Bush Loyalists Pack Iraq Press Office

[donsu]

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20040404/D81O4P080.html

Inside the marble-floored palace hall that serves as the press office of the U.S.-led coalition, Republican Party operatives lead a team of Americans who promote mostly good news about Iraq.

Dan Senor, a former press secretary for Spencer Abraham, the Michigan Republican who's now Energy Secretary, heads the office packed with former Bush campaign workers, political appointees and ex-Capitol Hill staffers.

One-third of the U.S. civilian workers in the press office have GOP ties, running an enterprise that critics see as an outpost of Bush's re-election effort with Iraq a top concern. Senor and others inside the coalition say they follow strict guidelines that steer clear of politics.

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"Beautification Plan for Baghdad Ready to Begin," one press release in late March said in its headline. Another statement last month cautioned, "The Reality is Nothing Like What You See on Television."
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"Beautification Plan for Baghdad Ready to Begin,"
what a slap in the face this is to the Iraqis, but then this news isn't for the Iraqis it's for us americans.

do you believe we are making Baghdad beautiful?

and as a final excerpt:

"One CPA staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the press office had sent targeted "good news" releases to American television, radio and newspaper outlets that were timed to deflect criticism of Bush during the Democratic primaries."

Bring The Troops Home NOW