Gates issues order for Pentagon-approved interviews

By Meg Beasley
Federal News Radio

In the wake of the controversy surrounding General Stanley McChrystal’s comments to Rolling Stone magazine, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has announced that any interaction between military officials and reporters must now be Pentagon-approved.

Gates issued the order on Friday instructing military and civilian personnel worldwide to make sure they do not step out of bounds or unintentionally release information the Pentagon wants held back, according to reports by the Associated Press and the New York Times. The order is effective immediately.

Gates also warned the leaking of classified information “is against the law, cannot be tolerated and will, when proven, lead to the prosecution of those found to be engaged in such activity.”

The Defense Department (DoD) says it began developing the order long before McChrystal’s comments but the incident reinforced the need to improve the discipline of the entire agency.

Gates wrote, “I am concerned that the department has grown lax in how we engage with the media. We have far too many people talking to the media outside of channels, sometimes providing information which is simply incorrect, out of proper context, unauthorized, or uninformed by the perspective of those who are most knowledgeable.”

However, Assistant Defense Secretary Douglas Wilson promised no “Iron Curtain” would fall between the press and the Pentagon.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the order “is not designed in any way to limit our interaction or restrict it, or dampen it.” Morrell added that Gates remains committed to open dealings with the media and has tried to impress on colleagues that “the press is not the enemy.”

The DoD memo did not explain exactly how the directive will be implemented, but it did say department officials will now be required to tell Wilson’s office before conducting interviews with the press.

Meg Beasley is an intern at Federal News Radio.

(Copyright 2010 by Federal News Radio. All Rights Reserved.)

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.