>>64179231

GWOT. More specifically post-9/11 journalistic fellatio pieces about the exploits of spec ops and them all publishing ghost written memoirs that exaggerate things even more (i.e 5 afghan gunmen becomes 500). This wasn't the first example of this happening: After the gulf war several SAS soldiers cashed in writing memoirs about their exploits (this is the Chris Ryan, Andy McNab, Cyril Clunge genre) but the UK quickly quashed this by making all serving members be unable to write about their time in the SAS and blacking out their faces in official photos.

The DOD didn't do that probably because "it helps recruitment" without seeing the a monkey's paw curl and the end result being instead of OG Delta Force guys who'd would learn spanish, grow a porno mustache, overthrow a south american government then live a quiet life selling photocopiers you had roided up guys joining SOCOM specifically because they wanted public adoration and who saw nothing wrong about profiting from their service by hawking coffee or yapping on a podcast. It also contributing factor for why you heard about more gungho raids (especially where things go south) because older style extended recon/observation might be valuable for the war effort but you won't get on JRE to talk about how you spend 2 weeks hiding in a bush observing an enemy C3.