YES! 40 Congress Members Demand Investigation Into Pentagon Propaganda Program

[babylonsister]

Top Democrat: Investigate "Potentially Illegal" Military Propaganda Program
Sam Stein

May 2, 2008 01:40 PM


One of Congress' leading progressive figures sent a harsh letter to the Department of Defense on Friday demanding an investigation into reports of an "extensive propaganda program" involving the Pentagon, network news outlets, and military analysts.

Rep. Rosa Delauro (D-CT) and 39 other members of Congress are calling on the DOD's Office of the Inspector General to release more information on what she deemed an "unethical and potentially illegal" campaign to place sympathetic generals and military personnel into influential analysts roles on television.

"When the Department of Defense misleads the American people by having them believe that they are listening to the views of objective military analysts when in fact these individuals are simply replaying DoD talking points, the department is clearly betraying the public trust," the Connecticut Democrat wrote. "Moreover, when these analysts are simultaneously representing defense contractors, the apparent conflict of interest can easily lead to fraud and abuse. We find this deeply troubling, and expect you will share our deep concern."

DeLauro, who sits on the appropriations committee, joins several other prominent Democrats -- including Sens. Russ Feingold and Carl Levin -- to both express moral outrage at the Pentagon program and call for further investigation into its extent and capacity.

On April 20, The New York Times broke the story about a high-level program within the DoD to use military analysts to generate positive news, primarily concerning the war in Iraq. The program originated early in President Bush's time in office, according to the Times, and was developed to provide an echo chamber of respected military voices to drum up support for the administration's policies. Analysts would often meet with high-ranking administration officials (18 such meetings took place with then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld), during which they were briefed and provided talking points. These analysts were then presented as independent voices on cable and network news channels.

Further blurring ethical boundaries was the revelation that many of these military figures represented contractors with business before the government.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/02/top-democrat-investigate_n_99815.html

[karynnj]

1. More details here in Dkos diary about Kerry's and Levin's actions.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/1/1282/47635?new=true

[babylonsister]

3. Thanks, karynnj. I hadn't seen beachmom's report. I hope she posted

it here. And I'm so glad they aren't letting this slide!

[babylonsister]

2. John Stauber of the Center for Media and Democracy called it the Pentagon Papers of the Iraq war

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=356393


Shameful Days: Why Won't The Media Pursue the Pentagon Propaganda Scandal?

Posted April 30, 2008 | 05:55 PM (EST)


The last ten days have been among the most shameful in the history of American journalism.

On April 20th, the New York Times published its expose of the Bush administration's use of Pentagon-approved, prepped, and financially-enriched "military analysts" to appear on TV to help sell the invasion of Iraq, and then put a positive spin on the occupation -- even as conditions on the ground deteriorated.

It was a powerful illustration of the Bush administration's commitment to propaganda and disinformation. But it was also a damning indictment of the mainstream media's complicity in the wholesale deception of the American public on the single most important decision a country can make -- the decision to go to war.

How big a story was it? John Stauber of the Center for Media and Democracy called it the Pentagon Papers of the Iraq war.

So it only stands to reason that a story this explosive would quickly become the subject of extensive follow-ups by TV and print journalists, and endless debate on the political talk shows, right?

Wrong.

Instead of opening their reportorial and analytical floodgates, the mainstream news media have all but ignored the story.

more...

[Preston120]

4. Wonder why only 40 congressmen want information?

[lonestarnot]

5. I was just about to post the same damn question.

:think: