Over the last two years some observers have noted an apparently conscious attempt to isolate the active duty military from the general populace of the United States. The Pentagon, CENTCOM, and MNF-I have been especially aggressive in suggesting that the media has been disloyal, agenda-focused, or anti-troops, or by claiming outright that these conditions exist. These tropes have not only been evident in public announcements, but have also been seen in command guidance messages directed at the troops themselves.

It has been reported, for instance, that throughout Iraq official televisions are tuned to Fox News, and attempts to change the channel are discouraged. The military does maintain its own radio and TV operation in Iraq, as is common everywhere else in the world where permanent US facilities have been set up, and takes quite a bit of feed from Mr Murdoch’s cheerleaders.

Yes, it might well be paranoia, but it appears that, more and more, they military has been fostering an “us vs them” attitude through apparently defensive public policy as the occupation in Iraq had turned more violent and deadly for US soldiers.

News briefings by MG William Caldwell, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects of the MNF-I (I’m not kidding) have featured some remarkable statements protesting the media’s unwillingness or inability to report on painted schools and instead focusing on the daily collecting of dead bodies on the streets of Baghdad and other cities.

I first noticed this as an official policy last year, when the Pentagon expended a great deal of resources explaining to the media and American public that what our eyes were seeing is not what was actually happening. The DoD established an office dedicated to directly contacting media outlets by email, snail mail and telephone contact to urge retraction or correction of news reports that were felt to improperly (or unpatriotically) reporting news that was adverse.

The office was apparently set up as a “war room” project, since requests for changing news reports went out on a 24 hour basis, The DoD also set up a special webpage to highlight this alleged unfair and incorrect reporting. (It should be noted that media outlets contacted by this office generally refused to issue the requested corrections.) It is well known that facts have a liberal bias.

It appears that this war room project was abandoned after Mr Rumsfeld was thrown under the bus by Mr Bu$h following the November, 2006 elections. There hasn’t been an update since November 21st.

In what could be considered as a logical next step in this policy of isolationism, the DoD is now expanding its network of vacation resorts in the states so troops won’t have to mingle with those defeatists which now comprise 70% of the citizenry.

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) - The United States military is adding Virginia's oceanfront to such destinations as Hawaii and Germany where servicemembers and their families can get some affordable rest and relaxation.

The Armed Forces Recreation Center in Virginia Beach joins other locations in Orlando, Florida, Germany, Hawaii and South Korea that have been serving military families and civilians who work for the U.S. Department of Defense since 1946.

Adding the new resort is part of the adaptation to an "increasingly continental United States based" military that is bringing back significant numbers of soldiers from Germany and Korea, said Rich Gorman, chief operating officer of the command based near Washington.

The Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command assumed responsibility of a 93-room set of cabins and bungalows in April, but plans to expand the property over the next two years with additional rooms and conference facilities. Feet from the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, the Virginia Beach resort called Cape Henry Inn has been open for about 12 years under local management.

A key point is the word “affordable” because it’s true these resorts are operated at a net loss, and are generally less expensive than comparable civilian centers. It’s also worth noting that troops are being brought back from Germany and Korea so as to facilitate feeding them into Iraq, and not as a concerted policy of withdrawal. The US military maintains a presence in over 65 countries.

"The reason for operating these places was for rest and recuperation for war-weary soldiers and that really continues to be the focus today," Gorman said.

War-weary soldiers deserve all this, and more. I can’t help but feel that establishing a military environment that is separate from the national community is a very bad idea.