July 8th, 2010
02:51 PM ET

Gates defends rules governing military's interaction with media

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that new rules governing interaction between members of the press and the military are a result of "flat out sloppy" media relations efforts on the part of military officials in recent years.

A memo issued by Gates last week requires military officials to notify the Pentagon before providing interviews on potentially sensitive subjects.

The memo was released shortly after Gen. Stanley McChrystal was relieved of his duties as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, following the publication of a Rolling Stone magazine article in which the general and his staff were quoted criticizing and mocking key administration officials. Too often, information given by military officials has been "lacking in proper context," Gates said.  "Highly classified" information has frequently been divulged without proper approval, he asserted.

The memo "is not a change of policy, but a reaffirmation of existing policy that was being (followed) selectively at best," he said.   Gates said he concluded "several weeks ago that we need greater coordination and discipline"
in dealing with the media.

But the new rules shouldn't impede the flow of information, Gates said.  "That is not my intent, nor will I tolerate it."

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen stressed that the press "is not the enemy."

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Filed under: Security Brief
soundoff (16 Responses)
  1. Smith in Oregon

    Gagging reporters and banning journalists from being able to approach US Military officals and ask them for their views and comments, entirely is designed to stifle the truth and accuracy in reporting what US Military officials are actually stating to the troops, their staff and anyone in earshot. The treasonous comments by Gen McChrystal and his Staff likely had been repeated over and over to anyone for a lengthy period of time. In a banana republic, such treasonous comments often result in a military coup and a regime change.

    This barring and banning objective journalists and reporters from accessing US Military leaders is a gross and callous response which I feel is very wrong.

    July 8, 2010 at 7:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • Ouch

      Smith, I expect that you don't have much experience in media relations with the military based on your commentary. I also believe that you don't have any idea of what the word treason means in a legal aspect. Perhaps your standard of journalism comes from tabloids, which are apt to report false or misleading information based on a bad or doctored photograph. I would offer that you could spend some time in Iraq or Afghanistan with the troops assigned there so that you could gain some perspective on this.

      The U.S. media should report on military events. At the same time, I think that the media should have some type of ethics in their reporting. To put it into civilian context: imagine that you wake up in a great mood. You get to work with a smile on your face and work diligently all day long, accomplishing some significant milestones. It's quitting time, but you decide to work a little late so that you can finish some big project. After you're done and you are heading home, someone cuts you off and you nearly smash into the guard rail. You shake your fist and shout an obscenity. Then you shake it off and head home, proud of what you've accomplished at work. The U.S. media should report the hard work and the accomplishments, despite the challenges. However, from what I understand from your post, the media should only report that an angry man shook his fist and said a bad word.

      July 8, 2010 at 9:24 pm | Report abuse |
    • Alison

      Smith,
      The security of our troops is the most important. There are many details that the American public just doesn't need to know regarding our military, their strategies, movements, and abilities. They are experts in their field, they are on the ground and know what needs to be done to accomplish the mission. The media need not compromise that by reporting on every detail just for naysayers like yourself to tear it apart. Any information the public gets about the military is a privledge, and in my opinion, we get too much and it can put our soldiers at risk because of it. Let the soldiers, from the top officials to the privates on the ground, do their jobs and stay out of the commentary on in unless you want to get in there and try the job yourself. Then you can decide whether you would want journalists reporting on your every move.

      July 9, 2010 at 10:18 am | Report abuse |
    • TexVet

      Smith, the enemy doesn't need to know what anybody in our military is thinking! Especially if there is dissension in the ranks. Unfortunately, every time the media blabs every breath anybody takes it gives the enemy a heads up as to what is going on, and they will use that information accordingly. That's just the way it is. I believe in freedom of speech, but not when it aids and abets the enemy.

      July 9, 2010 at 1:06 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Eragon Arethron

    This is a Global Disaster. Stop being cynical about the Iranians and take their help. They are experts in this subject whether or not the US government agrees. Let political ego not compromise the interest of the ordinary Americans and the humanity at large.

    By refusing or rather not even acknowledging the help offered by Iran, the crisis is not going to be resolved anyways. It’s only worsening by the hour. The relief well and dispersents and etc etc are all lies. Neither US government nor BP knows wat to do about the leak. Eventually Mr. Prseident may decide to nuke the well. But that's even worse than the leak. The Gulf coast and its ecology would change for the next 10000 yrs if nuked. If the oil spill reached the northern parts of the Atlantic, it could disrupt the flow of ocean currents thereby adding to the global warming effects viz. El Nino, hurricanes etc.
    If the well is nuked, it will destry all ocean life in the gulf of mexico. So, the only logical way out is to take foreign help from nations that have the necessary skill, be it the enemy, for the greater good of humanity.

    The help offer by Iran is so strictly censored by the government that not even the so-called free press/media is talking about it.

