Like many here at Kos, I was outraged by yesterday's New York Times expose "Behind Analysts, the Pentagon’s Hidden Hand". Being a New Yorker and working close to the Time/Warner building at Columbus Circle, I decided to make the trip up and get in some quality time with the folks at CNN. I also felt it was important to spread the word about this scandal and wanted to hand out some copies of the article with CNN phone numbers to call. It was an interesting morning, follow me over the jump...
First a little background for those who have not read the article. The gist is that all those retired generals who appeared frequently as impartial, independent analysts on network and cable broadcasts - turns out they weren't impartial or independent at all. They were all part of a group organized and controlled by the Pentagon to propagandize the American people and help spin us into war. Best part - most of these retired generals work for military companies seeking lucrative contracts from the US Military. In return, many of these ex-military men received access and business from the pentagon building weapons or doing contract work in Iraq and Afghanistan. This list of 18 generals included James "Spider" Marks, Major General Donald Shepperd, and Lieutenant General David L. Grange all three of whom worked for CNN as Military analysts. Both Marks and Grange work for companies selling intelligence and/or military services but were not properly vetted by CNN. Or maybe CNN knowingly propagandized the American people right along with Marks, Grange, Rumsfeld, and the Pentagon. I wanted answers and I wanted them straight from the horses' mouth if possible.
My morning started at Kinko’s where I made 100 copies of the article with a cover sheet that urged folks to call CNN and inquire why they had represented Spider Marks as an independent analyst when he wasn’t. To be fair to CNN, I called them several times yesterday and early this morning to get a statement but was only able to get some guy stuck at the news desk who couldn't tell me jack. After making the copies I went over to the Time/Warner building and gave them out to commuters emerging from the subway. After the 100 copies were fully distributed, I headed over to the entrance, went into the Time/Warner offices and asked to speak with someone in the PR department about the article. They said they couldn't get anyone on the phone for me and I would have to call up myself. I whipped out the cell, dialed and was juggled around between the New York and Atlanta offices. I told the folks on the phone and at the desk I was not leaving until someone came down to speak with me.
Finally someone did come down to see me - two Security guards; one with a spiral note pad and one holding a digital camera. They were clearly there to intimidate me and we're going to escort me from the building once they got my information. I willingly gave them my info and told them I was angry that there was no one else from CNN who could take the time out to speak with me. I told the one guard to make sure he sent my picture to Homeland Security and that I resented being treated like a criminal suspect when all I wanted was some answers. I told the two guards, that I would be back every day until I got a satisfactory answer about Spider Marks and the other generals CNN foisted on the American public. With that I left the premises. I went back to Kinko's and copied another 100 packets. Finally a woman from Viewer Relations (or some such shit) called me on my cell to report that they had learned of General Marks' conflict of interest in July, 2007 and terminated his contract. This appears to be a lie: Linked is a CNN story from August 18th of 2007 which contains a quote from General Marks. I continued to query her- what about all the other fake pundits they used in the lead up to the war? She said had only looked into General Marks and would get back to me. I asked, "Have you come clean about General Marks on the air?" She claimed they had. I told her that I would continue to distribute copies of the article until I got some face time with a CNN spokesperson or producer. I went back to the Time/Warner building and handed out another 50 to 60 packets and finally went off to work.
When I returned to the office I did some more research. I wanted to know who else CNN was using as analysts. Turns out they used David L. Grange (one of the 18) on the now defunct "This Week at War" after they kicked Marks to the curb. Using the awesome power of the internets I quickly discovered that Grange heads a company called ViaGlobal.
From the Viaglobal website:
VG expertise includes senior professionals with experience in National Defense, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Business, Finance, and Law. Our personnel have planned and conducted operations at every level of operational risk. They have close experience in dealing with terrorists and criminals, understanding them and defeating them. Our leadership is well experienced in business risk, legal and regulatory issues.
So if ViaGlobal sells its services to the pentagon (they didn't list their clients), Grange would also have a conflict of interest.
Clearly, conflict of interest is not the main issue here. It has been confirmed the Pentagon knowingly propagandized the American people. These generals sold themselves out to get military contracts and the media was either complicit or incredibly naïve in its use of these lying sacks of shit.
So that's how day one of General-gate direct action went. As I promised these fools, I’ll be back tomorrow.
UPDATE: Thanks to everybody for the recs. I appreciate the kudos! If Kossacks feel strongly about the issue (and I know y'all do) , I suggest you call the media outlet of your choice and ask the network "what they knew about this group of generals and when they knew it." Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting has an extensive list of media contacts. I'll list a few here. If folks have more direct contact numbers please hip everyone in comments.
ABC News
77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-7777
General e-mail: netaudr@abc.com
Nightline: nightline@abcnews.com
20/20: 2020@abc.com
CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1906
DC Phone- 202-898-7900
CNN
10 Columbus Cir
New York, NY 10019
212- 314-0140
212-275-7800
-
CNN Feedback Forms
Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229
NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4444
Fax: 212-664-4426
MSNBC
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
(212) 582-7018
-
Hardball with Chris Matthews: hardball@msnbc.com
CBS News
524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-4321
Fax: 212-975-1893
Email forms for all CBS news programs
CBS Evening News: evening@cbsnews.com
The Early Show: earlyshow@cbs.com
60 Minutes II: 60II@cbsnews.com
48 Hours: 48hours@cbsnews.com
Face The Nation: ftn@cbsnews.com
PBS
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-739-5000
Fax: 703-739-8458