U.S.

Describing the Program

In memorandums and e-mail messages obtained by The Times, Defense Department officials describe the goals and mission of a program to shape public opinion about the Iraq war through retired military officers who are media analysts.

From a Nov. 1, 2006, e-mail message about "media experts visit proposal"

From a May 16, 2006, e-mail message about "Taking groups to Iraq/Afghanistan"

From a Sept. 14, 2006, memorandum titled "Itinerary for Defense Analysts"

Molding the Message

The Defense Department has supplied military analysts with thousands of talking points since 2002. Many were echoed on TV.

Talking points issued in December 2002 and February 2003

Working to Shape Opinion

E-mail messages from some of the military analysts illustrate how closely they work with the Defense Department.

In e-mail messages in September 2006, a military analyst responds to criticism of then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and urges the Pentagon to arrange a meeting

A Priority Program

The program was important at the highest levels of the Defense Department and the White House.

From an e-mail message dated June 23, 2006

From an e-mail message dated Nov. 17, 2005, from the director of press operations at the Defense Department about trips to the war zones for the military analysts

Evaluating the Analysts

The Defense Department kept detailed records of what the retired military analysts said on television and in other media.

From a report on how some retired military analysts performed on broadcast media after a meeting with Mr. Rumsfeld