ABC Evening news: Colonel confesses to originating form letter

[karlschneider]

Lt. Col Caracillo (sp?) admits it. No link on TV just now

[Mz Pip]

1. Bet he'll get

s special medal from Bush.

MzPip
:dem:

[saigon68]

30. TOTAL AND COMPLETE BULLSHIT

This shit is forbidden by numerous regulations. It is creating PROPAGANDA.

It is a violation of numerous articles of the UCMJ, forgery, etc.

It is even worse if this WEASEL Colonel forced his people to sign this piece of propaganda. He has now singled his people out for a little "flower throwing" by the citizen's resisting the illegal US occupation.

[GalleryGod]

53. I Concur 100% That was my opinion on the Rules & Regs

Governing this kind of stuff!:argh:
Just HOW corrupt can they get?
MUCH more! MUCH more....
WAG the DOG will be with us soon!

[Zan_of_Texas]

33. I wonder if it's true

I wonder if the Lt. Colonel is falling on his sword for somebody higher.

When I read the complete letter, I immediately spotted some language that Bush uses, that crap about "our freedoms". I never hear anyone else use that term, just Bush. Other people say, "our freedom" or "free speech" or whatever -- Bush calls it "our freedoms" (pronounced Free Dumbs in his unique cadence).

So, did the Colonel crib from a Bush speech? Or???????

[radfringe]

52. ABC link

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/World/iraq031013_letters-1.html
Letters Home Soldiers’s Glowing Accounts of Success in Iraq Success Were Written by Commander
By Martha Raddatz


Oct. 13 -- The letters appeared in roughly 12 newspapers across the country. From Massachusetts to California, and many places in between, family members and local newspapers received letters from soldiers of the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Infantry Regiment detailing their successes in northern Iraq.

Each letter was signed by a different soldier, but the words were identical:

"Kirkuk is a hot and dusty city of just over a million people. The majority of the city has welcomed our presence with open arms. After nearly five months here, the people still come running from their homes, into the 110-degree heat, waving to us as our troops drive by on daily patrols of the city. Children smile and run up to shake hands and in their broken English shouting, "Thank you, Mister."

Amy Connell, of Sharon, Mass., knew as soon as she received the letter from her son Adam that he did not write it. "He's 20 years old and I don't think his language or his writing ability would have entailed that kind of description," she said.

She was right. Her son didn't write the letter. In an e-mail to ABCNEWS today, the commander of the battalion, Lt. Col. Dominic Caraccilo, said the "letter-writing initiative" was all his idea.

Caraccilo said he circulated the form letter to his soldiers to give them "an opportunity to let their respective hometowns know what they are accomplishing here in Kirkuk. As you might expect, they are working at an extremely fast pace and getting the good news back home is not always easy. We thought it would be a good idea to encapsulate what we as a battalion have accomplished since arriving Iraq and share that pride with people back home."

[alcuno]

2. I saw that, but the CBS report was odd.

It said that the letter was written by a group of soldiers. NBC was reporting on the "happy Iraqis."

[oxycontinrush]

6. The Colonel's staff would be a "group of soldiers"

Colonel and his aide could be accurately reported as a group of soldiers.

[alcuno]

20. That's why they call it spin.

When Americans think of a group of soldiers, they are not thinking of the Colonel and his staff.

[Nottingham]

3. Admits What?? the letter to the Newspapers

:bounce:

[karlschneider]

5. Yes, the astroturf letter. Sorry didn't put more detail, he claimed a

"group" of his wrote it, he edited it and passed it around for signatures. Nobody was "forced" to sign it.
:eyes:

[ParanoidPat]

8. At least one person didn't even know....

....he signed it! (Or that he mailed it to his hometown newspaper!) :evilgrin:

[Barrett808]

10. Yes, because he was in the hospital recovering from shrapnel wounds

From an Iraqi grenade. "What letter?" was his response to his father.

