McCaffrey

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_11/015862.php

MCCAFFREY.... David Barstow had a devastating New York Times piece back in April, documenting the practice of retired U.S. generals appearing on the major cable networks as "independent" media analysts, while they were simultaneously working for defense contractors, and repeating talking points from the Pentagon. The painted picture was a train wreck of conflicts of interest and journalistic ethical malpractice.

Today, Barstow has yet another blockbuster, directing his focus to one of the more prominent retired generals: Barry R. McCaffrey, a retired four-star Army general, military analyst for NBC News, and highly-paid consultant to defense contractors.

It's really worth reading the whole piece, but Spencer Ackerman's take was spot-on.

If this mammoth New York Times piece is wrong, Barry McCaffrey really ought to sue, because if it isn't, he has no reputation for integrity left. <...>

{T}he scope of McCaffrey's hustle is really breathtaking. Barstow demonstrates that many, if not most, of the pronouncements he made on TV about the wars benefited one or another defense contractor who employed him. That's the way the scheme worked: Company hires retired general to use his connections to its benefit. Retired general accepts special grants of access from the office of the secretary of defense that benefit both his TV career and his consulting career. Retired general proclaims on TV things that benefit both the secretary and the company -- or, when circumstances necessitate, the company at the expense of the secretary. TV viewer, looking for informed analysis of confusing wars, is unaware of any of this. Welcome to the new military-media-industrial complex.

It's that bad. As Barstow explained, "On NBC and in other public forums, General McCaffrey has consistently advocated wartime policies and spending priorities that are in line with his corporate interests. But those interests are not described to NBC's viewers. He is held out as a dispassionate expert, not someone who helps companies win contracts related to the wars he discusses on television."

After Barstow's report in April, I largely expected the networks to reevaluate their relationships with these "independent" media analysts. That, apparently, hasn't happened, and NBC News, in particular, seems unconcerned about the obvious conflicts of interest, the lack of disclosure, and the textbook ethical lapses.

The network's viewers deserve an explanation.

—Steve Benen

NYT article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/washington/30general.html?_r=2&hp

[mediaman007]

1. So why do corporations that don't profit from the military/industrial

complex support the Republican agenda? Seems to me, that the Chamber of Commerce doesn't benefit too much, if tons of money flows to the war effort, and not to domestic uses. What am I missing?

[malaise]

2. The Chamber of Commerce is interested in trade

anywhere. No doubt they're still upset they can't trade in African slaves.

[martymar64]

3. MCaffrey the former Drug Czar, fuck him!

It's because of assholes like him that now thousands of Americans are in cages simply because of marijuana possession. Somebody needs to drop him into the yard at San Quentin with no guards around. That would be justice.

[Myrina]

4. ... he was also one of the few who was consistently critical of the Iraq War ...

... and the Bush Administration's bungling thereof.

Go figure. :shrug:

[babylonsister]

5. I do recall he was critical, but also recall him saying we can't

leave either. Maybe that was because of job security? :shrug:

[ellenfl]

6. since when

do media consultants have to have integrity?

"If this mammoth New York Times piece is wrong, Barry McCaffrey really ought to sue, because if it isn't, he has no reputation for integrity left. "

i keep seeing 'consultants' with NO integrity being treated as experts - e.g. armstrong williams, tom delay, newt the hoot, etc. mccaffrey will be off the radar for a couple of months and then be back in action. you KNOW they think we're stoopid. :dunce:

ellen fl

[babylonsister]

7. Well, there is that. Good point. nt

[FrenchieCat]

8. The networks, cable, and the press are the ones that need to provide us with an explaination....

to its audience.

They may want to point to a few, as the NYT is doing to McCaffrey.....but to a larger extent, the media as a whole is more culpable of what they are accusing Gen. McCaffrey of. They are, afterall, supposed to be the 4th estate protecting citizens by questioning government....but it seems that raising doubts about our government leaders didn't come into fashion until way too late. That is more dangerous than anything McCaffrey might have said or done. Had the media done their job, McCaffrey wouldn't even be an issue, as the WH wouldn't have even tried to get away with what they did.

But then, we know that the media is really good at pointing the fingers at others for guilt of deeds that they themselves are guilty of. I call it a distraction in order hide the real culprits that allowed what happened to happen. They may be fooling some, but I will not be distracted.

[peacetalksforall]

9. It's amazing. You go along as the plays and scripts play out on tv and in print

and you can read/hear a 1000 per cent proof of the military-industrial-media complex, scheme, trusts, and profits with corporate friends. We could see and hear it happening. Then, later it's all laid out and we were right.

I think this article and his life is a prime example of everything that is wrong with this country.

There is nothing he has said or done that gives him wiggle room. The statements he made about his innocense is apalling.

His is only one of the extra-exquisite synchronated manuevers to sell us lies while making a profit and becoming wealthy on our kids backs.

A person can only assume that his getting back in with the Pentagon was all about a cut of the profits. I have no higher expectation for their eithics. Any of them, especially the media and permissive and truth hiding Congresspeople.

Where is the oversight?

How does it feel when it is proven that that you were taken for a fool and a most stupid believer of lies and propaganda? Resentful? Or MORE IMPORTANTLY - does it affirm your ability to recognize truth and reject the lies from these nasty military-industrial-media terrorists and their corporate friends and stockholders?

So when is ANYONE going to ask them what did they know and when did they know it.

[BREMPRO]

10. I've long suspected that NBC corporate execs promotes military spending and green issues...

because it improves their bottom line. simple as that. GE makes war hardware (Bombs, engines)and they hope nuclear power will be the green choice for energy because they will build the plants and profit from it. It's not a fair fight and its intellectually dishonest for them to not disclose their bias whenever these issues are discussed.