The Pentagon’s top brass seems to have stepped in a steaming pile of irony today.

According to the Post, the America Supports You Freedom Walk (known more simply as the Freedom Walk), set to take place this Sunday and show support for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and memorialize those who died in the 9/11 attacks, is facing increased restrictions on both participation and media coverage. The route, which will wind its way from the Pentagon to the Mall, will be lined with fences four feet high to prevent unregistered participants from, errr, freely joining in the march. More notably, members of the media will be corralled in three enclosed areas along the walk’s route, forbidden from actually joining in and walking alongside participants. They will be free to cover the event from those select areas, though.

The walk’s organizers justify the measures as a means to better ensure security at the post walk flag-waving Clint Black concert, which is set to host anywhere from 3,000-10,000 people.

The walk gained attention early on when the Post announced, and then retracted, its sponsorship of the event, though the Washington Times faithfully stepped in to take its place. Critics also note that the walk slyly tries to link the 9/11 attacks with the current war in Iraq, which, they contend, is misleading.

Those wishing to participate are free to do so, provided they register by 4:30 p.m. today.