[Flying_Pig]

4. Propaganda 101. What, did the grunts who signed the letters get

out of KP or something? This guy should be court marshaled, and drummed.

[Nottingham]

7. Another example of where Kissing up to Bush gives ya Pain

When will these people learn this guy is contaminated :bounce:

[Rose Siding]

9. How is it that these guys were so in tune with

the Bush admin's new attempt to show "good news"?

How do they know what's being reported here? Do they get any US news about Iraq at all? Do they get Fox? Has Fox been putting the war news in such an unfavorable light that all these soldiers were motivated to try and correct it en masse?

The letter even says "...if you've been watching the news lately, there is a lot you haven't heard … and a lot of what you HAVE heard is WRONG."

HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT!!!???

Fish-eeeeee.

[snippy]

27. Excellent point. I think it may have originated in the White House as an

operation of the White House Iraq Group run by Andy Card. However, I did notice that today some other asshole claimed that he was in charge of Iraq policy, so maybe he wrote it.

[Barrett808]

11. Originating it is one thing; spamming it to newspapers is quite another

Who did the astroturfing? Gotta think Rove had a hand in it, as part of the Bush mafia's new propaganda campaign.

[0007]

18. Absolutely!

'Tis all part of the game plan to put junior in good light.

[Wickerman]

21. Since when is Roe the part of any Col.'s staff?

I thought he was on staff of a coke-head, drunk-driving, dyslexic AWOL 1st Lt?

:shrug:

No offense inteded to dyslexics. Or cokeheads.

[Snoopy2]

12. I thought ABC reported that the Lt. Col. admitted to it via e-mail.

Could it be an e-mail type of form letter that he sent? I am surprised that ABC was not able to get him or any of his people on a phone or send one of their reporters up there.

The reasoning sounded very suspicious to me. Josh Marshall from Talking Points Memo will be discussing it tonight on Aaron Brown. He has some very interesting info about these form letters on his site.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. ABC just did a whitewash report

Oh yeah, no big deal. The guy in charge of the unit at Kirkuk, thought it would be a great idea for his troops to write a letter, to let the world know what a great job they were doing there. So he went ahead and had someone write up a letter and then some people checked the letter and then he approved of it and had copies made for each person to sign. Of course, no one was forced to sign the letters (yeah right). Jennings just glossed over the fact that some of the soldiers didn't even know about or sign the letters themselves, which in the old days was considered fraud. No big deal, just a bunch of overzealous soldiers trying to let everyone know they're having a good old time back in Iraq.

He did mention that this story has been going around the internet, score another one for the home team.

[Flubadubya]

17. Watch Jennings more closely...

Some of what looks to be "whitewashing" is really very artful juxtaposition and jockeying of soundbites that really don't make Bushco look good at all if you are paying close attention.

One example is how he pointed out that Bush was out today slamming the media for just showing the negative aspects of the Iraqi situation, then he seguéd directly into the latest violence in Baghdad basically saying that, even though showing the "good stuff" is what Bush wants, he will continue to report what is really happening and what is newsworthy. I saw it as a real snub to the Commander in Thief.

If you will observe carefully, Jennings will never say anything that could be directly construed as a biased or opinionated reference. He sticks to direct quotes and facts. Nevertheless, he certainly has a way of presenting those facts to make his point. Believe me, the man doesn't cotton to the crime family. No way!

[alcuno]

19. I agree with your assessment.

First he reported on the administration's attempt to "spin" good news stories, then he reported on the form letters. Very clever.

[judgegina]

24. I saw that...

Right after Jennings reported on Bush* complaining that the media was focusing only on the violence in Iraq, he reported on the 3 new American deaths. It was quite a slap at Chimpy.

[IndianaGreen]

40. Kirkuk? Didn't we lose a GI there a few days ago?

A Humvee hit a mine and we had casualties in peaceful Kirkuk.

