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12/02/2005 Archived Entry: "Planting Propaganda"

THE HEADLINE SAYS IT ALL: U.S. Is Said to Pay to Plant Articles in Iraq Papers. (NY Times link, requires login, sorry about that!)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 - Titled "The Sands Are Blowing Toward a Democratic Iraq," an article written this week for publication in the Iraqi press was scornful of outsiders' pessimism about the country's future.

"Western press and frequently those self-styled 'objective' observers of Iraq are often critics of how we, the people of Iraq, are proceeding down the path in determining what is best for our nation," the article began. Quoting the Prophet Muhammad, it pleaded for unity and nonviolence.

But far from being the heartfelt opinion of an Iraqi writer, as its language implied, the article was prepared by the United States military as part of a multimillion-dollar covert campaign to plant paid propaganda in the Iraqi news media and pay friendly Iraqi journalists monthly stipends, military contractors and officials said.

As Claire said when I pointed this out to her, "Goebbels would be proud."

Posted by Debra @ 08:50 AM CST
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