Not a surprise, but worrisome nevertheless

AP CEO: Military emphasizes spin, new rules needed
Fri Feb 6, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Associated Press chief executive Tom Curley says the Bush administration turned the U.S. military into a global propaganda machine.
...
He said both civilian officials and military leaders have cracked down on independent reporting from the battlefield, with the goal of suppressing news that's unflattering.

Again, the fact that W "turned the U.S. military into a global propaganda machine" is not too surprising.
What is somewhat surprising is the source: The CEO of the Associated Press.
The AP has been one of the more gullible of the national news services - slavishly repeating any and all claims from W & his minions about the imminent threat of Saddam leading up to the Iraq fiasco, and continuing to uncritically repeat all the crap about how wonderfully W accomplished the mission.

If the CEO of AP thinks there's a problem, it's a big deal!!!

I'd go further, and note that the Pentagon's "Office of Special Plans" under Douglas Feith was instrumental in generating internal propaganda to bolster W's march to war within the U.S.

... and then there's this:

AP Impact: Pentagon increases spending on public relations, raising concern about propaganda
By CHRIS TOMLINSON , Associated Press
Last update: February 5, 2009
WASHINGTON - As it fights two wars, the Pentagon is steadily and dramatically increasing the money it spends to win what it calls "the human terrain" of world public opinion. In the process, it is raising concerns of spreading propaganda at home in violation of federal law.
[emphasis added]

Me? I'm thinking this is a battle that SoS Clinton needs to join, soon - re-establishing the Dept. of State as the leader in U.S. foreign policy.

Yet again: W - the gift that keeps on giving!