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| Pentagon says New York Times Involved in Mythmaking |
| 2006-10-26 |
| From Cliff May at The Corner -- I'm assuming this is a faily new publication For the Record from the Pentagon.. but I don't know that for sure! DOD asks editorial page to correct error Oct. 24, 2006 — The Pentagon today asked the New York Times to correct an editorial, which claimed that “There have never been enough troops, the result of Mr. Rumsfeld’s negligent decision to use Iraq as a proving ground for his pet military theories, rather than listen to his generals.” Whether the Times believes there were (or are) enough troops in Iraq, it is demonstrably untrue that troop levels in Iraq are the result of Secretary Rumsfeld’s “not listening to his generals.” Generals involved in troop-level decisions have been very clear on this matter, making numerous statements that are not new—or difficult—to find, such as extensive commentary in General Franks’s book, American Soldier. The implication is that the New York Times either believes these generals are not being truthful, or that they are too intimidated to tell the truth. The Pentagon would vigorously dispute both characterizations. Read what generals themselves have to say about the subject, in a Pentagon letter to the editor. UPDATE: The New York Times has declined the Pentagon’s request to correct its editorial. and... Newsweek Declines Pentagon Request to Examine Reporting DOD asks magazine to reconsider refusal Oct. 20, 2006 —In response to a Newsweek article on Afghanistan (“The Rise of Jihadistan,” October 2, 2006), the Department of Defense sent Newsweek a lengthy rebuttal of points of fact and opinion, as well as a request for an “opportunity to submit a stand-alone column that not only rebuts some of the more sensational charges, but offers your readers a clearer view of the very real challenges we face in Afghanistan—as well as the many achievements of the past five years.” Newsweek dismissed the rebuttal as the “government position,” as well as the request for a stand-alone column. The Pentagon’s response to that letter read in part: “First, a ‘concise’ letter to the editor, of say, 200 words, cannot adequately address an [sic] 2200-word article containing a series of false assertions. Second, the issue is not Newsweek’s position versus the ‘government position.’ The issue is that your readers were given a one-sided, opinion-laced article on Afghanistan based on falsehoods—which is something that journalists and editors are usually concerned about. Your dismissive reply is disappointing, to say the least.” Read the whole exchange here and... Oct. 18, 2006 The Weekly Standard. To the Editor: Bill Kristol’s recent article “No More Huffing and Puffing” manipulates Secretary of Defense Donald’s Rumsfeld’s comments at a recent press conference and misleads your readers. Lots more at the site |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #2 Per the Goldwater-Nichols Act, its the theater commander who determines need. Any one of the critics produce one theater commander of that region who said he was denied manpower resources by POTUS or SecDef? |
| Posted by: Procopious2K 2006-10-26 18:40 |
| #1 Ooohhhh....Where has this been? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-10-26 18:09 |