Why persecute whistleblowers... then hypocritically announce strategy of war to attack Syria? Shouldn't that be one of the biggest secrets of all?

Does it not seem hypocritical for a government to persecute, prosecute, and imprison whistle blowers… Yet officials consistently claim that we’re going into Syria…
Senior officials told NBC News that Defense Department planning had advanced to the point that three days of strikes were anticipated, after which strategists could run an assessment and target what was missed in further rounds.

“Navy officials said four destroyers are lined up ready to strike: the USS Barry, the USS Mahan, the USS Ramage and the USS Gravely.”

Did they just tell the enemy the number and names of our forces? Is this a freaking football game? Can you imagine if Manning or Snowden were to announce these war plans to an enemy?

I mean… What the hell bigger secret is there to keep than strategy of war?