WASHINGTON, DC – Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today expressed serious concern about a recent report describing efforts by the Department of Defense (DOD) to influence the commentary of independent television military analysts.  In a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the Senators said the report raised issues of credibility and trust at the Pentagon.  They urged a full review of the matter, especially allegations that independent military analysts were pressured to speak positively about the Bush Administration or face potential loss of government contracts.

    “This Administration has a history of pushing propaganda on the American public.  We deserve unbiased facts and analysis of conditions around the world, free from public relations ploys.  Reports that the Administration tried to control the information Americans were getting in the news, perhaps through the use of federal contracts, must be investigated,” Sen. Lautenberg said.

    “We face very serious challenges around the world and Americans need information they can trust to make their own informed judgments as citizens,” said Sen. Clinton.  “It is unacceptable for federal contracts to be used as leverage in any way and a full investigation should be undertaken immediately.”

    The text of the Senators’ letter is below.

April 28, 2008

The Honorable Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
The United States Department of Defense
The Pentagon
Suite 319
Washington, D.C. 20301

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We are writing to express our very serious concern about a press report that the Department of Defense (DOD) hid behind “an appearance of objectivity” in a concerted media campaign that raises issues of credibility and trust at the Pentagon.  It suggests an extensive, coordinated effort by the DOD and the Administration – in a campaign they described as "information dominance" – to try to influence the commentary of independent television military analysts.  The report contains allegations that analysts who did not speak positively about the Administration were pressured or even punished.  The report also raises serious questions about the potential linkage of government contracts to favorable public commentary by military analysts. 

After the real concerns raised by the information and intelligence provided by the Pentagon in the lead-up to the Iraq war, we believe that it is more incumbent on the DOD than ever to avoid any appearance of impropriety in how it portrays the Iraq war and our country's defense policy now.  It is both appropriate and necessary to know to what extent the DOD may have directly or indirectly attempted to undermine the objectivity and accuracy of the military analysis presented to the American people as independent commentators, and to what extent decisions about military contracts were connected to this public relations effort. 

We respectfully request that you conduct a comprehensive review of your Department’s public relations effort.  Further, we request a full investigation from the Inspector General as soon as possible. 

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton                                  Frank R. Lautenberg


cc:  Claude M. Kicklighter, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense

 
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