    For more information Visit http://www.presstv.ir

    July 9, 2010 at 2:42 am | Report abuse |
  3. Frodo baggins

    IRAN offering help to stop the oil leak. These guys have the real skills and expertise for this job.

    For more information Visit http://www.presstv.ir

    or simply search Google / Yahoo / Bing for more on this help offer from Iran.

    share this information with as many people as you may.

    Wake up Mr. President

    July 9, 2010 at 2:43 am | Report abuse |
  4. Gandalf

    Why is no news channel talking about the IRANIAN offer to help stop the oil leak?

    Just because they are under sanctions for whatever reasons sponsored by the US goverment does not mean they are barred to even help on matters that are now beyond the capacity of US government or BP.

    This is a Global Disaster. Stop being cynical about the Iranians and take their help. They are experts in this subject whether or not the US government agrees. Let political ego not compromise the interest of the ordinary Americans and the humanity at large.

    By refusing or rather not even acknowledging the help offered by Iran, the crisis is not going to be resolved anyways. It’s only worsening by the hour.

    The help offer by Iran is so strictly censored by the government that not even the so-called free press/media is talking about it.

    For more information Visit http://www.presstv.ir

    or simply search Google/Yahoo/bing for more on this help offer from Iran.

    share this information with as many people as you may

    July 9, 2010 at 2:44 am | Report abuse |
  5. smwise gamjee

    Agreed. Let the specialists deal with the problem. In this case, the Iranians are the specialist, believe it or not. But we simply choose to overlook and ignore their offer to help bcoz they are under sanctions for nukes sponsored by US government.
    Lets leave behind ego and political machoism for once and accept their offer to help.
    Lets see if Ahmedinejad is sincere about this help offer and if the Iranians can really do the job they claim to have the expertise for.

    Obama and Hillary, you have failed. Now let the sense prevail and accept international assistance. God help America

    July 9, 2010 at 2:44 am | Report abuse |
  6. boromir

    This is really strange. US can welcome Netanyahu who only wants to take from America viz. money, security guarantees, technology, defense equipment, charity etc. but is estranged with Ahmedinejad who wants to give help and expertise to stop this spill that has turned into an environmental disaster threatening global ecology.

    May good sense prevail and US accept the help offer from Iran.

    July 9, 2010 at 2:45 am | Report abuse |
  7. Sauron & Soromon

    US is so obsessed with Israel that it can see nothing beyond. Not even nations who want an opportunity to be friends of America.
    That be the case, Iran does not get any audience with the US government, media and planners.
    Otherwise, no wise government or nation would refuse Iranian help in containing this oil spill disaster.

    Iranians are willing to help. Are Americans willing to be friends?

    July 9, 2010 at 2:45 am | Report abuse |
  8. legolas

    I really don't see no reason why US should not take help from IRAN.
    Both BP and US government are buying time in hope that the well would eventually run dry. The whole crap about drilling of relief well is a big lie. By the time it is dug, twice the amount of oil would have leaked into the gulf as compared to today.

    US does not have any know-how to stop this spill, so why not let those deal with this mess who really have the capacity and expertise to handle such catastrophe.

    Mr. President, if u're listening, pls wake up and ring up the Iranian President. Let their offer to help not go in vain.

    July 9, 2010 at 2:46 am | Report abuse |
  9. Faramir

    Look up http://www.presstv.ir
    Iranians are offering to help. They claim to have expertise with regard to this crisis. What's the harm in taking their help since Bp and US government has failed to resolve this problem in two months now and there is no definite solution in sight yet. Give Iranians a chance to help. This is no longer a US problem. It is an environmental disaster threatening entire world now. look at the greater good and not petty politics.

    July 9, 2010 at 2:46 am | Report abuse |
  10. Bilbo Baggins

    IRAN most certainly has the skills required for this kind of operation. Truly, we are too obsessed with Israel, blinded and drugged, so as not to distinguish between friends and foes.

    Let the Heavens above and Earth below shower their blessings on us so that we may rid ourselves of Zionist thoughts and feelings.

    Go ahead Mr. Obama and take help from Mr. Ahmedinejad before the oil reaches the shores of Manhattan.

    July 9, 2010 at 2:46 am | Report abuse |
  11. Frodo Baggins

    Lets take help from IRAN

    July 9, 2010 at 2:48 am | Report abuse |
  12. TexVet

    Frodo Baggins, Bilbo Baggins, Faramir, Sauron & Soromon, smwise gamjee and the rest of you kids! Get out of that basement and come up here and take your Meds! And quit playing on that dang computer!

    July 9, 2010 at 1:00 pm | Report abuse |
  13. mother nature

    My child you forgot Legolas and Boromir. They too are in favour of taking help from IRAN.

    July 10, 2010 at 5:14 am | Report abuse |
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