In the interest of full disclosure

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Communications Commission has sent letters of inquiry to former military officers and several television networks to determine whether they violated the law when the officers offered views of the Iraq war during network appearances.

U.S. Reps. John Dingell, D-Mich., and Rosa DeLaura, D-Conn., forwarded a letter to the FCC and voiced their concerns that these retired military officers failed to note on air their ties to the administration and that they had been receiving briefings from Pentagon officials as to the status of the war in Iraq and elsewhere. There is a presumption here that they were being fed the party line and that the Pentagon expected it to be the basis for the retired officers on air commentary.

Dingell and DeLaura also noted that many of the retired officers were “simultaneously representing more than 150 companies competing for billions in Pentagon contracts.” By law, apparently, the network should have disclosed any corporate relationships, as consultants, directors, etc., of these retired officers.

The chairman of the FCC is reported to have said the inquiry would determine if “there was a possible attempt to deceive the American people” with the on-air commentary and analysis regarding the war in Iraq.

As you might expect, I know several of the retired officers who have served or are serving as media analysts, and I have a very high regard for their ability, their integrity and their understanding of conflict and war. While I am fully aware that many of the higher-profile analysts did receive briefings from the Department of Defense, I do not know if they were being spoon-fed talking points. Even if they were, I suspect they voiced their own opinion and analysis based on decades of military experience. I also wonder if they had been briefed by their respective media on the need to disclose their contractual affiliations with the defense industry.

I have been affiliated with WRAL-TV for almost 18 years. I do not recall ever being asked about any consulting contracts or boards that I may serve on as a director. Nor did I know that I should report any such arrangements. I have also done on-air interviews with PBS, NPR, C-SPAN and several radio affiliates. None of these media outlets inquired of my relationships that may require disclosure.

So, in the interest of full disclosure, I want to go on record and say that I have not been privy to any DOD briefings. I do have an annual visit to Washington, D.C., for an Air Force-sponsored day of briefings for retired general officers to keep us abreast of Air Force issues and plans for the future, as well as providing our input to the current Air Force leadership. I also attend a few military-related symposia annually, which are open to any interested party.

As for contractual issues, I have served on the board of directors for a small, privately held company in California that did have a small – less than $1 million – training contract with the Army prior to the Iraq war.

I have been fortunate to work with the professionals at WRAL and WRAZ who understand that my commentary and analysis is representative of my 36 years on active duty with the Air Force and my continuing interest in and study of “things military.” My comments are based on my experience and my personal analysis, not on any provided talking points or briefings. Nor do I have any defense-related contractual appointments that would unfairly influence my on air comments.

Since the FCC inquiry and investigation is getting some media attention, I thought it prudent to let our viewers and readers know I am not among those being queried.