Pentagon bans use of anonymous quotes in press releases

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Pentagon has banned the use of anonymous quotes in press releases, calling the recent use of nearly identical quotes attributed to unnamed Iraqis an "egregious error."

Lawrence DiRita, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said the incident involving press releases issued by the army's 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq was under investigation.

"This is an egregious error that reflects a lack of rigor in the development of these press statements," he said in a July 29 memo to the service secretaries and military chiefs.

The memo, which was made public Tuesday, said, "The use of anonymous quotations in a Department of Defense press statement is prohibited."

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050802/pl_afp/usiraqmilitarymedia

[Newsjock]

1. So now they'll just make up the names, too

It's not like any legitimate media can wander Iraq trying to locate the "people" quoted in these "press releases" anyway.

[WhiteTara]

6. KKKarl is now in charge of making up those lies too.

these guys are really transparent.

[krkaufman]

2. ha!

"... an egregious error that reflects a lack of rigor in the development of these press statements."

Yes, they should have been much more rigorous in their fiction development.

[54anickel]

3. No more delegating propaganda!!!

...press statements should be drafted by "trained public affairs professionals," and not delegated to others.

Guess they've decided to be more careful in their lies rather than stop them. No surprise here.

[Kelvin Mace]

4. Now if we could get the US press to stop

using them as well.

[Boomer]

5. Wonder who will fall on their sword....

...to take the blame for this?

[TheFarseer]

7. I think it's hillarious when they get caught

in their web of lies like this. I wish more people heard about this kind of thing.

[Benhurst]

8. Egregious. Now there's a big word for Bush* to use at his

next press conference.

[Supersedeas]

9. lack of rigour in the development of press statements??? like the lack of

skill in the development of PROPOGANDA??

[lyonn]

10. "egregious errors that reflects a lack of rigor,"

Wow, how did these people get their word out without our Pentagon's rigorous scrutiny? Last I heard we had won this event, going home now.