Research Review

Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain

By Nicholas Tichy

If the Vietnam War taught the Pentagon one thing, it is that the fight for the hearts and minds of the American public is perhaps the most important front in modern warfare. If you lose the support of the people, no amount of military might can sustain a prolonged and bloody conflict.

This lesson of past wars has not been forgotten, according to a recent exposé by David Barstow of The New York Times. In his article, "Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon's Hidden Hand," Barstow explores the intimate connections between the Pentagon, Bush Administration, and a cadre of so-called "military analysts," mostly retired military officials. These advisors have been the authorities consulted for the 24-hour news networks, providing insight into the war on terror, the occupation of Iraq, and the growing conflict with Iran. Yet, according to Barstow's research, this circle of people has been a de facto mouthpiece of the military, selling the Bush Administration's war policy to the American public. In essence, "they were framing how viewers ought to interpret events [.] They were military men, many of them ideologically in sync with the administration's neoconservative brain trust, many of them important players in a military industry anticipating large budget increases to pay for an Iraq war."

The suggestion that ex-military officials with ties to the military-industrial complex may not be the most unbiased sources for the media may not come as a surprise to some. Yet, Barstow's article is a very important read for anyone interested in the state of journalism today. It provides a valuable peek behind the curtain of credibility and objectivity that the media purports in America. Like the Wizard of Oz and his smoke and mirrors, it seems there is someone behind the curtain orchestrating the narrative of the war on terror.