The Gainesville Iguana July/August 2014 Vol. 28, Issues 7/8 Vote August 26 The fog machine of war by Joe Courter Chelsea Manning on the U.S. military and media freedom Voting matters. Contrary to all the cynicism and the belittling, it does matter, especially By Chelsea Manning proudly displaying their ink-stained fin- in local elections. Working for candidates This was originally published on June gers. The subtext was that United States and helping in campaigns multiplies your 14 by the New York Times. Manning is military operations had succeeded in cre- vote. And frankly, party affiliation matters, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst ating a stable and democratic Iraq. too. In all my time voting, based on my currently serving 35 years in prison for Those of us stationed there were acutely left-of-center orientation (prioritizing edu- the unauthorized disclosure of classified aware of a more complicated reality. cation, healthcare, the environment, peace information. See the original here: and justice, etc.), I have rarely seen where Military and diplomatic reports coming a Republican advanced my interests. But http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/ across my desk detailed a brutal crack- opinion/sunday/chelsea-manning-the- I must admit that thanks to all the social down against political dissidents by the pressures of the times, Richard Nixon did us-militarys-campaign-against-media- Iraqi Ministry of Interior and federal freedom.html?_r=0 some quite progressive things, and in hind- police, on behalf of Prime Minister Nuri sight, and compared to the current crop of FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- When Kamal al-Maliki. Detainees were often Republican, looks in some ways downright I chose to disclose classified informa- tortured, or even killed. progressive. I must also say Obama, and tion in 2010, I did so out of a love for Early that year, I received orders to in- before him Clinton, got away with some my country and a sense of duty to oth- vestigate 15 individuals whom the fed- horrible policy changes for which they got ers. I’m now serving a sentence of 35 eral police had arrested on suspicion of a free ride from the left. Our bad, but so it years in prison for these unauthorized printing “anti-Iraqi literature.” I learned goes. It is up to citizens to hold our repre- disclosures. I understand that my ac- that these individuals had absolutely no sentatives accountable. tions violated the law. ties to terrorism; they were publishing a But local races are where your vote counts However, the concerns that motivated scholarly critique of Mr. Maliki’s admin- most. We feel very strongly about the two me have not been resolved. As Iraq istration. I forwarded this finding to the county commission races and support erupts in civil war and America again officer in command in eastern Baghdad. Harvey Ward in District 2 and Ken Cor- contemplates intervention, that unfin- He responded that he didn’t need this nell in District 4. Ward is attempting to ished business should give new urgency information; instead, I should assist the See ELECTIONS, p. 9 to the question of how the United States federal police in locating more “anti- military controlled the media cover- Iraqi” print shops. age of its long involvement there and in I was shocked by our military’s complic- INSIDE ... Afghanistan. I believe that the current ity in the corruption of that election. Yet limits on press freedom and excessive these deeply troubling details flew under From the Publisher . .3 government secrecy make it impossible the American media’s radar. Reading Recommendations . .3 for Americans to grasp fully what is hap- It was not the first (or the last) time I felt Elections ...............8–9 pening in the wars we finance. compelled to question the way we con- Directory . .10–11 If you were following the news during the ducted our mission in Iraq. We intelli- Event Calendar . .12–13 March 2010 elections in Iraq, you might gence analysts, and the officers to whom Oral History Program ...14–15 remember that the American press was we reported, had access to a comprehen- CMC Events . .15 flooded with stories declaring the elec- sive overview of the war that few others tions a success, complete with upbeat an- had. How could top-level decision mak- GROW Radio schedule . .23 ecdotes and photographs of Iraqi women See MANNING, p. 2 MANNING, from p. 1 Less well known is that journalists whom much power: Reporters naturally fear military contractors rate as likely to pro- having their access terminated, so they From the publisher: Guilty pleasures Subscribe! ers say that the American public, or even duce “favorable” coverage, based on tend to avoid controversial reporting Congress, supported the conflict when their past reporting, also get preference. that could raise red flags. I got hooked on World Cup soccer almost 30 years ago. There is something wonderful about such a simple game, which is The Gainesville Iguana they didn’t have half the story? This outsourced “favorability” rating as- The existing program forces journalists to signed to each applicant is used to screen played world wide, and the gathering of teams from all over the is Gainesville's progressive Among the many daily reports I received compete against one another for “special planet, with their varied ethnic and cultural differences, going events calendar & newsletter. via email while working in Iraq in 2009 out those judged likely to produce critical access” to vital matters of foreign and do- coverage. head-to-head (sometimes literally, unfortunately) that make me and 2010 was an internal public affairs mestic policy. Too often, this creates re- feel a oneness of humanity. That said, and especially with this Individuals: $15 briefing that listed recently published Reporters who succeeded in obtaining porting that flatters senior decision mak- year’s tournament in Brazil, there is a huge cost required by the (or more if you can) news articles about the American mission embed status in Iraq were then required to ers. A result is that the American public’s host nation which is borne by its citizens; displacements of poor Low/No income: What you can in Iraq. One of my regular tasks was to sign a media “ground rules” agreement. access to the facts is gutted, which leaves people, and money and resources, which could have been used Joe Courter Groups: $20 provide, for the public affairs summary Army public affairs officials said this was them with no way to evaluate the conduct for health care, public services and education, being put into sta- read by the command in eastern Baghdad, to protect operational security, but it also of American officials. diums that may only see limited use in the future. I think about this as I watch World Cup a single-sentence description of each is- allowed them to terminate a reporter’s (well, not actually during the game); how wrong is this for me to be getting such pleasure Iguana, c/o CISPLA Journalists have an important role to P.O. Box 14712 sue covered, complementing our analysis embed without appeal. play in calling for reforms to the em- from something which has had such a negative impact on the lives of other humans? with local intelligence. Gainesville, FL 32604 There have been numerous cases of re- bedding system. The favorability of a How different is this from the other guilty pleasures many of us enjoy in our lives? The more I made these daily comparisons porters’ having their access terminated journalist’s previous reporting should Modern life gives us tremendous options for guilty pleasures unimagined and unavail- between the news back in the States and following controversial reporting. In not be a factor. Transparency, guaran- able to every preceding generation on this planet. The pleasures abound, just think about Comments, suggestions, contributions the military and diplomatic reports avail- 2010, the late Rolling Stone reporter teed by a body not under the control of it; our food options, our entertainment options. As I write this I am reminded that there (written or financial) are welcome. To able to me as an analyst, the more aware I Michael Hastings had his access pulled public affairs officials, should govern are a sizable number of people who don’t share in this bounty, for whom the day-to-day list your event or group, contact us at: became of the disparity. In contrast to the after reporting criticism of the Obama the credentialing process. An indepen- struggle to survive leaves little room for the pleasures so many take for granted. But this (352) 378-5655 solid, nuanced briefings we created on the administration by Gen. Stanley A. dent board made up of military staff is also where the “guilty” comes in. Modern life, through its information technology, can ground, the news available to the public McChrystal and his staff in Afghani- members, veterans, Pentagon civilians make the reasons we should perhaps feel guilty much more available. We don’t live in [email protected] was flooded with foggy speculation and stan. A Pentagon spokesman said, “Em- and journalists could balance the pub- a bubble of ignorance, of not seeing or hearing from oppressed people and being aware www.gainesvilleiguana.org simplifications. beds are a privilege, not a right.” lic’s need for information with the mili- of injustices all around us as prior generations did. Modern life has actually accelerated facebook.com/gainesvilleiguana One clue to this disjunction lay in the If a reporter’s embed status is terminated, tary’s need for operational security. the amount of injustice, exploitation, and oppression happening as corporate culture has public affairs reports.