This is a sensationalist headline.
An anology: There are guilty people in prison who still won't admit they did things even with glaring evidence showing they committed crimes. Nobody in the WH has admitted anything regarding the deployment being a farce. Despite strong evidence supporting the premise. There was no "confession" here.
This is how you get people who support the idea that the media promotes false news to conclude that their stance is right. It sucks to have to operate in an asymmetrical way, but the burden is on the side of good to remain honest. Now assholes are going to trot this stupid article out as evidence for an entire conspiracy and people will believe it.