Whenever you see a “military analyst” on a TV news program, you can just hit the mute button and play an audio tape of the latest speech by George W. Bush about Iraq.
It has now been revealed that military analysts appearing on TV news shows have been receiving secret coaching by the Bush Administration, through the Pentagon’s public relations apparatus. At these secret coaching sessions, the supposed “military analysts” have been given the opportunity to view classified information – but only the classified information that the Bush Administration wants them to see.
So, the “military analysts” that appear on TV news shows often don’t have any special information beyond what is publicly available, other than the information that the Bush Administration has decided they should see.
Furthermore, these so-called “military analysts” don’t do independent military analysis at these government coaching sessions. They’re told by Pentagon PR hacks what to say.
Take note, J. Clifford. This is yet another reason to cancel your cable TV service.
Another aspect to this is that, as the New York Times reported yesterday, these analysts have business relationships as “lobbyists, senior executives, board members or consultants” to military contractors which have an economic interest in maintaining a war. These relationships are not disclosed on air.