A General as Conduit for Military Contractor and News Network

The NYTimes’ David Barstow continues his reporting into U.S. Generals-turned-TV analysts.

He focuses on retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey and his work for military contractors while providing war analysis for the networks of NBC News.

NBC News president Steve Capus told Barstow, McCaffrey was a man of honor and achievement who would never let business obligations color his analysis. Capus added that as a consultant, McCaffrey is not required to abide by the network’s formal conflict-of-interest rules. Nor is he required to disclose his business interests. But Capus said that the network had conversations with its military analysts about the need to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, and that McCaffrey had been “incredibly forthcoming” about his ties to military contractors.

In his 5,000-word piece Barstow also concludes, “Access was part of what drew NBC to General McCaffrey. Mr. Capus said General McCaffrey ‘opens doors with generals and others who we would not otherwise be able to talk to.’”

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