The story continues:

"The issue came to light after the New York Times disclosed in April the existence of a Pentagon program to use retired military officers as "message force multipliers" or "surrogates"-- seemingly autonomous experts who could trumpet administration talking points about subjects such as the Iraq War or the treatment of detainees in the "war on terror."

Many of the analysts were beholden to the Pentagon for contracts, the story said, and the Defense Department sometimes covered their expenses. According to the report, the analysts' access to senior officials was a function of the degree to which their comments were friendly to the administration's views. "

At best, this was an unseemly abuse of the position the Pentagon had with control of public information. At worst, it is criminal behavior that needs to be prosecuted. While from experience I know that the FCC moves pretty slowly, at least they are investigating. More to come, surely.