Rove Linked to Talking-Heads Scandal, Despite Denial

The plot thickens in the case of “military analysts” programmed by the Pentagon to give the party line on TV, Glenn Greenwald asserts in Salon: Documents show the White House—despite denials—had a hand in keeping the retired generals “on message”—and indeed that Pentagon higher-ups stood to be chewed out by Karl Rove if they didn’t plan info-gathering trips right.

Documents show that Rove—and even perhaps President Bush himself—spoke with the analysts on specifics about progress in the Middle East, and national security adviser Stephen Hadley personally "briefed … these guys.” Greenwald went searching for a denial from a top Pentagon official, who said in response only that he left government around then and was no authority on the matter.