Officials Defend Pentagon's Iraq Propaganda Campaign (Warner & Pace)

[sabra]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177526,00.html

Officials Defend Pentagon's Iraq Propaganda Campaign

WASHINGTON — A key senator and the country's top military commander said Friday that a Pentagon propaganda program was part of an effort to "get the truth out" in Iraq.

Leaving a Pentagon meeting with Defense Department officials, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, R-Va., said the program, which pays to plant favorable stories with Iraqi journalists and newspapers, is a serious problem.

But Warner told The Associated Press that, "Things like this happen. It's a war. The disinformation that's going on in that country is really affecting the effectiveness of what we're achieving, and we have no recourse but to try and do some rebuttal information."

And Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added that, "We want to get the facts out. We want to get the truth out."

[benddem]

1. $100,000,000.00????

I'd do it for 11/2 that.

[Loonman]

2. The old PRAVDA would have loved these guys

Along with Leni Riefenstehl.

[classysassy]

3. Warner the windbag

isn't it time you retired Sen.Windbag.?

[Alpharetta]

4. The White House is "concerned", but just in case

Yes we are concerned about this, the White House says. But still it's the right thing to do.

Basically we're concerned we have no idea whether a free press is important to democracy. We're concerned we are alienating everyone in Iraq with our obvious propaganda, but screw them anyway because we're at war.

[rodeodance]

5. The Pentagon has spoken--there is no problem Warner. Now go away.

[rodeodance]

6. things happen----its a war. sounds like Rummy talk to me.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

7. Pentagon Describes Iraq Propaganda Plan

Dec 2, 5:01 PM (ET)

By LOLITA C. BALDOR

(AP) Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John Warner, R-Va., talks to reporters on Capitol...
Full Image



WASHINGTON (AP) - Military officials in Baghdad for the first time Friday described a Pentagon program that pays to plant stories in the Iraqi media, an effort the top U.S. military commander said was part of an effort to "get the truth out" there.

The U.S. officials in Iraq said articles had been offered and published in Iraqi newspapers "as a function of buying advertising and opinion/editorial space, as is customary in Iraq."

The idea has been criticized in the United States, and John Warner, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, went to the Pentagon Friday for an explanation. President Bush's spokesman said the White House was "very concerned."

Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a military spokesman in Iraq, said that third parties - which would include the Washington-based Lincoln Group - were used to market the stories to reduce the risk to the publishers.


"If any part of our process does not have our full confidence, we will examine that activity and take appropriate action," he said in a statement. "If any contractor is failing to perform as we have intended, we will take appropriate action.

He also defended the program as critical to the war effort.

"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," his statement said.

Leaving a Pentagon meeting with Defense Department officials in Washington, Warner, R-Va., said the program was a serious problem.

But Warner told The Associated Press that, "Things like this happen. It's a war. The disinformation that's going on in that country is really affecting the effectiveness of what we're achieving, and we have no recourse but to try and do some rebuttal information."

And Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added that, "We want to get the facts out. We want to get the truth out."

Warner met with chief Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita and members of Pace's staff, but only bumped into Pace on his way out of the building.

Meanwhile, a Pentagon spokesman said Friday it was not clear whether the program violated the law or Pentagon policy, a Defense Department spokesman said Friday.

"You can do something perfectly legal, but that is inconsistent with the policy or procedures of the department. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's the right thing to do," said spokesman Bryan Whitman.

He said the department is still gathering information on the matter.

Warner initially requested a Capitol Hill briefing for the committee, but committee spokesman John Ullyot said those plans were changed "at the Pentagon's request."

Whitman said the department was still gathering information about the program and the multimillion-dollar contracts that included paying Iraqi newspapers and journalists to plant favorable stories about the war and the rebuilding effort.

"We don't have all the facts," he said, including whether or not defense officials in Iraq knew exactly what was happening or whether they believed any of it was improper.

Military officials in Iraq say the program is a critical tool on the Iraq battleground.

"The purpose of this program is to ensure factual information is provided to the Iraqi public," Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a U.S. military spokesman, said in Iraq.

But Congress members and the White House have expressed concern.

"A free and independent press is critical to the functioning of a democracy, and I am concerned about any actions which may erode the independence of the Iraqi media," Warner said earlier.

One of the companies involved - the Washington-based Lincoln Group - has at least two contracts with the military to provide media and public relations services. One contract, for $6 million, was for public relations and advertising work in Iraq and involved planting favorable stories in the Iraqi media, Defense Department records show.

The other Lincoln contract, which is with the Special Operations Command, is worth up to $100 million over five years for media operations with video, print and Web-based products. That contract is not related to the dispute over propaganda and was not for services in Iraq, according to command spokesman Ken McGraw.

The Lincoln Group shares that Special Operations contract with SYColeman, a division of L-3 Communications, and Science Applications International Corp., a San Diego-based defense contractor.

