Senators demand answers about Pentagon propaganda program
Sen. Warner concerned that program will cripple Iraqi press
Friday, December 2, 2005; Posted: 9:41 a.m. EST (14:41 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon is struggling to answer questions, including those from Congress, about a military program that planted favorable stories in Iraqi media.
Defense Department officials, summoned to a briefing Friday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, have remained silent about the program. Multimillion-dollar contracts cover paying Iraqi newspapers and journalists to get into print such stories about the war and the rebuilding effort.
"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," said the committee chairman, Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia.
Military officials in Iraq say the program is necessary.
"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.
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-Massachusetts, 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."
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said late Thursday he was still trying to gather information from U.S. military officials in Baghdad.
A military spokesman in the Iraqi capital was asked if the program undercuts the credibility of the military or the news media. Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch quoted a senior al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, as saying that "half the battle is the battlefield of the media."
Lynch said the terrorists lie to the Iraqi people, but the American military does not.
"Everything we do is based on fact not based on fiction," Lynch said.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Pentagon propaganda program in Iraq
Moderator: Dictators in Training
Pentagon propaganda program in Iraq
Alezrik 65th level Arcanist Ex-Officer of Fist of Fate Nameless Server
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Scoota McGee
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I think perhaps a pre-requisite for a free-press in a nation is to not be in a state of sever unrest first. Should terrorist insurgent groups be provided a voice in the free-press as well? Should their be a free-press… of course… but people not getting killed in the streets should have priority.
"Liberals believe government should take people's earnings to give to poor people. Conservatives disagree. They think government should confiscate people's earnings and give them to farmers and insolvent banks. The compelling issue to both conservatives and liberals is not whether it is legitimate for government to confiscate one's property to give to another, the debate is over the disposition of the pillage."
-Dr. Walter Williams
-Dr. Walter Williams
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Captain Insano
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BLAME CANADA!
Tossica: No, you're gay because you suck on cocks.
Darcler:
Get rid of the pictures of the goofy looking white guy. That opens two right there.
Mazzletoffarado: That's me fucktard
Darcler:
Get rid of the pictures of the goofy looking white guy. That opens two right there.
Mazzletoffarado: That's me fucktard
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Captain Insano
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everytime I see the word propaganda I starting thinking about Sepultura songs.
Tossica: No, you're gay because you suck on cocks.
Darcler:
Get rid of the pictures of the goofy looking white guy. That opens two right there.
Mazzletoffarado: That's me fucktard
Darcler:
Get rid of the pictures of the goofy looking white guy. That opens two right there.
Mazzletoffarado: That's me fucktard
Vivalicious wrote:Lots of females don't want you to put your penis in their mouths. Some prefer it in their ass.
I don't think true free press exists. Everything put out by any form of media is a version of the truth dictated by partisan interests. Press may be "free" but it is always biased.
Unless maybe it's reporting the weather. I think weathermen tell the truth about what has already happened, although they may be quite clueless as to what may come next. :p
Unless maybe it's reporting the weather. I think weathermen tell the truth about what has already happened, although they may be quite clueless as to what may come next. :p