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This TPM reader makes a compelling case. This certainly seems like an effort to deny Tenet's claims some weekend air time. Notably, the AP version of the story Fox is running doesn't mention that Al-Hadi was captured and taken into US custody in late 2006, i.e. five months ago. For that, you have to read NBC's take:
In other words, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman announced today that Pentagon officials bravely took al-Hadi into custody last week -- from a prison cell at Guantanamo Bay - where the CIA apparently took him, having gotten ahold of him half a year ago (and kept him in apparently still continuing secret detention facilty). Whitman wouldn't reveal how or when al-Hadi, an Iraqi Kurd, was taken into custody at the press conference today. Perhaps he and his department are justifiably cagey on that score (US official denied he was taken into custody in Pakistan or Iran, saying only he was nabbed trying to return to Iraq); but by seemingly announcing this as if to portray that the military had captured a major al Qaeda operative just now, they also risk appearing game to help administration spinmeisters try to knock more unpleasant headlines lower down the rungs.U.S. intelligence sources told NBC News that al-Hadi was taken into custody in late 2006 and has provided the CIA with hundreds of leads into al-Qaida operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Along those lines, the Tillman and Lynch disinformation operations would also seem to be potential violations of the law, involving the Pentagon mounting full-fledged propaganda operations to deliberately mislead the American public. A lawyer reader informs me that the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act, 22 USC 1461 et seq. prohibits the domestic distribution of propaganda. Today, the House Oversight committee asked the White House and Defense Department "officials up the chain of command to provide the Oversight Committee with any communications relating to the death of Corporal Pat Tillman."