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Leaking of classified information is against the law, cannot be tolerated, and will, when proven, lead to the prosecution of those found to be engaged in such activity. Revealing unclassified, but sensitive, pre-decisional, or otherwise restricted information is also prohibited unless specifically authorized.
Current DoD policy, outlined by Directive 5122.05, 'Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs,' (attached) states that the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs is the sole release authority for official DoD information to news media in Washington, and that all media activities must be coordinated through appropriate public affairs channels. This policy is, all to often ignored. Accordingly, we must enhance our internal coordination mechanisms to ensure that Department officials are aware of the most current departmental and inter-agency information and perspective on the topic at hand when they engage the media. We need to ensure that, as they do so, we avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications caused by insufficient situational awareness.
Accordingly, prior to interviews or any other means of media and public engagement with possible national or international implications, all component leaders or their public affairs officers must notify OSD Public Affairs which, in turn and as appropriate, will ensure that senior Department officials with the relevant overall knowledge and situational awareness have been consulted. |
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Name(s:) |
Robert Gates |
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Title: |
Secretary of Defense |
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Agency(ies): |
Department of Defense |
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Url: |
Url Link
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Title: |
Subject: Interaction with the Media |
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Author: |
Robert Gates |
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Title: |
Secretary of Defense |
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Authoring or Creator Agency: |
Department of Defense |
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Audience: |
Deputy Secretary of Defense, Secretaries of the Military Departments, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Under Secretaries of Defense, Commanders of the Combatant Commands, Assistant Secretaries of Defense, General Counsel of the Department of Defense, Assistants to the Secretary of Defense Director, Administration and Management |
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