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Yet, during this week’s Pentagon press briefing, the first question asked was about Mattis’ 2005 “controversial” comments. Gates felt compelled to explain that Mattis has learned his lesson and thus “will respond to questions and speak publicly about the matters for which he is responsible in an entirely appropriate way.”
Translation: there is an “inappropriate way” to speak.
Of course, it’s not clear what this “inappropriate way” is. Neither Secretary Gates nor anyone else within the Pentagon has articulated or defined the Defense Department’s hidden but real speech code. And so, to avoid problems, most military officials and soldiers will refrain from saying anything that is interesting or intellectually provocative, lest they run afoul of the Pentagon censors and thought police.
Instead, we’ll get more artificial and scripted press events and less candor and realism from our military leaders. We’ll get more well-coached military personnel who have been trained to say only bland and non-controversial things which offend and excite no one.
Yet, according to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mulen, “this isn’t at all about the First Amendment.”
Legally speaking, the Chairman may be right; but philosophically speaking this absolutely is about the First Amendment and the principle of free speech that undergirds that law.
Free General Mattis, and free all U.S. military personnel, to speak candidly and publicly with the American people. In a free society, we deserve and should expect no less.
You can follow John Guardiano on twitter: @JohnRGuardiano
