Give OSD's PAO A Break

Ken Silverstein has an article in Harper's attacking the OSD PAO's Blogger Roundtable again. He thinks that (gasp!) the OSD PAO is setting up issues that will result in friendly blogger posts.

But [David] Axe said he’s noted something curious: at most of the conference calls, Jack Holt, chief of new media operations at the Pentagon, tells everyone that if there’s a topic they’d like to discuss in the future, he’d be happy to arrange it. Axe tells me he’s requested talks on several topics–he specifically mentioned a number of requests he’s put in on the Pentagon’s plans in Africa–and has gotten nowhere. “[Holt] always says ‘great,’ he’s very reassuring, but then nothing happens,” Axe said. “Any attempts to deviate course go nowhere. I don’t know why, but my guess it that it doesn’t match their agenda.”
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One point that I want to repeat from past posts is that some of the bloggers who take part have come away from the calls with interesting insights (though a few pure hacks are involved). But the format and design of the program almost inevitably produces, on balance, Pentagon-friendly outcomes.

I also want to again note that the blogger calls are not the most troubling part of the Pentagon’s outreach program. The truly problematic aspects are briefings for handpicked civilian defense and national security analysts, retired military officials, and others who are fed administration-friendly talking points. Unlike with the blogger conference calls, there is apparently no public disclosure of who is taking part in those briefings and no transcripts of what transpires.

With due respect to David, whose blog posts I respect and admire, he (and Ken) need to relax that suspicious, untrusting aspect of their behaviors, especially when the behavior isn't warranted. I will be the first to say that I get tired of the Iraqi war focus of the Blogger's Roundtable - I hunger for some insights on the rest of the DOD agenda, and certainly more briefs about AFRICOM would be of interest. I asked Jack Holt about this issue, and he admitted that it's hard to get military and civilian spokespeople to take advantage of this outreach program. They just don't want to be "exposed" to criticism from bloggers, and they don't see the value added. This isn't Jack's fault, but rather short-sightedness of the larger military community.

I've been pestering Jack about the military's actions about the chlorine VBIEDs in Iraq, and you know what? Jack came through with a short response from MNF-I. Was I delighted with the response? No, but again, it's the MNF-I spokesperson with whom I have the issue with, not the Blogger's Roundtable program. I'm anticipating that, given time and some more clear-headed military officials, we'll get the access to the topics we want to discuss. This damn war can't last forever, but this Roundtable should. Matt at MountainRunner agrees - he's gotten good access as well, and certainly we could not get this first-person access any other way. And I agree with Matt on his last note - Ken, it would be nice for you to link to us when you use our names in vain.

Comments

[Lurch]

I think you will find over time, as the terrifying novelty for uniformed types of having contact with unvetted automatically-compliant civilian sources fades away, you'll have a more expanded availability from the field community (as opposed to the flack community.)

As back-channel communications do their work, those who are presently reluctant to sign up for the chats will suddenly ask to talk with the Round Table, even knowing they will not be asked only softball questions.

As for the Silverstein issue, as an outsider I would be prompted to ask what he's afraid of.

[NVH]

Is this really that surprising? A different administration would be doing the same thing right? Nobody actively seeks out criticism on issues they don't care or don't want to discuss, so you comment and criticize what they do want to discuss, in a civil manner, in the hopes that the avenue provided for the forum continues, just like everyone wants. Let's see how this is doing in 2009 after the next election. I imagine you'll see the same, unfounded, complaints coming from the other side, but hopefully the forum will still be there.