Influencing Our Analysts: A Crisis in Trust and Credibility
Last Sunday, the front page of the New York Times included a story about the efforts of the Pentagon's public affairs operation to influence retired military officers now working as military analysts for some of our nation's largest media organizations.
I am very angry about the issues raised by the New York Times' story, as are many of my colleagues who have called me aside to discuss it. The story does not reflect well on the Pentagon, on the military analysts in question, or on the media organizations that employ them.
Maybe I am too idealistic, but this story is appalling to me on a number of levels. For me, it all comes down to trust and credibility. And it would be a dangerous thing for the American people to lose trust in the Pentagon, in our retired officer corps, and in the press, each of which has a critical role to play in preserving our nation's freedoms.
Through the years, I have frequently urged our military services to improve their efforts to tell America about the good work that is being done by our country's sons and daughters in uniform. Our military services have an important story to tell, and public affairs offices are critical to that task. But credibility is paramount. Once lost, it is difficult or impossible to regain.
There is nothing inherently wrong with providing information to the public and the press. But there is a problem if the Pentagon is providing special access to retired officers and then basically using them as pawns to spout the administration's talking points of the day. There are allegations that analysts who failed to deliver the message required by the administration mysteriously lost access to future briefings and information. I find this deeply troubling. We deserve to be able to trust the actions of the Pentagon.
We also deserve a retired officer corps that is worthy of the respect it receives from the American people, who place great faith in their judgment and loyalty to our nation. Americans trust our active duty and retired military, and rightly so.
I know a number of the retired officers employed by the media as military analysts to be honorable people. But the special access they are alleged to have received and the circumstances of their employment, without proper disclosure of their outside interests or biases, raise a number of uncomfortable questions that deserve serious answers.
Which master do these analysts serve?
The United States Government, which supplies their retirement pay?
The Pentagon, which may reduce the amount of analysis they actually need to do by providing detailed talking points promoting the current administration's message agenda?
The defense contractors, who pay them for serving on boards or for their defense expertise, and perhaps more to the point, for their Pentagon connections?
Will their analysis, either by design or just by lucky coincidence, result in contracts or other advantages for the companies from which they take home a paycheck?
It hurts me to my core to think that there are those from the ranks of our retired officers who have decided to cash in and essentially prostitute themselves on the basis of their previous positions within the Department of Defense. I would hate to think that because a few people have blurred ethical boundaries and cashed in on their former positions that we might tarnish the military's hard won reputation for professionalism and objectivity and love of country first and foremost.
Finally, I think our media have a serious responsibility to disclose potential conflicts of interest when they do their reporting. This applies to all of their stories, of course, and not just those that include retired officer military analysts. I understand that different organizations have different rules, but perhaps it would not be out of order for our journalism schools and professional journalism organizations to develop ethical guidelines for dealing with such issues.
Our nation's military exists to protect America's freedoms for citizens today and for future generations. The First Amendment guarantees the right of all Americans, including retired service members and members of the press, to speak freely and without restraint. But with our rights come responsibilities to act honestly and ethically. I have no doubt we will continue to discuss these matters in the days ahead.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
The Pentagon and retired military officers that perpetrate this system of propoganda for pay would laugh you out of the room.
Either bring suit or don't even bother to bring it up.
I noticed you didn't say they did anything illegal.
All of those "I would hate to think" and "Maybe I'm too idealistic"'s really ruined your post.
These people are playing hardball and your still hitting off a tee in Pee Wee league.
What you need to do is create a platform for this kind of issue to be placed front and center in front of the American people like the opposite of FoxNews. I'm talking major media like cable or network. Not HuffPo which has it's place but isn't equpped to tackle this big a mission.
It takes money and commitment. Or as they say "action".
You hear more hot air from liberals anymore. They don't seem to ever DO anything.
Maybe they will all agree to police themselves and be good boys just because it's the right thing to do. Lol!
I still can't figure out how anyone in Washington expects us to trust them, the Democrats in 2006 campaign on lies.
In a press release dated April 24, 2006, Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.”
Where is the secret plan Democrats? Sure would be nice for you to share your 'commonsense' plan before gas hits $5. Also, you know that pesky thing going on in Iraq? You promised to end that too.
Well said.
Ike warned all of U.S. about the "Revolving Door" fifty years ago Congressmen. This condition is now perfected. The entire Executive branch is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Oil/Weapons industry.
Don't be shocked, be mad as hell and lead the way back to FREEDOM!
Are you any less free today than you were 10 years ago?
Yes.
Absolutely. So are you...you just haven't realized it yet.
Yes.
