Investigation focuses on alleged Pentagon distortion of anti-IS fight
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon’s inspector general is investigating an allegation that the military command overseeing the anti-Islamic State campaign distorted or altered intelligence assessments to exaggerate progress against the militant group, a defense official said Wednesday.
The official was not authorized to discuss the probe publicly, so spoke on condition of anonymity.
The paper reported the investigation began after at least one civilian Defense Intelligence Agency analyst told authorities he had evidence that officials at U.S. Central Command were improperly reworking conclusions of assessments prepared for policymakers, including President Barack Obama.
Details of the allegations were not available. A spokeswoman for the inspector general’s office, Bridget Serchak, declined to comment.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said he could not confirm the probe. The Pentagon typically does not publicly comment on the work of the inspector general’s office, which is an independent arm of the Defense Department.
Cook said Defense Secretary Ash Carter “counts on independent intelligence and analysis from a variety of sources to help him make critical decisions about the nation’s security.”
A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, said Pentagon and Central Command officials have been publicly candid about the difficulty of the war against the Islamic State. At times, however, they have painted a rosier picture than was reflected by developments on the ground.
On May 15, for example, Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, who at the time was chief of staff to the military headquarters running the war, told reporters the Islamic State was “losing and remains on the defensive.” Even as he spoke, Iraqi officials were saying that IS fighters had captured the main government compound in Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province. The city fell two days later, marking a significant victory for IS and a setback for the U.S. and Iraq.
Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder, a spokesman for Central Command, said he could not discuss ongoing investigations.
“The (inspector general) has a responsibility to investigate all allegations made, and we welcome and support their independent oversight,” Ryder said.