In each war and military action since losing in Vietnam, the US military has exerted increased control and censorship over battlefield reporting. Now the Pentagon claims to be changing its ways, in part to gain a propaganda advantage. According to the New York Times, "military officials said in interviews
that limits on access to frontline units ... would be loosened if President Bush ordered
military action. The Pentagon has made similar pledges of greater access
before without making good on the promise. Even now, as the
Pentagon completes plans to 'embed' correspondents,
photographers and video crews within frontline units - and
offering military training so journalists can maneuver
safely with the troops - officials say it is premature to
announce how many would be included, with which units or
how close they would be to decisive operations. ... Several Pentagon officials lamented that the military had
too often damaged its image by failing to engage the news
media. The result, they said, is that the military has
found itself surrendering the fight over world opinion to
the propaganda of adversaries."