US military distorts intelligence on fight against Daesh terrorists: Report
The Pentagon’s inspector general has started an inquiry into allegations that US military officials distort intelligence assessments to make Washington’s military campaign against the Daesh terrorist group look more successful, a New York Times report says.
The investigation began when a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst provided the Pentagon with evidence that showed the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has provided the country’s policy makers, including President Barack Obama, with distorted reports on the ISIL Takfiri group.
Government officials familiar with the inquiry told the Times that CENTCOM commanders improperly rewrote the conclusions of some reports to provide a more optimistic account of progress in the fight. However, they refused to specify who was responsible for the distortion or when did it take place.
CENTCOM is the US military headquarters that oversees the US-led airstrikes against Daesh targets in Iraq and Syria.
Col. Patrick Ryder, a spokesperson for CENTCOM, said he could not comment on a continuing inspector general investigation but welcomed any such investigations.
A directive by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, that oversees all 17 US intelligence agencies, bars “distortion” of analytical assessments by particular agendas or policies.
Earlier in August, a high-ranking US Army general had said that the Pentagon should deploy “support” troops on the ground with Iraqi forces if there is no progress in the fight against Daesh terrorists.
"We should probably absolutely consider embedding some soldiers, then see if that would make a difference," said General Raymond Odierno, the Chief of Staff of the US Army at the time who retired last week.
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter also said last week that the fight against the ISIL is “difficult” and will take “some time.”
Obama authorized a bombing campaign against ISIL during last summer. However, despite the much-hyped bombings, major Iraqi cities like Mosul and Ramadi still remain under terrorist control.
The White House has also carried out airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria but it is yet to make major progress there.
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