In Washington they peddle “background” briefings to reporters, where a spokesman from the Pentagon or an actual General, or a politician, appears before reporters on background, not for direct quotation.
The idea is - because a subject might be deemed politically sensitive, the briefer doesn’t want to be quoted directly, but is willing to give information that might help journalists understand a particular subject.
The problem is, these briefings are often done to shape news coverage, with the readers/viewers never understanding the source and what their motive is for spinning that “take” on the subject.
I know, because I have sat in background briefings, and never quite liked the theatre of them. And it’s always important to understand why, as a journalist, you might be getting info “only on background”.
Where am I taking you with this? Well it’s notable that in July and August, suddenly a series of articles appeared in leading newspapers in the U.S. suggesting the Pentagon was disappointed with the Ukrainian offensive.
Because of the timing of the articles and the similar theme of the stories, no doubt the reporters were getting “background” from high level sources spinning discontent with the Ukraine advance on Russian positions.
The leakers may have been trying to shape Ukrainian ground operations, more than seeding the ground to abandon Ukraine in the future.
Certainly there has been frustration in the Pentagon with how Ukraine has focused some fighting in places like Bakhmut, instead of focusing more on cutting a land bridge Russia has occupied linking Russian to Crimea.
This week on Back Story I interviewed the former U.S. Army in Europe Commander Ben Hodges, on his belief that Ukraine is close to a breakthrough in it’s daunting and bloody counter offensive.
Hodges told me on a recent tour of Washington where he met with former U.S. diplomats, but also serving military, “the vast majority are frustrated the current administration has not said we want Ukraine to win and that’s our policy”.
Hodges notes the lack of a win strategy for Ukraine, is reflected in the drip drip drip of resources to Ukraine, and the flip flop of decision making on what arms the U.S. has been willing to provide.
For example no Himars, or tanks, or Patriot missile defense, and then later those were made available.
Now it’s no F16’s or ATACM’s, and only recently has the U.S. policy on training Ukrainian pilots to fly F16’s been allowed.
The point is the Biden administration has been half in half out of supporting Ukraine and that has allowed the war to trudge on, with no definitive conclusion.
Hodges says “if the Administration doesn’t articulate to the American people what’s needed then support for Ukraine could wane into next year”.
He goes onto to tell Back Story “I was really put off by these articles that came out, and it seemed orchestrated that several of them came out at the same time” “They were unjustified criticisms from someone 8000 miles away critiquing tactics”.
General Hodges believes despite the criticisms that Ukraine has slowly advanced, and suffered huge losses, it’s forces can and will indeed punch through Russian massive dug in defensive lines, to breakthrough and seize the land bridge.
Ukraine has 3-4 months before winter sets in to advance further, even without air cover which will begin to arrive months from now when F16’s donated from The Netherlands and Denmark begin to arrive and could considerably shape the war front in Ukraine’s favour.
Leading Republicans like former President Trump have opposed the war and suggested a quick exit from support for Ukraine if re-elected.
By the way, Trump was the one who started negotiations with the Taliban to leave Afghanistan, and laid the ground work for the collapse of the Afghan Government, not Biden as Trump would have people believe.
All of this leads us to what conclusion? Ukraine is under tremendous pressure to push forward and show battle field results, not only because of the approach of winter, but because of the political season in America, Ukraine’s biggest backer.
The Biden Administration needs to clearly sell the war to Americans as a defence of Europe, which it is, and stop soft peddling support slow and late for a Ukrainian win.
If I was to give Biden a background briefing, I would tell him if you really believe in an independent Ukraine then distinguish yourself by leading the march for freedom in Europe against Putin’s dream of reestablishing the Russian Empire.
Because it you don’t Mr. President, the price to be paid later in an expanded war which could engulf the Baltics and even Poland and more will be much much greater.
And if Americans don’t quite understand that yet, it’s your job to tell them!
Back Story with Dana Lewis and Ben Hodges is available free - just cut and paste the link into your browser: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/13504687
Or you can watch the interview here:
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I really appreciate your take on the situation, Dana!