As I watch the daily Pentagon briefing …
I harken back to my time in the Army. A time when an international problem arose and we were moving troops and equipment all over the globe, we made it a point to ensure that these movements were kept secret --- Operational Security/OPSEC. We did this for the safety of the people and equipment and to deny the enemy any information regarding the disposition of the forces.
Now we fast forward to 2022 and it cannot be ignored that we live in the world of social media. With every smart phone, we see images from the war zone and we see enemy troop positions as they drive their tanks through the towns and villages of an invaded nation.
The general rule regarding enemy troop dispositions and locations has always been a matter for open discussion since it is assumed that the enemy knows where he is and therefore, no security information is being compromised.
However, when it comes to the movement and disposition of US forces, we have always been very careful not to openly discuss their movement, disposition and locations in the open media … as we can see by the posters used in World War II.
Fast forward, it is now 2022 and the Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, stands in front of the Pentagon press pool and regularly announces the latest information about where the US has deployed military units and their equipment.
Most notable, during today’s briefing, Kirby announced the deployment of two Patriot Air Defense batteries to the country of Poland. Why announce this? In recent days, the Pentagon has announced the deployment of an armor combat brigade and its forward stationing. An Armored Cavalry Regiment to the Baltics … Why announce this? If I was an opposing force intelligence officer, I would be keeping close track of the information that was being provided by the Pentagon’s Daily Briefing.
I would compare it to the other intelligence gathering sources that I would be employing and crosscheck all of my sources in order to confirm what I think I know about the American militaries disposition. Confirmation of my target list!
I do not believe that the American press and the American public have the absolute right to be briefed on everything going on when the US is preparing to deploy or has deployed into a potential combat theater of operation.
We are not moving against the Taliban or Iraqi insurgents … the Russian Army is a modern army with all the intelligence collection tools they need --- they don’t need the Pentagon and the media confirming for them what they think they know.
It's time for America to return to an OPSEC posture and remember “Loose Lips Sink Ships” and so does John Kirby and his Pentagon podium.