Pentagon pays Iraqi papers to print its 'good news' stories

[emad]

Jamie Wilson in Washington
Thursday December 1, 2005
The Guardian


Faced with suicide bombings, claims of Iraqi death squads, and kidnappings, the Pentagon has come up with an innovative solution to solving the problems in Iraq: buying good news. Using defence contractors or intermediaries posing as freelance reporters, the military has been paying Iraqi newspapers to publish stories written by a military propaganda unit lauding the US mission.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the articles are translated into Arabic and placed in Baghdad newspapers where they are often presented as unbiased accounts by independent journalists. Records obtained by the newspaper indicate the US has paid to publish dozens of articles since the operation began this year, with headlines such as "Iraqis insist on living despite terrorism" and "more money goes to Iraq's development".

One military official told the LA Times the military has also bought an Iraqi newspaper and taken control of a radio station, both used to channel pro-American messages. The propaganda offensive is said to have caused unease among some senior military officials at the Pentagon and in Iraq, especially when the US is promising to promote democratic principles.

At a press conference on Tuesday defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the number of "free" media organisations in Iraq was one of its great success stories, offering a "relief valve" for the Iraqi public to debate the issues of the day.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1654661,00.html

[emad]

1. Rummy's 'Good News Bible' re-write?

?