{"id":29246,"date":"2018-03-14T14:10:08","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T14:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/14\/commentary-the-pentagon-is-wrong-to-keep-information-under-wraps-heres-why\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:18:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:18:29","slug":"commentary-the-pentagon-is-wrong-to-keep-information-under-wraps-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/opinion\/commentary\/2018\/03\/14\/commentary-the-pentagon-is-wrong-to-keep-information-under-wraps-heres-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary: The Pentagon is wrong to keep information under wraps. Here’s why"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor’s note: <\/b>The following is an opinion piece. The writer is not employed by Military Times and the views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Military Times or its editorial staff.<\/i> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early last year, the American people received some brutally honest facts about the deteriorating state of the U.S. military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his confirmation hearing<\/a> in January 2017, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he was \u201cshocked\u201d by the poor state of military readiness. One month later, senior leaders from all the services were similarly candid in their public assessments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year later, things have changed. Not the readiness problems: We know that they continue to worsen. What has changed are the ground rules for communication between the Pentagon and the American public. Transparency has vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2017, senior public affairs officials were told<\/a> that Mattis \u201cwants us to be cautious about publicly telegraphing readiness shortfalls.\u201d The rationale: \u201cWe have to remember that our adversaries watch the news too. Communicating that we are broken or not ready to fight invites miscalculation.\u201d This message has been since repeated to Pentagon senior leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\t