Pentagon faces investigation over subversive propaganda

The Pentagon pundit program may have violated the FCC's restrictions on payola, according to Commissioner Adelstein. The payola rules, he explained, "require broadcast and cable stations to exercise reasonable diligence in determining whether a disclosure is needed for materials involving controversial issues of public importance. Were any questions even asked? This is not just a question of journalist ethics and integrity. It is the law. The war in Iraq is clearly a controversial issue of public importance."

Noting that "it took the FCC over two and a half years to issue a citation" in the Armstrong Williams payola pundit case, Adelstein stressed that "this investigation need not, and should not, take that long."

Adelstein also called on the Justice Department to determine whether the Pentagon pundit program violated federal anti-propaganda laws. "Congress has specifically outlawed the use of federal funds for covert propaganda," he said. "The GAO determined that the 'critical element' of covert propaganda is the concealment of the agency's role in preparing the material from the target audience. ... The federal anti-propaganda and payola laws are grounded on the principle that the public is entitled to know who seeks to persuade them so they can make up their own minds about the credibility of the information presented."


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