New York Times’ Previous Reporting Undermines Its War Escalation Journalism

In the not too distant past, the New York Times eviscerated a set of establishment think tanks in Washington, D.C. The paper revealed documents and emails showing nonprofit research institutes how defense industry interests routinely and covertly influence the media and policymakers. The target of its reporting focused on a prominent think tank called the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

“Think Tank Scholar or Corporate Consultant? It Depends on the Day,” ran one NYT headline. The story showed that a scholar at CSIS doubled as a security industry lobbyist who used the think tank to press his client’s interests. “How Think Tanks Amplify Corporate America’s Influence,” blared another NYT investigation, featuring internal emails unmasking CSIS for pushing military drone-friendly policies while raking in drone industry donations.