FCC Is Said to Be Probing Military Analysts' [Pentagon-sponsored] TV [Propaganda] Appearances

by Erik Larson | October 7, 2008 at 02:29 pm

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Reportedly, the FCC is investigating the Pentagon US domestic propaganda campaign which involved thousands of appearances made by "military analysts" who shilled Pentagon/Bush Administration talking points on WMD, Iraq occupation, torture, etc. without disclosing they were being paid to do so, or that many of them have ties to defense contractors. For some reason, only two (2) members of Congress bothered asking the FCC to look into this abuse of the public's airwaves and trust.

Domestic Propaganda, Military Analysts, and the US Media Timeline

Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon’s Hidden Hand - NY Times, April 20, 2008

Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Communications Commission is investigating whether military analysts with ties to contractors and the Defense Department broke the law when they appeared on television to speak about the Iraq War, an FCC official said.

The FCC has sent out letters on the matter, the official said, without providing more detail. The person declined to be identified because the agency typically doesn't discuss investigations.

Under U.S. law, viewers must be told when broadcasts feature people who received compensation in return for expressing their views on air. The New York Times in an April 20 story said the Defense Department cultivated retired officers, including those working as lobbyists, executives and contractors, who spoke favorably about the war during TV appearances.