The moment a whistleblower delivered a cell phone video of a few defense contractors drunk and stoned in Afghanistan, the controversy about such patriots re-sparked an old flame. Remember, it wasn’t long ago that Blackwater became an overnight household name. Today, Jorge Scientific, a large defense contractor out of Virginia has emerged as the new American villain operating overseas.
The old saying, “a few bad apples can ruin the bunch” holds true. Yes, the defense contractual world has had its share of a few bad apples. But to chastise these patriots making all who serve in contractual roles look unprofessional is completely insane—and that’s exactly what one very large media outlet has done.
“ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline" decided to take the liberty to show the full video on the evening of October 16th. Simultaneously, they have decided to dedicate significant amounts of air time to reveal what some may construe as a “serious problem” with defense contractors.
Broadcasting the video on television and posting such online is unethical journalism. Americans continue to be threatened abroad by a very complex enemy that embraces a very anti-western ideology. Today, Americans will be viewed as immoral drug and alcohol addicts contaminating Afghanistan and its culture. Countering such propaganda is nearly impossible. Because of this, the risk factor has just spiked through the roof.
Al Qaeda and the Taliban have already done an incredibly successful job in their psychological operation’s campaigns. They don’t need the assistance of US media helping them. This isn’t Vietnam. It is critical that media carefully chooses what they reveal to the world when it comes to US operations abroad.
Everything that is written or discussed has potential to cause unprecedented amounts of damage to our nation's war fighters, be it US military or their contractual counterparts. Something that seems as simple as a few drunks or druggies filmed with homemade video has potential to cause great damage.
As a defense contractor I am appalled on multiple fronts. First, small teams operating abroad in austere environments are continuously challenged. They become stressed. People feel the stress and do things they normally wouldn’t do. Those stressors are in no way an excuse to act like buffoons.
Problems among family stay in the family. Contractors, just like their military counterparts, are a family. Work those problems out and move on with the mission. Under no circumstance should any person operating abroad leak these types of videos, especially to a media outlet, to resolve a problem.
Media also has an obligation to protect those who protect us. In this regard, I feel as though Diane Sawyer and the entire ABC team have done this great nation a complete and utter disservice. Every journalist bites at the bit to get that next hot story. But when you willingly broadcast misconduct by any person or groups of persons operating abroad for the entire world to see, you jeopardize many lives.
The enemy we face today embraces a very unique ideology. Americans and our coalition partners already face uphill battles trying to persuade the local populace of Afghanistan to trust us. How quick will the Taliban, Al Qaeda, LeT, Hezb Islami, or any other opposition group pitch their own psychological operations campaign based solely on this video?
At one point during this war in Afghanistan, contractors comprised of approximately 52% of the entire fighting force. They embraced the fight giving up their civilian careers and joined hand in hand with their military brethren. Without them, the US military could not do this mission.
Contractors have been severely injured and several thousand have been killed yet we don’t hear about their tragedies on evening news. They are just as heroic as those wearing a military uniform. But time and again, some Americans have attempted to undermine their patriotism, loyalty, and dedication to fight for and protect this great nation.
Very rarely do we ever here about the US military engaged in unprofessional activities. Sure, we hear about Quran burnings and urinating on corpses. But the US military has some troops that constantly screw up and those events are rarely reported. Broadcasting the continuous amount of military issues involving alcohol abuse, fraternization, pregnancy, etc. all of which are minor in comparison to what many Americans do day in and day out, would be sacrilegious.
But because our defense contractors, many of which once wore the uniform, are not actually in the military, they have become free game to chastise. Let’s not forget that three contractors died during the very tragedy in which we lost US Ambassador Chris Stevens—one was a former Air Force member and two were former US Navy SEALs. They were part of the same brotherhood as those videotaped.
In no way is any of this meant to serve as an excuse for inexcusable actions conducted by a few. It is meant to show America that the military is not the only fighting force operating abroad. Contractors risk just the same as our military and they should be respected equally. In many regards they should be respected more considering a large majority are either retired or separated service members willing to put their civilian lives on hold to continue protecting and defending each and every one of us.
Kerry Patton, a combat disabled veteran, is the author of ‘Sociocultural Intelligence: The New Discipline of Intelligence Studies’ and the children’s book ‘American Patriotism’.
