Tag Archives: pentagon

As it relates to reporters, what does the Pentagon mean by ‘monitor?’


By SB Anderson

The Pentagon Press Association wants some clarity from defense officials on whether journalists’ phone calls are being monitored and in what it says is an “unprecedented step,” sent a letter on Friday seeking that clarity from the defense secretary and chairman of the joint chiefs,  Politico reports.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little last week used “monitor” in a statement  on next steps intended to thwart Pentagon leaks. “The Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Public  Affairs, will monitor all major, national level reporting for unauthorized disclosures of defense  department classified information,” LIttle said. 

Friday’s letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey said, “[T]he phrase ‘monitor all major, national level reporting’ could be interpreted by some as authorizing intrusive actions aimed at members of the news  media who report on defense issues.

“We have received no answers as to specific monitoring authorities,  and ‘reporting’ is much broader than ‘published reports.’ We are asking you to clarify in writing what is meant by ‘monitor all major, national level reporting.’ “

Among the questions asked: 

  • What media do you monitor?
  •  Do you have authority to do the following: 
    • Tap phones at work or home?
    • Intercept or monitor emails?
    • Conduct monitoring or surveillance of Pentagon press workspaces?
  • Are you authorized to monitor phone conversations, emails or press workspaces without our knowledge?

The Pentagon is “reviewing” the letter, Politico says, citing a statement late Friday from Little. “The Department will, of course, review this letter. We have great respect for the Pentagon press corps and its vital role in informing the American people. The key goal of the steps we announced is to ensure that Department officials honor their obligation to protect classified information.”

Link

Can Stars & Stripes retain independence?

The Stars & Stripes military newspaper finds itself  battered by two fronts of disruption: First, the same brutal audience and business changes facing all American newspapers, and now, an order from the Pentagon to move its operation to a military base alongside Pentagon military media operations. 

Thom Shanker of the New York Times put together a through take on both developments, particularly the latter, which is seen as potentially undermining the credibility and influence of the paper for the sake of saving $1 million a year in rent (from a ~ $700 BILLION budget. That’s .0000014 of 1 percent). 

A number of members of Congress have started raising eyebrows and are investigating the implications of the move from the National Press Building to Fort Meade.

And the staff, not surprisingly, is clearly agitated. From Shanker’s story: 

“Terry Leonard, editorial director at Stars and Stripes, said he and the staff do not object to moving — only to a move that locates them at the headquarters for official Pentagon media operations.

” “It’s very hard for people to believe that we can be a news organization subsidized by the Defense Department and still be editorially independent,” Mr. Leonard said. “There is a history of improper interference and even censorship by the military and by civilians within the Defense Department.” “

               
The integrity of Stars & Stripes was a major theme in the sharp and foreboding good-bye column from former S&S ombudsman Mark J. Prendergast (a colleague from way back at the Sun-Sentinel in Florida).  From his Jan. 24 column: 

Economically, the paper’s survival is imperiled by federal budget cuts and the same challenges other media face — declining audiences and shifts in how people get news and information.

Stars and Stripes can slow or even stave off a dire fate if it defends its editorial integrity, hews to its roots, stays relevant to its readers and remembers their interests come first. And that includes their sensibilities.

This military is an all-volunteer force. Stars and Stripes should deliver hard truths, but never in a tone that says “gotcha” or that disrespects its readers’ chosen life. As the late Washington columnist Mary McGrory counseled journalists, “Be nice to people, but not to power.”

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Draft report: Investigators prematurely closed military whistleblower reprisal cases

(POGO) “You’re in the military. You blew the whistle. Something bad happened to your career. You ask your military service Inspector General or the big Department of Defense Inspector General (DoD IG) to investigate what you believe is reprisal. You’re in good hands, right? Maybe not. Or at least there’s some reason for concern.

“There are numerous problems with how investigators are handling these cases, according to a draft Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that POGO has obtained. Perhaps the most concerning finding is that unclear guidance “has resulted in investigators closing cases prematurely,” according to the draft. The guidance relates to “a key investigative question” on whether an adverse personnel action would be taken against the complainant in absence of whistleblowing. A “yes” answer to this question was estimated by GAO to be the cause, at least in part, for “65 percent of the cases closed between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2011.” “

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