The Pentagon is not a news agnecy and in fact has as one of its objectives to deceive the Iraqis. Yes, Bowser, that may mean misinforming everyone else for a short time as well. If saying 8000 Iraqis have surrendered encourages other Iraqis to surrender than the misinformation is an effective weapon. During the first Gulf War there were reports marines had landed on the islands off the coast of Kuwait. this never occurred in fact but it kept the Republican Guards stuck in their positions until other US forces circled in around them. Clearly everything said in pentagon new conferences needs to be viewed through a filter that they are trying to win a war.