U.S. Military Paying Iraqi Editors To Publish Propaganda

[FORD]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Yeah, pretty much...

I've looked into Ollie North, Contra affair, etc...

So why do you continue to believe anything the BCE says?

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by Cathedral
You'll get no argument from me, I was under the impression we were against communism, but we for some reason have MADE IN CHINA stamped on every damn thing we buy.

I wonder why we support communism is all.

That's the thing, CHINESE "communism" is beginning to resemble old-school European fascism more than anything else, it's a one-party state with much of their economy now a free market, but without all the nice trappings like democracy, humanism, or individual freedom. With Soviet/Stalinist style communism, the economy sucked. But with Fascism, they can actually build a socialist/free market mix and a strong economic system, and possible dominate their sphere of the world without any internal democratic checks on their power. The scariest thing of all...

Hopefully, their rhetoric is true, and they will seek to begin gradually to hold democratic elections, until all levels of the government are representative...

[blueturk]

U.S. Admits to Paying Iraqi Newspapers

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201454.html

U.S. Admits to Paying Iraqi Newspapers

By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 2, 2005; 5:33 PM

The U.S. military in Iraq today acknowledged paying to place news articles in Iraqi publications, saying the practice was a necessary part of "information operations" to counter extensive "propaganda" by insurgents.

"The information battlespace in Iraq is contested at all times and is filled with misinformation and propaganda by an enemy intent on discrediting the Iraqi government and the Coalition, and who are taking every opportunity to instill fear and intimidate the Iraqi people," said a statement issued by the U.S. military's Combined Press Information Center in Bahgdad.

The statement did not make clear whether the U.S. military has paid Iraqi journalists to put certain information in their stories, as has been reported.

In Washington, Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters after receiving a Pentagon briefing on the subject that he remains "gravely concerned about this situation." He expressed support for placing paid material -- equivalent to advertising -- in Iraqi newspapers to counter enemy "disinformation," but he said it would be wrong to plant stories by paying off Iraqi journalists to include certain information in their articles. He said he did not know whether that is happening, adding that "more facts are needed until that conclusion can be reached."

The U.S. military statement said that "information operations" were essential "for commanders to ensure the Iraqi population has current, truthful and reliable information."

It said, "As part of our operations, we have offered articles for publication to Iraqi newspapers, and in some cases articles have been accepted and published as a function of buying advertising and opinion/editorial space, as is customary in Iraq. Third parties have been employed in an effort to mitigate the risk to publishers. The procedures for doing so undergo policy and legal review to ensure compliance with the law and regulations."

The statement said "serious allegations" suggest that "the process may be functioning in a manner different than is intended or appropriate." The allegations are being reviewed, and any improprieties will be investigated, the statement said.

"Information operations are powerful and essential to military success," the statement stressed. "As such, it requires commander involvement and discipline to ensure it is used properly."

Warner said he was concerned about "any actions that could undermine the credibility of our great nation and indeed the profession of journalism." But the military in Iraq faces "a serious problem . . . and that is disinformation," he said. "An enormous amount of information is being fed the Iraqi press, both written and television, that is just plain factually wrong."

As part of its efforts to counter this disinformation, Warner said, the military has contracted with the Lincoln Group, a private firm that deals with Iraqi publications.

He said the Pentagon briefers "told me that all material passed to the Iraqi media through the Lincoln Group is represented as originating with coalition forces." He said the Lincoln Group "is authorized to provide payment for placement of this material in Iraqi newspapers," similar to the way that "any advertiser, marketer or public relations firm would place advertisements."

Warner said he was told that part of the program was classified, but he declined to speculate on whether that part had to do with payments to Iraqi reporters.

"I'm not here to confirm that the payoffs were right or wrong or took place," Warner said. "We simply don't have all the facts."

He said in response to a subsequent question that he agreed it would be wrong if the military was "putting money into somebody's pocket to write a story."

[Katydid]

Don't you think a well placed and worded report of true facts from Coalition forces would conteract what Al Jazerea is spounting off on television to some extent?

And why is that a bad thing?

Seems our war on terror is not only won by word as well as weapon if you will...

We owe it to the people whom we are helping defend their freedoms to make them aware of facts.

Otherwise they turn on their tvs and see insurgents and old Baath party hardliners who make them feel like, "What are we accomplishing?" "When will the troops leave and let thing go back the way they were when Hussein and his sons still ruled." "So what if people were ruled by a dictator and were beheaded in the town square?" "What has Hussein and his henchmen ever done to you?"
"Now you have American money and all Saddams and his billions we recovered and hid no good."

Sort of the way Democrats/Liberals make me feel when they start saying, " What are we accomplishing over in Iraq?" "When will our troops come home and let things go back the way they were before Bush accused Hussein of having weapons of mass destruction." "So what if people are ruled by a dictator who beheads them in the town square..."What has Hussein ever done to us?" (Susan Saradon) " With Bush in office our money is going to finance the war." (never mind pay our troops and their families).

Just seems like the Liberals in USA are more in line with the old Republican Baath party under Hussein...

I'm sure you will let me hear your thoughts on this very serious matter.

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by Katydid


I'm sure you will let me hear your thoughts on this very serious matter.

Nah,

pass.

[blueturk]

Originally posted by Katydid


I'm sure you will let me hear your thoughts on this very serious matter.

Based on some of your previous posts, I'm surprised that you don't already think you hear my thoughts (and other assorted voices)...

[Wayne L.]

The ONLY propaganda is coming from the U. S. news media more so than the president & the military because they're for the other side.

[FORD]

Originally posted by Wayne L.
The ONLY propaganda is coming from the U. S. news media more so than the president & the military because they're for the other side.

Didn't we all miss Wayne's foot sniffingly "brilliant" analysis, guys?