The program came to light just as President Bush released his strategy for victory in Iraq. It includes the need to support a "free, independent and responsible Iraqi media."

"We're very concerned," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. "We are seeking more information from the Pentagon."

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., characterized the program as a scheme that "speaks volumes about the president's credibility gap. If Americans were truly welcomed in Iraq as liberators, we wouldn't have to doctor the news for the Iraqi people."

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20051202/D8E8C8B01.html?PG=home&SEC=news

[JWS]

8. Well, if it works here, why not there right? n/t

[warrens]

9. Didja ever think...

That the reason no one believes a word you fascists say is because of cute little tricks like this and Armstrong Williams and stuffing Rush Limbaugh down the troops' throats and all your other sleazeball right wing stunts?

Scumbags.

[madmark]

10. Well the Bushco is just teaching the Iraqi how to manage the press just

like they do.

[MasonJar]

11. Bushco democracy at work.

[spindrifter]

12. Checking out Lincoln

on SourceWatch gives some rather startling bits of info.
For example, this approximately 6 yr. old company is partially run by Brits with experience in various psyop and other odd fields. They are into heavy industry development, as well. And, from their own webpage one learns that they have participated in the AspenInst. Summit.

Just tell me-why are we paying them as much as $20 mill. to make the Iraqis think good thoughts about us? I thought our own military personnel were handing out free candy and inviting the Iraqis to free medical clinics.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lincoln_Group

For LG's webpage:

http://www.lincolngroup.com/

[LibDemAlways]

13. How many billions of taxpayer dollars has

the Bush crime family wasted? They bombed the shit out of Iraq with their "shock and awe" and then launched a paid propaganda campaign to try and convince the Iraqis that we're the good guys? They'd have better luck selling them oceanfront property in Baghdad.

[IChing]

14. The village voice had an amusing article on this

And Now, the Fake News From Iraq
Our top 10 suggested headlines for the Pentagon's new, new journalism
by Jason Vest
December 2nd, 2005 9:46 AM>>>>snip

1. Longtime Residents Applaud US Marine-Led Urban Renewal Project in Falluja; "Thank Allah They Got Rid of A Bad Element and Worse Architecture," Says Woman on Street

2. 25-30% of Iraqi Workforce Enjoys Extended and Well-Earned "Post-Saddam Holiday"

3. Baghdad Among Top World Cities for Electricity Conservation

4. US Department of Education-sponsored Media Training Program "Honored and Enlightened" by Visit From Distinguished American Journalists Armstrong Williams and Judith Miller

5. New Ministry of Interior Torturers Far Cry From Saddam Era; Only "Some Skin" Peeled Off Now, Say Victims

6. Dangerous Italian Driving Habits Prompt Stern Traffic Enforcement in Baghdad
( I really liked this one)
7. All-American MPs Bring Cheerleading to Abu Ghraib; "They really love to do the pyramid," say Coaches Graner and England

8. Islamist Terrorist Defects, Renounces Allegiance to "Osama bin Loony"

9. Ahmed Chalabi: The Best Man Ever

10. Mission Accomplished

http://villagevoice.com/news/0549,vest,70643,2.html

[Maestro]

15. NYT: Military Admits Planting News in Iraq

Senator John W. Warner of Virginia, who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters after receiving a 25-minute briefing from officials at the Pentagon that senior commanders in Iraq were trying to get to the bottom of a program that apparently also paid monthly stipends to friendly Iraqi journalists.

Mr. Warner said there had been no indications yet that the paid propaganda had been false. But he said that disclosures that an American company, under contract to the Pentagon, was making secret payments to plant articles with positive messages about the United States military mission could undermine the Bush administration's goals in Iraq and jeopardize Iraq's developing democratic institutions. "I remain gravely concerned about the situation," he said.

He said he had been told that the articles or advertisements were intended to counter disinformation in the Iraqi news media that was hurting the American military's efforts to stabilize the country.

Under the program, the Lincoln Group, a Washington-based public relations firm working in Iraq, was hired to translate articles written by American troops into Arabic and then, in many cases, give them to advertising agencies for placement in the Iraqi news media.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/politics/03propaganda.html

Just wow! The propaganda machine just keeps rolling and started soon after the invasion. Is this what democracy is all about? If the Iraqis were so grateful to have us there, why did the military feel the need to plant positive articles? :eyes:

[asjr]

16. Warner will look into it and decide propaganda is a good thing.

[Oceansaway]

17. no doubt.....

[LibDemAlways]

18. How dumb does the Pentagon think

the Iraqi people are? We illegally invade their country, bomb the shit out of it, destroy their infrastructure, raid their homes, kill or maim many thousands, steal their resources, attempt to occupy indefinitely......and the Pentagon thinks some paid "feel good" stories planted in the press are going to change minds? It would be easier to sell the average Baghdad resident ocean front property in the Green Zone.

The Bush Crime Family is out of its collective mind.