cryptogon.com

Sgt First Class Thomas Rathsack’s book ‘Jæger – i krig med eliten’ (‘Hunter – at war with the elite’) was due out on 25 September. But the Defence Command has reviewed it and demanded that it is not published in its current form.
Henrik Jedig Jørgensen from the Danish Institute for Military Studies said that even if the book was edited before publication, a lawsuit was still likely because Jyllands-Posten newspaper published controversial passages and pictures from it yesterday.

Jyllands-Posten reported that while the book described operations already in the public domain, it included information about missions in Afghanistan that neither the public nor parliament knew about.

Rathsack’s book also revealed, according to the newspaper, that the Special Forces had been action every year since 2002 in Afghanistan, Iraq or Kosovo.

Jedig Jørgensen said Rathsack would face ‘very serious charges’ if his book damaged Denmark’s relationship with other countries.

Military spokesperson Lars Sønderskov said Rathsack had violated his vow of confidentiality by writing the book and that some passages compromised national security and the country’s relationship with foreign powers.

The book’s publisher and defence officials met yesterday.

Jakob Kvist, the president of publishing house, Art People, said the military had been adamant that the book be edited.

‘National security isn’t something you take lightly. We’re going to have to give in on this one – either voluntarily or by court order,’ he said.

Jørgensen say the wording of the Defence Ministry’s statements regarding Rathsack’s book indicates it is preparing a lawsuit against him.

The military used similar language in 2005 when it brought charges against intelligence officer Major Frank Grevil for informing the press about what information the government used to base its decision to participate in the military invasion of Iraq.