Probe sought into using retired officers in PR

Probe sought into using retired officers in PR
By Andrew Miga - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday May 5, 2008 7:09:25 EDT

WASHINGTON — Forty-one House members are calling on the Defense Department inspector general to investigate a public relations effort that relied on retired military officers to defend the Bush administration’s Iraq war policies.

“When the Department of Defense misleads the American people by having them believe that they are listening to the views of objective military analysts when in fact these individuals are simply replaying DoD talking points, the department is clearly betraying the public trust,” the lawmakers wrote in a joint letter to Defense Department Inspector General Claude M. Kicklighter on Friday.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who organized the letter, said it was important for the inspector general to find out how high-ranking officials within the Pentagon were allowed to operate a program aimed at deceiving the American people.

“Not only must the Inspector General now account for what it did and did not know about this state-sponsored propaganda effort, but they must also explain why, if they knew about the propaganda campaign, it was allowed to proceed,” DeLauro said. “Additionally, we are calling for the Inspector General to launch an investigation to ensure no detail surrounding this program remains hidden.”

Three other House democrats from Connecticut signed the letter: Reps. Joe Courtney, John Larson and Chris Murphy.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_pentagon_inspectorgen_050208/