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October 16, 2013

Report: Pundits Who Urged Strikes on Syria Failed to Disclose Ties to Military Industry 
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The Public Accountability Initiative has revealed many purported experts
who made the case for military strikes on Syria in the mainstream media
had undisclosed ties to military contractors. The report identifies 22
commentators with industry ties that suggest a financial interest in
war. While they appeared on television or were quoted as experts 111
times, their links to military firms were disclosed only 13 of those
times. The study highlights the case of Stephen Hadley, a former
national security adviser to President George W. Bush, who spoke on CNN,
MSNBC, Fox News and Bloomberg TV, and wrote a Washington Post op-ed
urging U.S. strikes on Syria. In none of those appearances was it
disclosed that Hadley serves as a director of Raytheon, the company that
makes the Tomahawk cruise missiles widely touted as the weapon of choice
for bombing Syria. Hadley earns more than $128,000 a year in
compensation from Raytheon and holds more than 11,000 shares of Raytheon
stock, which rocketed to an all-time high during the Syria debate.

 

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