It has always been an interest of mine to compare the eye-catching slogans and headlines of major newspapers to the content of the articles that follow. Quite often the blaring headline and opening paragraph can be bold and chilling enough to send shivers up the spine of even the most brave-hearted of men, while the ensuing article progressively weakens its statements until what seemed so terrifying is finally reduced to manageable and realistic phrases that calm the initial shock. I can’t help but wonder if this practice is employed largely for the marketing benefits, rather than for the lofty pursuit of public knowledge and the free proclamation of truth.
Cynicism aside, all the major news wires were abuzz with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ comments to students at the Air Force’s premier school, the Air War College in Maxwell, AL. Headlines blared such shocking statements as, “Air Force Lagging in War Efforts”, “Air Force Under Fire from Defense Secretary”, and “Pentagon Chief Rips Air Force Over War”.
After my staunch military heart ceased to pound over such shocking news (I bleed Air Force blue, after all) I found that the follow up articles were less than compelling and lacked the material needed to substantiate such heart-stopping claims. You can read Gates’ entire speech and decide for yourself if the headlines (and the ensuing mediocre articles) were justified.
It seems as though major news sources just can’t get enough fodder to raise doubt over the American war efforts, this time using a well-reasoned and thoughtful address to American military professionals to raise concerns that our military suffers from irreparable internecine strife—strife that justifies certain doom-and-gloom reports on the futility–and audacity, to borrow contemporary rhetoric—of hope in the American war effort.
Be that as it may, a truly interesting fact was revealed in the official military response to the disparaging headlines. In line with current attempts at military efficiency every Airman received an e-mail response from the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff to both Gates’ speech and its characterization by the major news outlets. They were at pains to assure Air Force members they weren’t really being criticized by the Sec Def. An excerpt reads:
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