U.S. Effort Aims to Improve Opinions About Iraq Conflict

[Rose Siding]

The Bush administration, battling negative perceptions of the Iraq war, is sending Iraqi Americans to deliver what the Pentagon calls "good news" about Iraq to U.S. military bases, and has curtailed distribution of reports showing increasing violence in that country.

The unusual public-relations effort by the Pentagon and the U.S. Agency for International Development comes as details have emerged showing the U.S. government and a representative of President Bush's reelection campaign had been heavily involved in drafting the speech given to Congress last week by interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. Combined, they indicate that the federal government is working assiduously to improve Americans' opinions about the Iraq conflict -- a key element of Bush's reelection message.

USAID said this week that it will restrict distribution of reports by contractor Kroll Security International showing that the number of daily attacks by insurgents in Iraq has increased. On Monday, a day after The Washington Post published a front-page story saying that "the Kroll reports suggest a broad and intensifying campaign of insurgent violence," a USAID official sent an e-mail to congressional aides stating: "This is the last Kroll report to come in. After the WPost story, they shut it down in order to regroup. I'll let you know when it restarts."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60725-2004Sep29.html?nav=rss_politics

[liveoaktx]

1. Censorship

[Newsjock]

2. Look at the page

Buried on page A freakin' 20!
Just like the old days of Pincus.

[Rose Siding]

3. They probably determined....

that this kind of news before an election is "inappropriate". Like CBS :grr:

[Eye and Monkey]

4. "good news about Iraq to U.S. military bases" - soldiers won't NOTICE - ??

that there's lotsa explosions, bullets flying, and guys who you know are dieing? Won't notice that nothing gets built, that they just shoot and get shot at?

What's the "good news" - that Allawi thinks the elections will be just fine fine fine? That Smirko is "staying the course"? That the impending scouring of 16 cities is just around the corner?

[grytpype]

6. "Hey look, here's an Iraqi that doesn't want to kill you!"

"See, it's not as bad as you think, guys! Now everyone fill out your absentee ballots and don't forget to vote straight Republican!!!!!"

[Eye and Monkey]

8. "The Bush administration...is sending Iraqi Americans" (ie "expatriates")

"Hey, troops, never mind that this puppet doesn't want to shoot you because he/she lives in the US, and he/she stands to make money off guvment contracts. Actually, not "stands to" - he/she IS making money 'cause at minimum we pay 'em lotsa dough to do our dog and pony show for you."

from the cited article:
"The Bush administration, battling negative perceptions of the Iraq war, is sending Iraqi Americans"

[grytpype]

9. You know, the article is not clear...

.. it's not clear where these "bases" are and who the audiences are.

Are these Iraqi Americans going to bases in the US to tell the soldiers everything is fine over there? Or are they going to bases in Iraq?

Either way, why couldn't they get real Iraqis to do it?

[grytpype]

5. Bush is losing the war.

Will Kerry have the guts to say it tomorrow?

"You are losing the war. I will win the war."

[FlemingsGhost]

10. The war is lost, friend.

It was a foregone conclusion, the moment the first bomb fell.

And so it goes ... when a rogue nation thumbs its nose to the world and illegally invades a sovereign nation, for the sake of a greedy, deluded political agenda. All that's left of this imperialistic debacle is to choose one of the two "exit strategies" now available to us:

1) Of our own will, with our tails between our legs, clinging to what's left of our collective dignity.

2) Thrown out on our sorry asses, in stunning fashion.

I suppose it all hinges on how much blood the U.S. is willing to give of its sons and daughters, in order to prop up the egoic illusion of moral and cultural superiority.

History suggests we will not choose wisely ...

(on edit:typo)

[grytpype]

7. Get this!!! Allawi's speech was written by the White House!!!

Buried in the article:

White House spokesman Scott McClellan, asked Tuesday about similarities between Bush's statements about Iraq and Allawi's speech to Congress last week, said he did not know of any help U.S. officials gave with the speech. "None that I know of," he said, adding, "No one at the White House." He also said he did not know if the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad had seen the speech.

But administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the prime minister was coached and aided by the U.S. government, its allies and friends of the administration. Among them was Dan Senor, former spokesman for the CPA who has more recently represented the Bush campaign in media appearances. Senor, who has denied writing the speech, sent Allawi recommended phrases. He also helped Allawi rehearse in New York last week, officials said. Senor declined to comment.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and British Foreign Service officials also helped Allawi with the text and delivery of his remarks, said administration officials who were involved. The State Department and officials elsewhere in the government took the lead in booking Allawi's interviews. Administration officials said that the Iraqi Embassy in Washington consists of just a few officials and has only a dial-up Internet connection, so was incapable of preparing for the high-profile tour.

[reticulatus]

13. Allawi is a spook

Allawi once "worked" for the CIA, but since this is a job for life, he is still a spook. Of course his masters wrote his speach for him. After all, they set him up as prime minister.

[saigon68]

14. Aha Sleeze Senor

Like a turd in the punch bowl he is still "FloatinG Around"

He's the nit wit who said, "We will kill the Criminal Al Sadr".

[SKKY]

11. So, let me ask you this...

...is it Eastasia, or Eurasia we're at war with now.

[FlemingsGhost]

12. We are at war with ourselves.

Everyone loses.

[auburngrad82]

15. I have good news and I have bad news...

The bad news is that almost 1200 coalition troops have been killed in Iraq and we are experiencing 2500 attacks per month on coalition and Iraqi security forces.

The good news is that our plan for Iraq is going well!

It's amazing how many people buy into the "going well" bullshit that "Our Opponent" keeps spouting.

[Rose Siding]

16. Won't this just make the military more cynical?

I mean, they're there! They see what's going on. The PR will work here because repubs just have to see Bush say it to swallow it whole.

[progressivebydesign]

17. Today's bombings have pretty much shot that plan to shit.. n/t