Pentagon Fires Stars And Stripes Editors

The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and Middle East reporter Lara Korte on Friday for “insubordination” after they publicly defended the military newspaper’s editorial independence. Publisher Max Lederer, who had announced his retirement Tuesday, was also removed from his post. Slavin told the BBC on Saturday he was concerned about censorship, saying troops and families “really need to hear what’s happening.” The firings followed a dispute over how Stars and Stripes provides independent news to U.S. service members.