US propaganda payment in Iraq endangers journalists
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/24/2006

The summary of a review examining payments made to the Iraqi media by the US military has concluded that such operations should be re-examined.

Prepared by Rear Admiral Scott Van Buskirk, the review was requested after media reports in the Los Angeles Times during late November 2005 showed that the US military was writing pro-American stories, translating them into Arabic and then paying for them to be placed in the Iraqi media.

To achieve this, the Pentagon engaged a Washington firm, which assisted in the Arabic translation and then helped to publish the articles in Iraq. According to news reports, the articles were weighted in favor of the United States' military actions in Iraq and often failed to provide opposing views.

In particular, Van Buskirk's report criticized a body called the Baghdad Press Club, which was used to pay Iraqi journalists for their coverage of development projects. Regarding the US military's supervision of the Iraqi media's work and its payment of journalists, the report said these "will undoubtedly raise questions focused on 'truth and credibility,' that will be difficult to deflect... "

Despite finding that it was "appropriate" for the US military to hide its involvement in the production of the articles, Van Buskirk concluded that contractors acting on behalf of the US military should be subject to greater scrutiny.

He noted there was apparent confusion among officers operating the program and called for fresh guidelines. At present, the Pentagon is deliberating whether there is a need for a further policy review of the matter.

Commenting on the issue, IPI Director Johann P. Fritz said, "IPI welcomes the Rear Admiral's acknowledgment that such propaganda operations could have a damaging impact on the credibility and reputation of the United States. However, there are other important issues raised by the US military's actions."

"At a time when journalists are being targeted by the insurgency, I am deeply concerned that such propaganda operations damage the Iraqi media's independence, increasing the likelihood that they will be attacked."

"The propaganda operations also expose contradictions in US policies towards Iraq. It is the declared aim of the Allied forces operating inside Iraq to introduce democracy to the country, but this cannot be achieved if the work undertaken by organizations to improve press freedom is, at the same time, undermined by the work of the military," said Fritz.

Previous Stories:
  US on Iraq pull out   (5/22/2006)
  US commander: next days in Iraq critical   (5/22/2006)
  On Pentagon's efforts to manipulate the Iraqi press   (12/3/2005)
  New York Times: Pentagon paying for positive news on Iraq   (12/2/2005)

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