Those of us who fought to protect that freedom return to this nation and find ourselves abandoned, and the people we sought to protect stripped of their rights in the name of a nonexistent protection such loss wa supposed to buy them.
We gave up our freedoms for yours, only to see those taken away as well. So, yes, we are flagrantly less free now as wer return home having provided the Intel that disproved our president's cause for war before he ever undertook it, having suffered the degradation of our families on food stamps because we aren't paid anywhere near a tenth of the pay given to the unskilled foreign civilians working alongside us, having told our leadership that physical assault would destroy our best chances for bringing down those behind 9-11.
And we came home only to find that military medical centers have been left unfunded by our president's choice, that the VA's funding has been rerouted to the mercenaries hired in our president's war, and having been betrayed by the man who convinced our nation that only by ignoring the Constitution, crafting illegal laws, and giving unchecked power to the executive branch could we all be safe.
Now, none of us are safe, and those of us who fought, whose buddies paid the ultimate price for that safety and American liberty witness the civilians around us bereft of the very qualities for which we fought and died.
Sorry, Ike, but that's exactly what YOU will do too. We're just a nation of whores looking for the richest Johns.
The practice of using government service as a stepping stone to lucrative jobs in the private sector extends well beyond the military. Agencies like the old Interstate Commerce Commission (now the Surface Transportation Board) have always been a stop for those appointed to it on the way to working, at enormous salaries, for the nation's railroads. In this way -- with the promise of fabulous wealth upon their leaving govrnment service -- those on these agencies ignore regulations and regularly decide in favor of those whom they are supposed to regulate -- knowing they will be rewarded when they leave their government positions so long as they are loyal to the corporations they are supposed to regulate. This happens under Democrats and Republicans alike. Every once in awhile the press covers this outright corruption, but nothing is ever done about it -- kind of like the useless hearings the Democrats have been conducting into Republican corruption, cronyism and criminality -- an endeavor designed to get nothing done but satisfy the base -- rather than moving impeachment.
So although Skelton is right, Congress is a willing collaborator in the practice he condemns.
Agreed that this has been going on for years by both political parties. However, this is one area where the republicans are far ahead of the Democrats.
As an aside, let's start a pool as to how much money george bush's favorite poodle, gen. petrayeus is going to get after he leaves the military.
Also, anyone seen that great american former senator trent lott. I heard he traded in his sheet and is now looking at the size of yacht he will buy with his first week's earnings as a lobbyist.
Not to mention the big rat in the white house. Remember, he said he is going to get his after leaving office (meaning a pot of gold not a life sentence of which he is so deserving).
I'm very upset with your comment about Senator Lott. He DID NOT trade in his sheet. (hahaha) He is using it to attract all of those who remember that if Strom Thurmond had won in 1948, everything would be great, instead of as it is now as clients.
Ike Skelton always a champion of the military. Thank you for a great post if we can pick up a veto proof congress in this coming election maybe we can do something about this situation. One of the few things Eisenhower got right was his warning about the Military Industrial complex.
What money got these Traitors?
American Soldiers Death 4050
American Soldiers Wounded 29,829
American Soldiers Suicide 1,000s
American Soldiers Brain Injuries 320,000
Iraqi Deaths as result of Invasion 1,201,597
And many more to follow
Okay Ike, you've identified it, now for God's sake and what's left of our nation, DO SOMETHING!
Rep. Skelton: It's time we took a hard look at what we have become as a nation. More and more truth is emerging that is bringing more shame to America than I've seen in a long long time. Our President approved of torture and nothing happens. He lies us into a war for oil and nothing happens. Our military and media participate in deceiving the American people and nothing happens. Our Justice Department is infiltrated by graduates of a questionable fourth tier law school created by a fringe religous zealot and nothing happens. Our scientists have been muzzled and nothing happens. And an Alabama Governor is imprisoned for political reasons and nothing happens. Now we find that we've imprisoned more citizens than any other country in the world. All I can say is, if it looks like a rogue state and acts like a rogue state, it's a rogue state!
We're no longer a country of laws. The world is probably losing hope that America will ever return to its senses. I'm beginning to lose hope too. Where are all the investigations Congress is conducting leading to. Nancy Pelosi was wrong to take impeachment off the table. I honestly believe that our standing in the world would improve dramatically if we impeached this President and all his men who have brought this great country to its knees. Congress is wrong to pander to the right wing fringe. They truly are corrupting our democracy. We are on the brink of fascism.
Brink??? Brink??? Hell, I think the brink was breached in New Orleans.
And how precisely does this differ from those long serving congressmen who go into lobbying for special interest groups?
Or this or that government official who winds up working in industry (often for the very groups he or she was supposed to be regulating)?
