Pentagon

The Pentagon, which serves as the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense and "the nerve center for command and control," located in Arlington County, Virginia, "presently houses approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel." 

Pentagon Inspector Clears Planting Stories As Legal
"U.S. military websites that pay journalists to write articles and commentary supporting military activities in Europe and Africa do not violate U.S. law or Pentagon policies," concluded the Pentagon's inspector general. The websites, the Southeast European Times (launched in 1999 by President Clinton) and Magharebia  (launched in 2004 by President Bush), often use "freelance reporters hired by Anteon Corp." 

The U.S. military's Pacific Command in Asia and Central Command in the Middle East are also developing "regional information websites." The Pentagon inspector general's report did not address the fact that U.S. audiences, which the government is forbidden from propagandizing, can access the websites. A related investigation into Pentagon-planted stories in Iraqi newspapers by the Lincoln Group, headed by Navy Rear Adm. Scott R. Van Buskirk, is expected to be completed soon. 

Contact details
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs 1400 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301 Pentagon Tour Office: 703-697-1776 Web: http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil

Websites

 * Publications: DefenseLink.mil website.
 * U.S. Department of Defense, DefenseLink.mil website.
 * DefendAmerica.mil, Official U.S. Department of Defense website.
 * PentagonChannel.mil website.
 * General Information and History about the Pentagon.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * American Forces Radio and Television Service
 * U.S. Department of Defense
 * Lincoln Group
 * Loose Cannon Pentagon
 * Pentagon Channel
 * Pentagon Papers
 * The Pentagon's Papers