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US military officials face polygraph tests over leaked ammunition information

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Unnamed sources Under investigation
  • The Pentagon reportedly ordered about 50 members of its planning and advisory staff to undergo polygraph tests after reports about ammunition shortages in the US military.
  • The investigation seeks to identify the source of classified leaks about ammunition stocks, while officials dispute reports that Washington rationed supplies after months of war with Iran.
  • The Defense Department declined to comment on internal personnel or investigative matters but said it takes classified-information leaks seriously.

The Pentagon has begun subjecting senior military personnel to polygraph tests in an effort to identify who leaked classified information about US ammunition stocks, according to media reports.

internal personnel or investigative matters

· Sean ParnellThe Defense Department spokesman gave this reason for declining to comment on the reported polygraph tests.

About 50 members of the Defense Department's planning and advisory staff were reportedly required to take the tests, The New York Times and CBS News reported, citing unnamed officials. The tests are part of an extensive effort to determine how secret information about ammunition supplies reached journalists. General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was reportedly not tested.

Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment when contacted by AFP, saying he does not discuss “internal personnel or investigative matters.” He added that the Pentagon takes “all leaks of classified information related to national security extremely seriously” and investigates them accordingly. Such efforts, he said, are “critical to ensuring the security of the United States and our troops deployed around the world.”

all leaks of classified information related to national security extremely seriously

· Sean ParnellParnell described the Pentagon's response to the reported leak.

US media reported in July that Washington was rationing ammunition because of supply concerns after several months of war with Iran. Government officials strongly rejected those reports. President Donald Trump said the United States had “huge amounts” of ammunition, while acknowledging that “we certainly would like to have more” of some advanced weapons. CBS News reported that Trump was furious about the stories and that very few people had access to the leaked information.

critical to ensuring the security of the United States and our troops deployed around the world

· Sean ParnellParnell explained why the department investigates classified-information leaks.

Polygraph tests are not unusual for senior military and civilian officials, CBS News reported, but the number of people tested is considered unusual. The devices measure physical stress, including blood pressure. Whether their results can reliably show that someone has lied remains scientifically disputed.

huge amounts

· Donald TrumpTrump rejected reports that the United States faced ammunition shortages.
About this summary

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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