I don't have nearly enough information to 100% accurately gauge whether what happened was truly beyond the pale. It seems, however, that the information went beyond advertising and opinion pieces (I'm paraphrasing) to having articles placed without divulging the source or that Iraqi journalists were paid to "write positive accounts".
What I do think is that eventually the war will end and our reputation afterwards will be an important factor in how we'll be able to deal with the new regimes. That's why stories of torture, planted news stories ... stories that reflect so badly on what the United States represents abroad (or should I say how I hope it's regarded abroad) cause a frisson of something to go down my back. I wish I was able to articulate my feelings better than that.
Janet