An inspector general investigation into charges that senior intelligence officials pressured analysts to downplay setbacks in the war against the Islamic State (ISIL) was triggered after more than 50 spies lodged formal complaints, according to a report by The Daily Beast.
The inquiry was launched in July after two senior analysts at the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) protested to the Pentagon’s watchdog that their assessments were being politically manipulated to hype up coalition forces’ successes on the battlefield.
Following the complaints from the two analysts, more than 50 others presented documentation to the inspector general backing up the allegations.
Among the charges that resulted is one accusing CENTCOM’s director of intelligence of removing findings from reports that didn’t back up the administration’s line: that the US is winning the war against ISIL.
Senior leaders at CENTCOM were also accused of creating a hostile work environment, with one complaint describing the atmosphere as “Stalinist.” Analysts claim they resorted to self-censorship after finding that their negative assessments of the war were never shared with policymakers.
Military brass and administration officials have repeatedly claimed in public that the US is making progress in the war, despite ISIL’s ability to hold territory it has seized and its capture of the Iraqi city of Ramadi since the campaign was launched.
During a press conference last month, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter claimed, “the strategy is the right one and we’re just going to have to keep working on it.”
According to officials who spoke to The Daily Beast, many analysts were pressured to retire upon airing their grievances.
CENTCOM spokesperson Patrick Ryder told the outlet that he “cannot comment on the specific investigation.”
