SEAL-spotting: Navy’s elite not easy to find in a crowd, and that’s how they want it,” and I am completely incredulous.

Yes, we are all proud of the great job done by the Navy SEALs in finally bringing Osama bin Laden to justice and it’s nice to see them recognized for such a feat (although they would probably shun such recognition), but now the fear is of retaliation by al-Qaida and other fanatical groups or individuals. Given this fact, do you really think it was wise to run a front-page article that not only identifies which squadron got the call but then goes on to identify — by name — which specific bars are popular hangouts for these guys?

Why not paint a big bull’s-eye on these establishments? It would seem to me that that’s basically what you have done by running a front-page story containing this info. This is a perfect example of how freedom of the press should take a back seat to operations security and the safety of our fighting men and women.

Shame on you, Stars and Stripes. Here’s hoping you exercise better judgment in the future.

Rik Thibodeau

Vicenza, Italy

Migrated