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Last update - 12:04 20/04/2008 Report: U.S. military groomed TV news analysts on Iraq war Tags: Pentagon, George Bush, Iraq Many U.S. military analysts used as commentators on Iraq by television networks have been groomed by the Pentagon, leaving some feeling they were manipulated to report favorably on the Bush administration, The New York Times said in Sunday editions. A Times report examining ties between the Bush administration and former senior officers who acted as paid TV analysts said they got private briefings, trips and access to classified intelligence meant to influence their comments. "Records and interviews show how the Bush administration has used its control over access and information in an effort to transform the analysts into a kind of media Trojan horse -- an instrument intended to shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks," the newspaper said. Advertisement The Pentagon defended its work with the analysts, saying they were given only accurate information. Many of the commentators also have ties to military contractors who are vested in U.S. war efforts, but those business links are seldom disclosed to viewers, and sometimes not even to the networks on which they appear, the newspaper said. President George W. Bush has been engaged in a long struggle to halt a drain in public support for the Iraq war, in which more than 4,000 American soldiers have died, and to boost support for his post Sept. 11 war against terrorism. One case cited by the Times was in the summer of 2005, when accusations were rife over human rights violations at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay on Cuba, where foreign terrorism suspects are held. The Times said administration communications officials flew a group of retired military officers to the camp on a jet normally used by Vice President Dick Cheney to give their side of the case. Many in the group have subsequently appeared as commentators on the TV networks. The Times quoted Robert Bevelacqua, a retired Green Beret and former Fox News analyst, as saying, "It was them (the Bush administration) saying, 'We need to stick our hands up your back and move your mouth for you.'" Kenneth Allard, a former NBC military analyst who taught information warfare at the National Defense University, told the Times the campaign amounted to a "coherent, active," sophisticated information operation. As the situation in Iraq deteriorated, he saw a gap between what analysts were told in private briefings and what subsequently was revealed in inquiries and books. "Night and day," he told the Times. "I felt we'd been hosed." Some analysts said they had suppressed doubts about the situation in Iraq for fear of jeopardizing their access. Many others, however, denied having been co-opted or allowing their business interests to affect their on-air work, while some said they had rescued themselves from coverage that touched on business interests, the Times report said. The Times said it based much of its report on 8,000 pages of e-mail messages, transcripts and records it secured by suing the Defense Department and which it said described years of private briefings, trips and what it called "an extensive Pentagon talking points operation." It said Pentagon documents referred to the military analysts as "message force multipliers" or "surrogates" who could be counted on to deliver administration "themes and messages" to millions of Americans "in the form of their own opinions." Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman defended the Defense Department's work with military analysts, saying they were given only factual information about the war. "The intent and purpose of this is nothing other than an earnest attempt to inform the American people," he told the Times, adding it was "a bit incredible" to think retired military officers could be "wound up" and used as "puppets of the Defense Department." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Passover in Damascus Syria's 100 remaining Jews say they feel free to celebrate Passover openly. Shanghai surprise A Jewish couple in Shanghai weds inside a synagogue for the first time since WWII.   1.   C`est la vie 13:29  |  K 20/04/08   2.   Surprise, surprise..... 13:52  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/04/08   3.   The government better hope that Americans continue to sleep 13:52  |  Natallie Durson 20/04/08   4.   Bill Moyers Journal on PBS is a must see 15:11  |  El-Birawi 20/04/08   5.   WE DON`T TRUST THE AMERICAN POLITICIANS AND.. 15:13  |  VIPER 20/04/08   6.   Iraq war is achieving its purpose 16:29  |  Keith T. 20/04/08   7.   Inform the public about Israeli media 16:35  |  Michael N 20/04/08   8.   TIMES AGAIN STABS U.S. MILITARY IN BACK 16:37  |  YUSSEL DER SCHREIBER 20/04/08   9.   Oh!! I am surprised ! what I joke, its was so clear!! 17:19  |  Moise 20/04/08   10.   The incredible damage has been done 18:22  |  Akiva P 20/04/08   11.   Surprise! 18:27  |  Chaval 20/04/08   12.   The real purpose of the Iraq war? Well, colonisation of course.. 18:35  |  Kris Lazar 20/04/08   13.   Swiss (Dino) The armchair soldier 19:50  |  Gil 20/04/08   14.   Swiss (Dino) The armchair soldier 19:50  |  Gil 20/04/08   15.   Wow So many responses to the Article, 19:52  |  Gil 20/04/08   16.   Wow So many responses to the Article, 19:52  |  Gil 20/04/08   17.   NYT Anti-Military Smear campaign contunues 21:23  |  GENERAL BETRAY US 20/04/08   18.   What`s the difference between a journalist and a prostitute? 21:54  |  Andreas 20/04/08

Read & React Editorial: Israel can't demolish all of Gaza Responses: 359 IDF troops do nothing as Hebron settlers threaten German MPs Responses: 347 Carter meets Hamas leader, sets out plans for Israel-Hamas truce Responses: 332 Barak: Hamas will pay for attack on Gaza crossing Responses: 454 Rosner's Domain The Passover test and The Passion of Passover Just say no to Carter Poll: What is Carter doing in the Middle East? Let the debate begin: what's a "pro-Israeli" position? Clinton: Massive retaliation if Israel attacked (WTR) More Headlines 03:29 Israel to tighten controls at Gaza crossings in wake of attacks 04:03 Analysis / Keeping Gaza quiet until Independence Day 06:00 Assad confirms trading messages with Israel 04:53 Researchers: We know the secret of Joseph's biblical pest control 05:27 Israeli Arab students take to the fields to learn green activism 05:55 Legendary actor, director, and teacher Nissan Nativ dies at 86 04:09 Water Authority: Drought years threaten drinking water supplies 06:21 Hilton to open Waldorf-Astoria luxury hotel in Jerusalem 01:50 Obama slams Bush, former pres. Clinton's mideast diplomacy 06:25 Abbas says will discuss peace agreement with Bush Tuesday Previous Editions Select Day 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr

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