Astroturf from soldiers

A Gannett News Service investigation has found a bunch of identical letters to the editor in local newspapers allegedly from soldiers in Iraq. The letters describe the situation over there in generally rosy terms, at one point asserting that the "quality of life and security for the citizens has been largely restored, and we [the US military] are a large part of why that has happened."

As of now, it's not clear who is behind this campaign to publish the letters.

Update: This story has since blown up and made its way into the mainstream media. Apparently, the commander of the 503rd Infantry has fessed up to authoring the letter.