Or the ex-president (or if you're from a bit further north, ex prime minister) who joins the Carlye Group?
Rare is the guy or gal or who goes off to build housing for the poor.
And if he DOES go off to build housing for the poor, he gets endlessly trashed by every pundit as "ineffectual", "weak", "one of the worst Presidents".
Worse yet, if he makes an attempt on his own to facilitate peace by private diplomacy, he is branded as naive and a traitor.
Part 1
"It hurts me to my core to think that there are those from the ranks of our retired officers who have decided to cash in and essentially prostitute themselves on the basis of their previous positions within the Department of Defense."
Thank you for the excellent overview and analysis of the problem. This administration has done more to restrict access to the facts and to channel on-point propaganda to the public, than any other I have experienced. The acceptance of "embedding" by the press and the public, has led to the wholesale abandonment of traditional front line news organizations to provide the level of reporting that is necessary to insure truthful facts. It is one of the reasons the current problem to which you refer CAN exist.
There is simply little credibility in the arena (with very few exceptions), no verification of stories issued by the Pentagon... no challenge of the "facts". The next step was obvious... supply those individuals with purported credentials (retired officers) to supply and verify information, in the guise of filling the vacuum that the Pentagon initially created. It was easy.
Part 2
I liken these ex-military "media specialists" to those officers who leave the military to join the military contracted services... Blackwater and others. The pay is MUCH greater and the tasks are easier. They are mercenaries in a sense, and I find that to be very disturbing. The truth is just one more innocent bystander that suffers collateral damage to the extent that it becomes unrecognizable... and there's no real accountability for their actions. This is the result of a concerted effort to destroy an institution that the American public depends upon to protect Constitutional guarantees. The main stream media should be held to higher standards, especially when using the public's airwaves.
As ex-military who served in Vietnam, I find this entire American episode in history to be most disgusting. You should be disturbed by these revelations AND you should push for full investigation... and if called for, action against those who have abused trust or broken laws.
Concurrently, you should push back legislation that has allowed large corporate ownership of mass markets that limit free speech and promote abuse by the Pentagon and other interests. The public is being subjected to the results of monopoly. Media ownership requires scrutiny, oversight and tighter regulation.
Wouldn't it have been simpler for Bush to appoint Rupert Murdoch Minister of Truth?
It seems that this scandal points up another problem, which is the broken military procurement and contracting business. The generals-for-hire sat on the boards of military contractors and used their access to learn of specific military needs, not to mention putting their clients in favorable positions for Pentagon deals. All of this smacks, of course, of insider trading and no-bid contracting in exchange for an agreement to relay the party line. I doubt very seriously that all of this could have been accomplished without the violation of numerous federal statutes. There is also the question of using taxpayer money to fly retired military brass to combat zones and on junkets. More than just a PR problem for the Pentagon, this may amount to a criminal conspiracy.
The Pentagon has been out of control for over seven years now. Rumsfeld didn't like CIA intelligence so he created his own intelligence apparatus in order to spin his interpretation of the need to declare war on Iraq. They forced out General Shinseki and Admiral Fallon for not agreeing with either the force needed to go to war or our need to be in Iraq and use that as a base to attack Iran. They sent an incompetent administrator (Bremer) over to Iraq who proceeded to screw up what was already screwed up. They failed to prevent massive looting in Iraq, the lost count of 8 billion of the 12 billion in cash the Federal Reserve sent over to Iraq for reconstruction activities. We didn't have the proper body armor nor appropriate armored vehicles. Tommy Franks could not be bothered to even do his job properly and the Pentagon refused to use State Department officials who were experts on Iraq and the Middle East. It is no surprise that they used former military officers as shills to feed the American public even more misinformation. We can expect more of the same if McCain is elected.
Way to go Ike!!!
Don't let this story die... It's far to important, for our beloved democracy. It's despicable that the retired officers participated. But what is worse is that it was coming from the Pentagon. The soldiers were still following orders after lifetimes of doing just that. But yes they should be held accountable, but the people who were directing them should be held the most accountable.
The media should not be let off scott free either. Although I strongly believe in free press, some liability needs to be enforced... When there is so much twisted opinion that is passed off as news. It really undermines the very freedoms we cherish by encouraging the hate and lies that do divide our country.
The networks and cable news are not covering this story in-spite of it being huge and in the public interest. I hope you and your colleagues do keep this story alive and you don't let them sweep it under the rug.
I wasn't surprised by this story, I had expected as much. We have been lied to for seven years by our government at unimaginable levels. Like I never imagined possible in America. But like you I was angry at the wide spread effort to deceive the people and profit from it at the same time.
Now get back to work... we need you.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
