Investigate the Pentagon Pundit Program

{cross-posted at Daily Kos}

Like me, I know you'll be following the election returns today - but it's imperative that we not lose focus on some of the issues in play that may be obscured by the election - and I can tell you that if you're watching the returns on television news, there's one story you're almost guaranteed not to see tonight.

It's now been two weeks since the New York Times published their story on the Pentagon Pundits.

I wanted to call out the cavalry here because we still don't know exactly what was going on and exactly what steps were taken to try to shape the news. You can help make sure we find out.

Just to recap, if you didn't catch the original story, the Times described a program to "cultivate" the military analysts you see on so many news programs.

Hidden behind that appearance of objectivity, though, is a Pentagon information apparatus that has used those analysts in a campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration's wartime performance, an examination by The New York Times has found.

The effort, which began with the buildup to the Iraq war and continues to this day, has sought to exploit ideological and military allegiances, and also a powerful financial dynamic: Most of the analysts have ties to military contractors vested in the very war policies they are asked to assess on air. [...]

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.

You know, the first thing I thought of when I heard this story was General Batiste getting put on ice last year when he had the guts to speak up about the need to change course and start bringing our troops home from Iraq. I spoke out then to defend General Batiste's right to say that, but he lost his job as a military analyst.

And now we know the existence of this covert program in the Pentagon designed to spread pro-Administration messages into our newscasts. But there's been - outside of PBS - virtually no coverage of this at all on television news. Media Matters - which has been really dogged in covering these kinds of issues online, they're a great organization - reported on Friday:

Continuing their silence, the major broadcast networks and cable news networks all reportedly declined to discuss the April 20 New York Times front-page article on the hidden ties between media military analysts and the Pentagon on the record with NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik. Further, according to a search* of transcripts available in the Nexis database, the broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, and NBC -- still had not reported on the revelations in the Times story on any of their news programs through May 1

In fact, this has been another great example of how important online media has become in keeping the spotlight on stories like this. The first and I think still only time Dana Perino was asked about this was when a reporter from rawstory.com asked her about it. The great folks at freepress.net have been working hard to keep the issue front and center for their activists. And I've seen Think Progress and the folks here at Huffington Post keep up the heat, as well as posts at Daily Kos.

And this is really important because we can't let this story slide. We need to push hard to get a full accounting of this program.

The Pentagon now says that it has suspended this program, but we still don't know what really happened. What was the extent of the program? Did the Pentagon leverage the financial interests of the analysts? And, especially, now that the Pentagon has announced this program has been suspended, what steps are being taken to make sure it never happens again?

We know the life-or-death consequences of policy decisions in Iraq and Afghanistan - and we know that these policies should de debated and defended without secret programs designed to tailor the news for the administration's goals. This is too important to brush aside.

So I sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking for that independent office to conduct a full investigation of this program and report its findings. But what we need to do is show that the people are watching this. I sent out an email yesterday to the johnkerry.com community asking everyone who agrees with me to sign on as co-signers to the letter I sent to the GAO.

I ask all of you here to join me as well.

Click here, read the letter I sent to the GAO, and add your voice to those of us who are demanding answers.

I don't often come here and ask for something like this, but when there's no coverage of this issue on television, it's hard to build the drumbeat you need sometimes to get results. We need to demonstrate that Americans care about the credibility of their government and the transparency of their media, and I hope I can count on you to back me up on this.

So, click on the link and add your name to the letter, and we'll show everyone that we won't let this secret program slide away unexplained.

Comments

[claytongrayum]

PRINT & MAIL : Department of Defense propaganda campaign aimed at deliberately misleading the American public.

Join the effort! WeThePeopleWatchDog is launching its 1st citizen letter campaign. We calculate that if just 50 people mail these letters as concerned citizens, Washington will be forced to notice. Help build accountability one letter at a time. We do not have accountability on any level with this administration. Let’s lay the ground work for years to come and empower citizen-led government accountability. If you are concerned, please read below and PRINT & MAIL Rep. Rosa Delauro’s (D-CT) letter to:

DEFENSE HOTLINE, THE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20301-1900.

