What Riled Readers Last Week

Waldemar Storm of Fargo, N.D., complained, with about 60 others, about Post columnist Robert Kagan's op-ed headlined "The Surge Is Succeeding." Storm wrote: " Kagan is the brother of Frederick Kagan, the main architect of the 'surge' Iraq war strategy. . . . Perhaps readers should simply assume that the brothers Kagan are interchangeable, as their views are the same on this and related topics. The March 11 column failed to disclose the sibling relationship of the author to the originator of the strategy which is the topic of the article. . . . This seems irresponsible, perhaps unethical, a serious failure of full disclosure by the author and The Post."

The Kagan brothers are well known for their separate work on foreign policy and national defense; they supported the war. Important information about an op-ed writer should be disclosed if that information is likely to affect how readers understand the writer's motivations. This piece didn't meet that criteria.

Both Kagans said that they thought it was unnecessary. So did op-ed editor Autumn Brewington, who said, "We didn't consider identifying his brother. For one thing, Bob Kagan has been on the record calling for more troops for much longer than his brother has been known to support the idea of a surge. Second, his brother isn't part of the administration. The surge Bush implemented was the construction of [his] government. His brother might have supported such a plan, but it's not like he was the . . . official carrying it out."

Robert Kagan, a senior associate at the left-of-center Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said, "My consistent position since the beginning of the occupation is that there were too few troops," and that position "was not influenced by Fred. It didn't occur to me that all of a sudden I need to start attributing my thoughts to anyone else. While we look at the world the same way, he has far greater expertise in the military than I do."

Frederick Kagan, a resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said, "He was continuing to make an argument he started making before I did, and I should not be given credit for his idea." He was the main author of an AEI study on Iraq released in December that made "recommendations similar to but not identical to what the administration has done."

Robert Kagan said he and his brother do not always agree, especially on whom "the Yankees should be pitching today."

Deborah Howell can be reached at 202-334-7582 or atombudsman@washpost.com.