Sunday, January 26, 2020

Is The Pentagon's 'Credibility Problem' Getting Worse?

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, left, and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrive for a briefing in Capitol Visitor Center for a closed-door briefing about Syria on Oct. 17. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Roll Call: Analysis: The Pentagon has a credibility problem, and it’s only getting worse

The Defense Department’s waffling on casualties from Jan. 8 Iran strike latest in a growing trend.

Americans breathed a collective sigh of relief when, the morning after Iran’s Jan. 8 ballistic missile attack on Al Asad air base in Iraq, Defense Department leaders said there were “no casualties.”

That initial assessment hasn't held up, and neither have the department's varying statements on the matter since then.

The Pentagon confirmed Friday that 34 personnel have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries or concussions from the strike. While half have subsequently returned to duty, 17 continue to be treated in Germany and the United States, Jonathan Hoffman, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, told reporters.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: For as long as I can remember the Pentagon has always had a problem communicating accurate information to the media and the public. This was usually due to two reasons .... (a) a deliberate decision from the top, or (2) inaccurate information that was not vetted and passed up the chain of command. But times have changed, and I have a contrarian point view from the above author. I believe the Pentagon is getting better, and I credit the role that the internet and social media are playing, and how they can quickly disseminate information that in the past would have been kept under wraps. In today's world it is very hard to pass misinformation or a narrative that is convenient politically. The truth always comes out in the end.

7 comments:

Mike Feldhake said...

I’m sure the problem stems from not knowing until hours later. The Press always wants answers now, but unlike them, no one else can make stuff up.

Anonymous said...

Part of it is that an organization was playing against a narrative that the Marxstream Media wanted to play IOT shape policy.

Bob Huntley said...

Something happens, someone sees it then, almost immediately, half the world knows it and has seen video images of it. The internet is as close to a race mind scenario as you can get and causes those "in charge" to think carefully before providing their usual authoritative drivel.

Anonymous said...

So how many people died in Wuhan Bob?

Bob Huntley said...

,,,

Anonymous said...

You are so brave Bob.

Bob Huntley said...

Thank you.