Two Iraqis killed in countrywide protests

Saturday 04 October 2003, 15:09 Makka Time, 12:09 GMT

Soldier killed

A US soldier was killed and another wounded late on Friday in another incident in southwest Baghdad, according to the US military.

In a statement released on Saturday, the US said soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division were attacked at 11.45pm (2045 GMT) by at least one rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire.

Three attacks were launched overnight on Iraqi police officials and occupation forces in the northern Iraqi oil centre of Kirkuk.

A grenade was hurled at the home of the city's police chief, Sabah Bahlul Karatun, at 12 noon (0900 GMT) on Friday, said Khattab Abd Allah, director of Kirkuk's emergency police unit.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DCF3FBCD-A7C6-4277-B84A-3C083CF753E6.htm

[kodi]

14. BTW this isn't how the military voted by absentee ballot in 2000 is it?

just wondering

[AntiCoup2K4]

49. I've always had a theory about where those mystery ballots came from....

Kinda funny how Poppy decided to take an overseas vacation the morning after an unfinished election with his son's future (and presumably the nations) hanging in the balance. Odd for either a father OR an ex President. Unless he had some motivation to do so, like helping Junior's chances.

[JackSwift]

15. Several criminal law violations

Forgery of signatures. Mail fraud in sending forged documents through the mail. Violation of Hatch Act in using public funds to advance a political point of view. Propaganda value for the Junta: priceless.

[FrenchieCat]

16. This only shows desperation!

That, of course, will not turn into a scandal....THANK YOU BUSH MEDIA!

[Dogmudgeon]

22. Centurion! Fall on your sword for Ceasar!

--bkl

[dArKeR]

23. Dubious Letters From GIs In Iraq - CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/13/iraq/main577716.shtml

[The Backlash Cometh]

25. Why is everybody surprised?

The Republican party use to float the same opinion letter to all the major newspapers in the country with different names on them. It gave the false appearance that their point of view was broader than it really was. The newspapers are on to this sleazy manuever. They have a name for it.

On edit: DUer's are way ahead of me. Just read the rest of the posts. Astroturfing.

[RobertSeattle]

26. Davil's advocate here

I think the Battalion Commander in question was trying to be Johnny "Do Gooder" and this was just his way of going about it. I doubt this was something that started at DOD/Rummy and made it's way down to just this battalion. The troops in question were probably just trying to made the LTC happy and (maybe) get on the early list for that 2 week R&R.

I bet ten bucks a directive has/will go down about "no form letters to the editors" from the troops - perhaps encouraging troops to write original letters back home - but no more of these phonies.

[dfong63]

28. so much for the supposedly "extraordinary honesty"of the officer corps

[Barrett808]

32. Possiblly true, but what a coincidence with the Bush mob's new PR campaign

Just a bit too convenient.

[maggrwaggr]

35. funny, I was thinking the exact opposite

I sorta doubt a colonel on the ground in Iraq would have the time/give a damn about letters such as these. Especially since the letters stated about what we're watching on TV here.

A colonel probably wouldn't do such a thing unless he was told to, otherwise he might think "hm, why shake the tree if I don't have to". Ya know?

Just basing this on my experience growing up as an Army brat, my dad was a colonel.

[Oilwellian]

39. The astroturf letter syndrome is nothing new

Another form letter hit newspapers last year before the war started, gushing over how great Bush was and how important it was that we go into Iraq. This propaganda method was hatched in the bowels of the Pentagon, imho.

[rocktivity]

45. This web site has a collection of eight such letters

http://www.failureisimpossible.com/dosomething


rocknation

[neuvocat]

29. That's just flat-out disgusting.

I don't ever remember such a blatant attempt by the military to perform such widespread deception.

[number6]

31. I saw it too...

the proganda machine grows ....

[Ilsa]

34. Here's the link for ABC News story

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/World/iraq031013_letters-1.html

ABC story link

[lindashaw]

37. Has FOX reported it? By the way, went to my first Clark MeetUp!

[MnFats]

36. I want to see the names of EVERY newspaper that ran this...

....and I want to know how many other such letters there were.
The Bush Administration reminds me more of Nixon every day. Remember the Canuck Letter? Came straight out of the White House.

