"There is no reason that the same arrangement could not work now."
In past wars, I think any press reporter who violated the cpnfidentiality of a military operation would have been subjected to some serious jail time.
I don't think the press itself would stand for that these days; therefore, the Bush Administration is doing the only prudent thing: Limiting the war between the pentagon and the press by limiting the press' access to the war on terrorism.
If the press wants a story, they must work for it. The Pentagon will hand them little or nothing. As it should be with a "neutral press" I might add.