In Times of War Accurate Sourcing is Everything

In the Obama Administration there was a distinct turn to highlight the non-kinetic global engagement of U.S. military forces. A USN recruiting slogan captures that focus well.  “A Global Force for Good”  was a U.S. Navy recruiting slogan 2009 to 2014, highlighting  the Navy’s role in humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and maritime security, alongside its combat capabilities. The slogan aimed to define the service as a positive influence beyond just warfare, emphasizing aid during events like the 2004 tsunami and 2011 Japanese disaster.

In fact, President Obama’s national security strategy, 2015 National Security Strategy, often highlighted using the military—including naval, air, and special operations forces—to uphold international values, build partnerships, and provide disaster relief

Consequently, President Trump has framed a direct and practical U.S. military effort as a “Global Force for Good” — in a Truth Social post announcing Project Freedom:

The ship movement (USN opening Sea Lanes) is merely meant to free up people, companies, and countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong. They are victims of circumstance. This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.

Many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner. I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months. If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with.

And then just like that the effort is now on hold to “finalize a deal with Iran.”

“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social

The great strength of President Trump is captured in the flip side of the often-quoted moniker “Orange Man Bad”: do not make “Orange Man mad.” Both supporters and critics, I suspect, recognize this factor.

Currently, U.S. Navy Burke Destroyers are courageously sailing in harm’s way — occupying what is often called in combat engagements a “beaten zone,” or, in another term, “Kill Box.”

The naval “beaten zone” or “kill box” in the Strait of Hormuz is defined as the 21-mile wide maritime chokepoint where Iran exerts asymmetric control using land-based missiles, drones, and fast attack craft. This area can be  characterized as a high-risk “warlike operations area”

The USN may have been branded a “global force for good,” but Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of all forces in the area, surely knows — as every Midshipman does — of Farragut Field at the Academy and the fighting lineage of Admiral David Farragut.

Admiral Farragut  was a renowned Union naval commander during the Civil War, famous for becoming the first U.S. Navy admiral and for his victory at the Battle of Mobile Bay, where he famously declared, “Damn the torpedoes! (term for mines in those days) Full speed ahead!”. He was crucial for Union victories in seizing New Orleans and securing the Mississippi River.

Now our current war has Navy surface combatants backed up by tremendous airpower flying overwatch with the same persistent courage as Admiral Farragut’s fleet.  But make no mistake, just like naval combat in the American Civil War, it is a very perilous mission.

Consequently, as negotiations go forward, the media — both national and foreign press — owe the sailors and air combat crews displaying such courage the due respect of accurate reporting.

In the initial round of negotiations the Iranian delegation had seventy negotiators wanting to be in the room. That by any measure is a “tell” that there are many factions inside Iran. Many voices and many factions are all involved.

Rather than having major articles and headlines simply say “Iran” with no further sourcing or attribution — “Iran said that…” — identifying exactly by name and Iranian organization, whether religious, military, or political, is critically important.

Identifying fractures and confusion in Iranian organizations competing with each other for supremacy would be very helpful.  This is a simple integrity test for responsible media to follow the AP and Reuters style guide;

AP and Reuters require direct, in-text attribution for sources to ensure transparency, accountability, and accuracy. They emphasize naming sources whenever possible, using active voice to attribute information immediately, and providing context to judge credibility.

If teenagers standing watch in a perilous beaten zone are putting their lives on the line, responsible news outlets can certainly follow their own editorial standards or risk being seen, yet again, as agenda-driven narrative journalism masquerading as honest reporting.

Ed Timperlake was given a Secretary of Defense award for “Outstanding Achievement “ as a member of the Tsunami Relief task force.