“The command has deflected questions about the killing in Mali, offered murky and shifting explanations of the attack in Niger, and cleared U.S. personnel of wrongdoing in Somalia before launching a new investigation into the killings. All of this comes as the Defense Department as a whole has become less transparent and accessible, according formerly https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/19/mattis-pentagon-defense-reporters-242857https:/www.politico.com/story/2017/09/19/mattis-pentagon-defense-reporters-242857 to numerous journalists who cover U.S. national security. At the same time, according formerly http://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-now/pentagon-reports-spike-in-misbehavior-sex-complaints-against-brass-senior-civilians/465-259830c8-332d-4995-8543-a72675478949?scroll=2049 to the Pentagon’s Inspector General, there has been a rise in complaints of misconduct by senior officials, as well as reprisals against whistleblowers.”