The New York Times has diluted our message of strength for foreign enemies.
The recent New York Times article, Aircraft Carrier Wasn’t Sailing to Deter North Korea, as U.S. Suggested, does ill-timed damage to the United States national security posture towards North Korea at an inopportune time. With the visit of Vice President Pence to South Korea along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the United States was sending a strong message of concern for our allies and an equally strong message that North Korea needed to pursue a path as a sensible, concerned nation-state.
The aforementioned New York Times article damages the United States’ standing towards allies and portrays a mixed message towards irrational North Korean state activity that neither the New York Times or the United States wants. The NYT should have remained closer to the facts and stated that the USS Carl Vinson was sailing towards an exercise in Australia. Alternatively, they could have titled the piece “USS Carl Vinson Steams Towards an International Exercise to Support Pacific Allies,” which is a much more accurate headline that supports both the truth and a message of strength to North Korea.
While the New York Times and the United States Government both understand, and respect the US Constitution, North Korea neither respects nor understands the foundation upon which our government rests. The press and national security concerns must intersect when it includes discussions involving dangerous, irrational and outspoken enemies of the United States, primarily North Korea and ISIS. Where the New York Times, and other mainstream media outlets, sees the 1st Amendment and Freedom of the Press, North Korea sees weakness. It is in the interest of all Americans for the United States to portray a unified, strong, and consistent message of strength and consistency towards North Korea, which will in turn promote and encourage the antagonistic nation to be a calm, consistent and rational nation-state actor.