Clay Grayum, WeThePeople Watchdog (Democrat.org, Myspace, Facebook)

(for reference: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/02/top-democrat-investigate_n_99815.html)

[weedhighnightmare]

So this article has sat here for nearly an entire day and only a handful of people have commented on it. No wonder, as it's buried among all of the other crap at the bottom of the front page. This story seems huge to me. I found it the night it was released and read all 11 pages, finding fresh outrage on each one of them. And now the story hasn't just gone away, it's never made a splash in the first place. I signed your petition Sen. Kerry. Now go off and fight the good fight. I'm out of faith, so I'm not expecting anything to happen.

[HeevenSteven]

Senator Kerry, I signed you letter. Thank you for you efforts. As you know many of the comments on this site come from republican trolls, agent provocateurs etc.

[EvgenyLibek]

Senator Kerry,

I agree this matter deserves inquiry, and will sign...

However, why isn't GWBush's fully-scripted "impromptu" conversation with the troops not included -- frankly, I considered that a more serious violation of trust (recall that a camera was left on, which broadcast an identical rehearsal via satelite).

Considering the silence on that matter, I wonder: did I dream the entire debacle, did I miss the memo declaring this too damaging (to Presidential credibility) that we must imprompt amnesia?

What about pundits who were paid to promote, verbatim, GWBush's policiies?

If my government mis-informs me, in matters as grave of war, how can I function as a voter?

I have been to other countries -- I know it is possible to be more interconnected and more informed, without sacrificing security.

The Republican answer is always greater coversion.
I thankyou, and all too few others, for standing against such media manipulation, but I hope you will connect the dots here -- there is a MUCH bigger story.

A Republican friend recently told me he's seen far worse media manipulation in other countries -- he claims Americans are still much better off.

I agree, but to be better than the worst offenders is not good enough -- this is America. If we can even be compared to such places, we are losing a vital part of our identity.

[xrepublican]

You mean like Congress has investigated everything else?!?!?!

What ever happened to Gonzales? Miers? Rove? and all the others who've refused to appear?

Sorry Senator but you played dead over serious election irregularities in Ohio - just like the Dems let 2000 go to W without protest..... not one Senator signed on to the Congressional Black Caucus protest?!?!?

Our Founding Fathers would be appalled at the INACTION of Congress over the last 7 years..... it ENABLED a tyrannical President who SHOULD have been IMPEACHED.­..........

we're now left hoping that Senator/former Mrs. President doesn't destroy the Democratic Party and make the 'Unitary Executive' a permanent Republican dictatorship.......

What has happened to this country? I no longer recognize it.

[nnoely]

Xrepub is 100% correct - I've been a Dem for as long as I've been registered to vote, but I'm seriously considering leaving the party . The Dems have rolled over, laid down - absolutely dropped the ball in the last 8 years. They need to get some gonads and stand up for the Constitution or they will not only lose support - they will lose, for all of us, the country called the U. S. of A.

[HeevenSteven]

I hope you can get some of your peers to help you out on this one Senator Kerry. Seems they're all afraid of big media. I dunno if it's because they take money from them or are afraid the media might dig up dirt on them. Our 'democracy' is going illiberal awfully fast.

Brain Williams is defending his general "friends" that he bonded with in Iraq on his blog, but zippered his lips on the air. Other than that and a brief mention by Keith Olbermann, not a word from the rest of the for profit broadcast media. It's way past time to revisit media ownership rules.

[mmahamngttia]

Hey Heeven! I posted a reply to "MyNameIsJames" along the same lines. Only, instead of picking up on the "fear" theme, I said the Dems were impotent. To think that a Senator needs help from people like you and me is scary. Well, needing help from someone like you is scary anyway.
We have a Republican visitor for a couple days who trotted out the meme that if we just open up ANWR to exploration all of our problems will be solved. This comes the day after I read two letters to the editor in our newspaper that claim the same thing. Such imbeciles.
I tried to use facts to support my argument, but it turns out they are "liberal" facts and they don't count as evidence in a debate.
I have to give our visitor credit for debating politics with me, most others just hold their breaths and refuse until the red kool-ade flows like a river of blood out of their ears.
BTW:
The cure for all economic woes are "more tax cuts". We need to give more tax breaks to the wealthy because they work very hard and deserve it. The cause of our current economic turmoil is due to the Democratic Congress. 9/11 was caused by Clinton. Our founders were inspired by Christ and that's why we shouldn't separate church from state. All Christians are good, including Robertson, Falwell, Hagee, etc and my suggesting they are haters and not true Christians hurts her feelings.

