“Operation Dark Heart” is the latest book to get the kind of marketing money can’t buy. The Government is the benefactor on this occasion. ”Operation Dark Heart,” as outlined by the Department of Defense, contains passages written by a previous intelligence officer that could possibly be used by America’s enemies to undermine United States of America interests. Cash is no object to the Government, which is preparing to write a check for the first run of the book so it can reduce each and every pallet load to ashes.
Memoir said to be security risk
“Operation Dark Heart” is by Anthony A. Shaffer, a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer and at the moment a lieutenant colonel within the Army Reserve. It’s a first-person account of five months Shaffer spent in 2003 as a DIA officer based at Bagram Air Base near Kabul in Afghanistan. The New York Times reports that Army reviewers approved “Operation Dark Heart” in January. The publisher, St. Martin’s Press, planned to release the book Aug. 31. But the DIA didn’t see the manuscript until July, when it determined that the publication contained classified data. By then, various dozen copies of the book had already been sent out to reviewers and online booksellers.
A glance at various sketchy content
Some of the allegedly classified details in “Operation Dark Heart” concerns a pre-9/11 operation called “Able Danger,” which Shaffer statements identified hijacker Mohammed Atta as a threat before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. According to Fox News, the DIA wants passages removed where Shaffer alleges he told the 9/11 Commission that Able Danger knew about Atta as early as 2000. Atta was the leader of the 9/11 hijackers and piloted American Airlines Flight 11 into the World Trade Center. Shaffer’s story lacked conclusive evidence, according to a Defense Department report written as the official response.
Burning fans flames for bestselling book
Shaffer’s publisher is negotiating with the Government, which wants to write a check for the first printing of Operation Dark Heart in its entirety. The Washington Post said the Government would like to ensure the book does no damage by feeding all 10,000 copies to the fire. A 2nd printing is already in progress at St. Martin’s press-sans the sensitive passages. . The Amazon bestseller list has “Operation Dark Heart” at #19. For anyone who has wondered why it’s listed as “temporarily out of stock,” now you know.
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New York Times
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Fox News
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Washington Post
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