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Message Force Multipliers Put on Hiatus
The Pentagon was shocked by what it read in the paper last Sunday.
The Defense Department has temporarily stopped feeding information to retired military officers pending a review of the issue, said Robert Hastings, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for public affairs....Hastings said he is concerned about allegations that the Defense Department's relationship with the retired military analysts was improper.
"Following the allegations, the story that is printed in the New York Times, I directed my staff to halt, to suspend the activities that may be ongoing with retired military analysts to give me time to review the situation," Hastings said in an interview with Stripes on Friday.
Hastings said he did not discuss the matter with Defense Secretary Robert Gates prior to making his decision. He could not say Friday how long this review might take.
"We'll take the time to do it right," he said.
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Comments (12)
"Shocked! Shocked! Shocked, I tell you!"
If anyone's actually falling for this, I'll be shocked.
April 28, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well then, let's all have clips of the original stuff to go along with.
There's a reason "Casablanca" is so popular on the net & elsewhere right now:
"I'm Shocked, shocked, etc"-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM_A4Skusro
Casablanca-French National Anthem Scene-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYbEPZVVIA&feature=related
April 28, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are taking the time to do it right. RIGHT! Making sure they aren't discovered producing the propaganda for those retired military. It's a pity retired Generals are among the war profiteers keeping the bogus information flowing for their business connections to profit. They weren't trying to end the war but prolong it. Pitiful
April 28, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
thanks for covering this story, finally.
April 28, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is authorizing the illegal use of former military personnel to disseminate government progaganda an impeachable offense?
April 28, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
We're all embedded now.
April 28, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Step 1: Announce program has been cancelled.
Step 2: Rename program.
Step 3: Quietly reinstitute program under new name.
April 28, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Step 1: Announce program has been cancelled.
Step 2: Rename program.
Step 3: Quietly reinstitute program under new name.
April 28, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
This story has tarnished the reputation of the entire military to their troops and to the world by doing what they did.
Other than NCO's (who have your back) one has to wonder if you can trust any Officer.
April 28, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
A quick note...there is a link with this story section where Josh asks if the story was picked up by the MSM. I saw a feature on it last week on the News Hour on PBS (Thursday, I think). Ironically, no other network would send a representative to have the discussion of the topic. Just an FYI.
April 28, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Again today's "journalism" opted for the cheap coverage and air time fill. Lets not do any up to date research on our "experts", lets just put them in front of the camera and fill up that 24/7 schedule.
If Wolf Blitzer is making any more than minimum wage CNN is being cheated.
April 28, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Pigs Will Fly Through a Shit Filled Sky.
What the Pentagon will be analyzing is how to revamp, retool and redeploy the program in order to maintain low visibility and high impact in future disinformation/misinformation campaigns against the civilian population of The United States and other nations both allied and otherwise. The present 'war on terror' is against civilian populations, ours included. For a precise demonstration, study New Orleans carefully. Katrina was the 'force multiplier' that was leveraged to displace that population and turn their property over to corporate interests who wanted them gone. Disinformation campaigns and mercenaries on the ground in New Orleans were the agencies that made the displacement stick.
April 29, 2008 5:47 AM | Reply | Permalink