Reason #40: Hired Guns

Over the years since the invasion of Iraq, network news outlets have consistently trotted out so-called “military analysts” to break down the events in the Middle East. These supposedly objective experts are usually retired generals or admirals. More often than not, they present a favorable assessment of the war. There’s a reason for that. As it turns out, these guys aren’t objective commentators. They’re nothing but good corporate employees acting as government shills.

The networks have been caught - again! - passing off government propaganda as legitimate news.

In April of 2008, the New York Times revealed that dozens of these former generals were active employees for defense contracting companies. That means, even as they presented themselves as impartial commentators, they really had a vested interest in making sure that the war was popular with the American people and that it continued. Their paychecks depended on it! The networks on which they appeared failed to disclose this glaring conflict of interest. Not only that, it turns out that high ranking officials at the Pentagon spoon-fed these ex-generals government-friendly talking points and positive prognostications about the war which the “experts” dutifully regurgitated when they got on camera. In internal Pentagon memos, these officials went so far as to label their virtual puppets as “surrogates.”

It’s hard to think of a more incendiary story: major network news outlets were passing off compromised sources as “experts” to peddle rosy opinions on a disastrous war. To make matters worse, the whole time these analysts were shilling for the war to continue, they were profiting - literally - off the conflict as employees of major defense contractors. And yet, the story barely got any coverage, especially on TV. Since most Americans still get the majority of their news from television, very few people even know about it, despite the fact that a major newspaper like the New York Times broke the news.

This media blackout is shameful, but not surprising. As in the case of GE and its pollution of the Hudson River, the networks are not eager to report on their own bad behavior. And in this case, they’ve been caught - again! - passing off government propaganda as legitimate news.

Our press, which should be Washington’s main watchdog, has turned into nothing but its lapdog. But, again, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Our news media is bought and paid for by big business and big business and big government are barely distinguishable from one another these days.

NEXT: Get out of the Lobby!