Pete Pines for Patriotic Press to Push Pentagon Propaganda

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Pete Hegseth, the United States highly decorated (tattooed) and totally unqualified Secretary of Defense, came to his current political position from a background in journalism (of sorts) as a news contributor and weekend co-host of Fox and Friends on Fox News.    His specialty there was stories related to the military and veterans, with a big focus on opposing "woke" initiatives in the military - all of which brought Pete to Donald Trump's attention, and the rest is (an unfortunate) history.

Since assuming civilian control of our nation's military early last year, Pentagon Pete has fought a running battle with the same American press of which he was once a part.  Last September he issued a 21-page edict mandating that members of thee Pentagon press corps not publish or gather any military information not explicitly authorized for release.   Journalists were forbidden from developing their own stories, and instead were limited to whatever pablum the Pentagon chose to feed them.  They had to sign a pledge to follow Pete's rules.  Those who refused to sign Pete's pledge lost access to the Pentagon.  Most major news organizations refused to sign the pledge, including Hegseth's former employer, Fox News, and a new Pentagon press emerged from right-wing, on-line "journalists" who had no problems following the new rules.  A 1st Amendment lawsuit on the matter from the New York Times is currently working its way through the courts.

But Pete is worried about more that just what the press says about him, his department, and the military, he is also worried about appearances - and especially his own personal appearance.  The Pentagon had a "green room" where officials went to primp before going before press cameeras even before Pete became the Big Kahuna there, but that room was not up to Pete's primping standards, and not long after assuming his new job Pete had the existing Pentagon "green room" updated to a full-fledged make-up studio with a director's chair, new lighting, and a full mirror.  The cost has been reported in the news as "several thousand dollars" -  a mere pittance when your annual budget is over a trillion dollars.

So, Pete had rid himself of problem journalists, and he had a new, Hollywood-worthy make-up studio to insure that he looked great on television, on-line, and in news publications.  He had the news under control, or at least he thought he did until earlier this week when some photos of Pete that he regarded as "unflattering" showed up in the press.    The vainglorious Defense Secretary responded by quickly denying press photographers access to Pentagon press briefings.  That'll learn 'em!

Pentagon Pete has worked for over a year to strengthen his stranglehold over America's once-free press, but he still has not completely squelched it.  Today there was a story in the press having to do with Pentagon Pete's unhappiness over some of the more accurate, yet unflattering, reportage of the War on Iran.  He responded with complaints that the press needed to be more "patriotic" and not focus on US mistakes or failures.

Pete, the press, like the military, has a mission - and the mission of the press is to report the truth, not to carry water for American politicians like yourself and Donald Trump.   This taxpayer wants to know how his money is being spent and the true impact it is having on people's lives and futures - and this human being wants to know that his country is behaving honorably.  A free and unfettered press is what provides me with that information.