NEW YORK—When Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell's office got word that the Pentagon was offering veterans' benefits to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, staffers sprang into action. The influential Kentucky lawmaker's aides fired off a letter to the Pentagon, demanding answers. The senator got one, but probably not the response he was expecting. The Defense Department doesn't offer military benefits to dangerous detainees. Mr. McConnell's staff had been duped by the Duffel Blog, a year-old satirical website that is gaining a reputation as the military version of The Onion.
Mr. McConnell and his staff aren't the only ones to be snookered. Over the past year, the Duffel Blog has hoodwinked radio talk-show hosts, politicians and reporters across the country. No, the U.S. Army is not going to replace bayonets with tomahawks.No, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is not going to start charging soldiers for access to military bases. No, mail delays did not prevent delivery of thousands of military ballots that would have propelled Republican Mitt Romney into the White House.
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