Comments on: Why Can’t the Pentagon Keep a Secret?

By: MarkWestman

MarkWestman — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:35 +0000

They need to be stopped… yesterday. However, I do feel that the “leak” of this “assessment” was a double edged sword. It definetly kept the Admin from editing it, but it almost seems there is a liberal majority here in the US who feel it is more important to have our troops home and safe, than abroad and under fire. What they don’t realize, or fail to admit, is that without these troops there, Afghanistan will be a huge stepping stone for the Taliban to land our our front door… better to beat them off at the steps, than to try, too late, to keep the door protected.

Leaks and the media are WAY out of hand…this “open policy” seems to be giving people in sensitive places the idea that they are doing what they think is best. Someone needs to step on these bugs.

By: CharlesHouston

CharlesHouston — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:40:20 +0000

From the material that I have seen in the media — the leaks must have come from HIGH up!! So some of the leakers are not trying to embarrass their leadership, they are trying to get the military viewpoint out into the conversation, and not allow the political appointees to censor them. It is a calculated risk.

As FPWellman said, conspiracy theorists must constantly overlook the American (English, Russian, etc) propensity to leak everything. Either for money (many spies for the Soviets), resentment of leadership (many Soviet officers leaking to the US), or other percieved advantages. Few secrets stay secret long.

By: J. Huff

J. Huff — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:20:04 +0000

That is not strong enought, they also get our young men and women killed. give then 10 to 20 at Ft Leavenworth, and if any one gets hurt from their loose mouth give them LIFE, their is no HONOR in looking good for the MEDIA. Protect your Troops, is their a double standard in the milltary, the troops belive in HONOR. if i wasn’t so mad i might have wrote this a little better. it just burns my ? when these people thank they can’t be tuched.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:43:49 +0000

You know what is sad? There is a document called a Non-Disclosure Agreement that everyone who has a security clearance signs which says you can be jailed for "leaking" classified information. If the information was truely "secret" then it was classified and the DOD and Justice department should investigate these "leaks" and prosecute accordingly. I'd imagine after a few successsful prosecutions with some lengthy jail sentences in lovely Ft Leavenworth, these leaks of truely classified information would likely stop. On the other hand, if the information is simply sensitive, but not actually classified, there is no reason it can't be leaked or released. It may not be the prudent thing to do, but there is nothing that prevents it.

By: O. Benjamin

O. Benjamin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:02:15 +0000

I have always despised the little "piss ants" that artificially build their self esteem by using "insider information" to establish relationships with media figures. They're too dumb to know they are nothing more than disposable toys, of no value to the media darlings once they no longer serve in a sensitive DOD position. Equally disturbing are the pseudo-intellectuals, convinced that they are smarter, and more deserving, than any general or admiral could be, so they feel compelled to "leak' information which they hope will derail or diminish those above them. I wish that just once military criminal investigators and/or counterintelligence would catch one of these "leakers" good enough to put the perpetrator in Ft Leavenworth or a federal prison for 3-4 years. That might slow the leaks down a tad bit. Hey anonymous sources, how about exhibiting some personal and professional standards of conduct.

By: Flymast

Flymast — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:44:20 +0000

Are these trial balloons, payback, and or other means when these type of things get released? Seems like it always happens, even under previous administrations.

By: Flymast

Flymast — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:40:41 +0000

We all know that this released on purpose to “box in” the Administration. Nothing about the Pentagon releasing these “classified” reports is by mistake. Both Patreus and possibly McChristal are trying to box in the President are disatisfied that he doesn’t jump everytime they say jump and so they now release this to try to apply pressure, well its not going to work. Somebody needs to take a history lesson from Vietnam and also read the Art of War by Sun-tzu. This engagement cannot be won with conventional methods on this terrain with this enemy on its own turf but only by dividing and conquering into small groups and using mountain pathways as access to the enemy. Finally, it appears they are working on a “pinzer” move with Pakistan which is also what the Art of War calls for in this type of environment.

We should concentrate on more dron attacks in the Pakistan border region, use small commando teams near the border along with clandestine U.S. forces in Pakistan to take Al-Queda out and this is the only way; more troops in Aphganistan will not win this war.

By: @FPWellman

@FPWellman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:32:19 +0000

I was amazed when I became a public affairs officer how people worked the journalist cubicles in the Pentagon sprinkling info around. We are the worst at keeping secrets. I always giggle when some conspiracy theory implies we could keep it a secrt. No way! Glad to find you providing your unique insight.

By: Dennis Gaffney

Dennis Gaffney — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:51:26 +0000

Has there ever been a commanding General that didn’t want more troops?

By: CharlesHouston

CharlesHouston — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:32:43 +0000

Americans are terrible at keeping secrets — about as bad as Russians, Chinese, etc. Almost certainly McCrystal leaked the document to keep the Administration from editing his public statements too much.