Apparently everyone is up in arms over the fact that Pentagon public affairs folks host regularly scheduled briefings for retired general officers (who happen to also be on-camera pundits for cable networks) about current military activities.
From Reuters:
Many U.S. military analysts used as commentators on Iraq by television networks have been groomed by the Pentagon, leaving some feeling they were manipulated to report favorably on the Bush administration, The New York Times said in Sunday editions.
A Times report examining ties between the Bush administration and former senior officers who acted as paid TV analysts said they got private briefings, trips and access to classified intelligence meant to influence their comments.
“Records and interviews show how the Bush administration has used its control over access and information in an effort to transform the analysts into a kind of media Trojan horse — an instrument intended to shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks,” the newspaper said.
The Pentagon defended its work with the analysts, saying they were given only accurate information.
In other outrageous displays of the obvious news, Democrat and Republican spokespeople are given talking points and corporate CEOs are media trained. Details, tonight at 11.
Update: Jason hits the nail on the head. Check out what he has to say.
AMEN. There is no story here, for all the energy wasted on statements “I’m shocked, shocked to discover that retired general officers actually liked their former job enough to retain ties to current OSD and industry execs.”
[…] 8, 2008 by Steve Field I’ve already written about the New York Times non-story expose on the efforts of the Pentagon to provide briefings to retired […]
Here’s an important update on the story (IE you’re wrong, this IS a story and there was malfeasance):
Inspector at Pentagon Says Report Was Flawed
By DAVID BARSTOW | Published: May 5, 2009
“In a highly unusual reversal, the Defense Department’s inspector general’s office has withdrawn a report it issued in January exonerating a Pentagon public relations program that made extensive use of retired officers who worked as military analysts for television and radio networks.
Donald M. Horstman, the Pentagon’s deputy inspector general for policy and oversight, said in a memorandum released on Tuesday that the report was so riddled with flaws and inaccuracies that none of its conclusions could be relied upon. In addition to repudiating its own report, the inspector general’s office took the additional step of removing the report from its Web site.” …
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