An unmitigated disaster:

26 October. The U.S. Navy suffered a serious setback today, as we lost one aircraft carrier, 2 escort carriers, 2 destroyers and one destroyer escort sunk. Estimated casualties among U.S. Navy forces were 3,500 dead. According to unnamed sources in Washington, D.C., there are reports that that the U.S. Navy Admiral in charge of the overall operation, was lured into chasing enemy ships away from the battle zone, while leaving another Navy force unprotected and vulnerable.

Or was it?

The battle described above was actually the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which ended on 26 October, 1944. The last major naval combat in World War II, this battle was a major defeat for the Imperial Japanese Navy and it was accurately reported in the U.S. press as such.

But imagine it it happened today? I shudder to think.... Defeat would be snatched from the jaws of victory...... Today's press would not be able to resist the urge to find the "failure" in this operation, like they do in everything else that involves military or intelligence operations.

Just imagine what they would do with just one picture like the one above. A shot of an aircraft carrier on fire would be an unending source of ammunition for those looking to belittle America's efforts in defeating our enemies.

And what of an image like this:

It would be seen as a failure of the Pentagon, and not as the desperation or depravity of the enemy.
Consistently depressing....