Pentagon rapid response operation

The Pentagon rapid response operation was created in October 2006 by the United States Department of Defense (a.k.a. The Pentagon) to "quickly respond to news media stories critical of ... the war in Iraq, as well as other stories the Defense Department leadership doesn't like."

A Pentagon memo seen by the Associated Press news agency said the new unit would "develop messages" for the 24-hour news cycle and aim to "correct the record". The unit would reportedly monitor media such as weblogs and would also employ "surrogates", or top politicians or lobbyists who could be interviewed on TV and radio shows.