The Generals Problem

More from the New York Times today about the former generals who are doing TV analysis about the war. The Pentagon is stopping special briefings for the generals...but I don't think that's such a big deal. The problem isn't the briefings--journalists get briefings all the time; sometimes there's useful information, sometimes not.

The real problem the fact that many of the generals work for defense contractors who do business with the Pentagon or have their own Defense Department consultant contracts, which is a plain, flat-out conflict of interest. The real reform necessary here is for the networks to vet their military analysts and make sure that no one appears on air who has business dealings with the Pentagon.