WALLACE: ... on that, sir? Excuse me. The president, as you say, talks about building democratic institutions. Does he view the U.S. military paying to plant stories in Iraqi newspapers as undermining a free and independent press?
HADLEY: The president was very disturbed about those reports. One of the reasons we are in Iraq is to help the Iraqis establish the institutions of democracy and freedom, and one of those, of course, is a free press and a free media. And so those reports are very troubling.
The Pentagon is looking into them. To the extent that kind of behavior is inconsistent with our policy, it will be stopped. Our policy is support a free media and get out truth, truth to Iraqis, truth to the American people about what is going on in Iraq.
WALLACE: So you're saying that there is going to be no more paying to plant stories in the Iraqi media.
HADLEY: They're investigating it. We need to know the facts. I've talked to Secretary Rumsfeld. He needs to know the facts. We don't at this point, but I think the policy of where we want to go -- the support for a free media, for truth about what's going on in Iraq -- that is the policy.
WALLACE: And does the president view these reports as inconsistent with that policy?
HADLEY: Yes. It's very troubling. And if it turns out to be true, I think you'll find that activity stopped.
[Transcript: National Security Adviser Hadley on 'FNS' - FOXnews - 12-04-05]
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