I think of Bush being impeached -- forced out of office just like Nixon.

Yet unlike Nixon, I worry that Bush would refuse to leave office and flood D.C. with troops, suspend civil liberties and cancell elections due to 'instability.'

And remember when Goldwater, Hugh Scott and three or four other Republican senators had the good sense to go up to the White House and tell Nixon he had to leave for the good of the country....Can you picture Lott, Hastert, Delay et. al. doing that? Neither can I. In fact, all they'd want to do is get past the ring of soldiers and into the White House to save their own asses......

[saigon68]

38. reminds me more of Nixon every day.

Its really Nazi Germany and Joseph Goebbels

[grasswire]

41. someone on another thread...

...said it sounded as if a PR consulting firm had written the letter -- that the language was similar to what is used in fundraising direct mail appeals.

I doubt the colonel story very much.

[saigon68]

43. Maybe you are right

These people think they are slick.--- Its hard to get a rose to stop a manure pile from smelling

[diamond14]

46. nixon left to avoid prison...and shrub will do the same...

the shrub has been really upsetting the BIG money people AND the CIA...and if THEY decide to pull a nixon, it will need to happen soon to keep the reTHUGlicans in power....

the nixon shuffle: cheney leaves for 'health reasons' and continues to run haliburton behind the scenes, bush* chooses his new VP (anyone selected by the carlyle group), then bush* leaves, flying away in the pResidential helicopter to talk to the cows in crawford texas...the selected VP assumes the pResidency and annoints the new VP (also selected by carlyle group)...the new pResident/VP run for office in 2004, and get selected by diebold...



thanks to http://bartcop.com

[rocktivity]

42. Three words: "We, the undersigned..."

Why did they have to PRETEND? If it was actually a group letter, it should have BEEN a group letter! It could have been voluntarily signed and sent to each signer's hometown newspaper. It still would have been a sappy feel-good PR stunt, but at least it would have been ethically correct!


rocknation

[neverforget]

44. Those soldiers who said they didn't sign the letter will probably

get put on the worst duty possible now....mine clearing.

[Fridays Child]

51. Like Sgt. Shawn Grueser?

-snip-

Sgt. Shawn Grueser of Poca, W.Va., said he spoke to a military public affairs officer whose name he couldn't remember about his accomplishments in Iraq for what he thought was a news release to be sent to his hometown paper in Charleston, W.Va.

But the 2nd Battalion soldier said he did not sign any letter.

Although Grueser said he agrees with the letter's sentiments, he was uncomfortable that a letter with his signature did not contain his own words or spell out his own accomplishments.

"It makes it look like you cheated on a test, and everybody got the same grade," Grueser said by phone from a base in Italy where he had just arrived from Iraq.

-snip-

http://www.tulareadvanceregister.com/news/stories/20031011/localnews/436770.html

[TacticalPeek]

47. Smells like the Office of Goebbels Communications.

I mean the Office of Global Communications, per executive order 21 JAN 03.

"Also, from time to time, OGC facilitates the organization of teams of communicators to be sent proactively to foreign or domestic areas of high global interest and media attention."

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00108.htm

The office's first report, issued almost immediately, was
"Apparatus of Lies: Saddam's Disinformation and Propaganda 1990-2003." The office is headed by Tucker Eskew,
a soft-spoken but brass-knuckles political operative who ran Bush's South Carolina presidential primary campaign.

http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/medialies.html


If you've forgotten Tucker Eskew:

http://fpc.state.gov/16841.htm

[johnnywalker]

48. Colonel confesses to originating form letter

he's taking a bullet for some admin offical. look for an early retirement. Then look for him on his new private beach in Maui.

[truthisfreedom]

50. well at least they're making use of the hundred billion dollars.

sigh.