Transparency? We don't need no stinkin' transparency

A hearty Bronx cheer for U.S. Marine Corps public affairs. Consider the following excerpt from this Washington Post article by Dan Lamothe:

While military leaders say they are pursuing a culture change, they shielded details of the MARSOC case from public view. Evidence was presented at an Article 32 hearing at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in October, but the session was not announced in advance and no media covered it.

The hearing went unannounced “in accordance with service regulations that prohibit including the name of accused in routine disseminations,” said Maj. Kristin Tortorici, a Marine spokeswoman. Hearings in such high-profile cases are typically disclosed.

The lack of transparency, as well as inaccurate rumors about the case that spread in the Special Operations community, has stoked suspicions that the Marine Corps is hellbent on obtaining convictions to send a message.

Ten other Marines were punished for “collateral misconduct” uncovered during the investigation, Tortorici said. She declined to describe the punishments, which have not previously been reported.