[Ahoon]

How about you get legeslation going to compel ALL cable & sattelite companies to provide CSPAN...I can't get it...but I've got 2 shopping networks and 2 religious networks and 3 sports networks...the only thing I can get that comes close to factual news is PBS.

[Mij13]

Senator, thank for bringing up the importance of online media. I'm new to it, but I've realized I can't expect anything from corporate media except biased one sided info. Instead of watching the "news" shows (Matthews, etc.) I read and watch much more substantial news here and at similar sites. Thanks and keep this issue alive!

[andyboy]

Sorry but I disagree. The right wing conservative billionaires bought the stations. Then they got bills passed in congress allowing them to own multiple channels in the same market. Then they loaded the airwaves with people who will push their agenda.

Sounds like free speech to me. And a whole lot of sour grapes.

The simple truth is the democrats don't really care about this issue they just want to squawk about it in hopes of securing a few votes.

If they cared all these rich multimillionaire tea party liberals would put together their own answer to FOX and broadcast the truth far and wide. What do we get? Air America.

An investigation will only confirm what we know already. Patriotic retirees of the Armed Services went on TV and sold the war.

America is the land of the cheat and the lie. The macho posturing hero worshipping egomaniac country of excess in all things. We worship at the alter of Mom America and Apple Pie. We gladly drink the Kool-Aid.

The American poitical system is a broken, corrupt joke and you want us to write it letters pleading for justice?

What was the definition of insanity again?

Yes Mr. Kerry I think we ought to have that criminal investigate himself! Capital idea!

While your at it let's all write and ask Bush to impeach himself. We know you'd never have the gumption to propose it.

"You mean hold someone accountable for their lies Andy?"

[Krispi]

Thank You Senator for you continued service to our country and I'd like to apologize for some of the rude comments made here today. I have a temper and I know you do too but so many posts here show a temper that gets nothing done except to demand something of you beyond what you've already done to serve this country. I wish you a long life and hope that you'll continue to provide your leadership abilities at the highest level you always display. God Bless.

[ponderman]

This administration has been getting away with murder. Why should we expect they will be held
accountable for this?

[darcy]

Dear Senator,

Please also investigate the "suicide" of Jeanne Palfrey!

[mamak]

Senator Kerry,

Thank you for pushing this, you will have our support.

[wmfor]

I have just signed the letter. Thank you so much, Seanator, for your vigorous action on this. When history is written, it will not be the "winner" of the last two Presidential elections, but it will be you and Al Gore who are considered heroes of our era. Please, keep on the attack!

[MyNameIsJames]

It's very simple Senator. The Democrats need to stop business as usual until they get answers. What do I mean by stopping business as usual?

Stop all funding bills until you get answers from the administration
Filibuster all legislation until you get answers from the administration
Refuse to appoint judges etc. until you get answers from the administration

The American people want you to sabotage this administration and grind it to a halt.

The problem is that your leader Harry Reid and most Democratic Senators are too afraid to take a stand. Worst of all, you don't know how to fight back. You are a Vietnam War veteran and Reid is supposedly a former boxer - What gives?

I can guarantee you this Senator Kerry - If the roles were reversed - if the Republicans had the "majority" they would bleed the Democratic President's administration dry until he came clean.

If we could find a plurality of Democratic Senators who were not cowardly – the Democrats could do the same thing. Stop begging the American people to do for you what you were elected to do! In 2006, you promised "Change!" and that the Congress would "Stand up to Bush".

You got your "majority and you have delivered NOTHING!

Your leader Reid whines before the microphone and make excuses about Senatorial procedure – remember FISA tough guy?

Lastly, stop complaining about the Press-- If you stood up to President Bush and the Pentagon - Guess What? You would have your

[mmahamngttia]

Truer words have never been spoken: "I can guarantee you this Senator Kerry - If the roles were reversed - if the Republicans had the "majority" they would bleed the Democratic President's administration dry until he came clean."
I don't mean to pile on Senator, but the Democratic Congress and Senate are completlely impotent with their responses to these many scandals of the Bush Administration.
Because the Democratic Congress can't stand up to George Bush, I just had to sign the petition!