The New York Times and the looney left go out of their way to trash Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield. Unfortunately, they get some help from Republicans, as well. To combat some of the gross misinformation that appears in the Times or in arguments by the left, the Defense Department has set up a new site called FOR THE RECORD. An example of what you can find there: (H/T: Powerline)
Rumsfeld Comments Mischaracterized
Oct. 27, 2006 — Several news outlets, including the AP and Washington Post, reported or headlined incorrectly that Secretary Rumsfeld told “critics” to “back off” during yesterday’s press briefing. In fact, the Secretary was referring specifically to journalists who were seeking to create a perception of major divisions between the positions of the U.S. and Iraqi governments. He was not referring to critics of the administration’s Iraq policy.
Read the DOD letter to the Washington Post.
Read the transcript of Secretary Rumsfeld’s press conference.*******************************
New York Times Involved in Mythmaking
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.
Powerline also reminds us of a similar White House site:
DOD's effort parallels the White House's Setting the Record Straight, an excellent series that also attempts to create media myths and misrepresentations. The White House's corrections are sent out by email, too, but I'm not sure how to get on the list. Both of these sites are valuable sources of information, but the White House and the Department of Defense can't begin to counteract the mythmaking machine that the MSM have become.
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