Military To Pay Millions For “Positive” Iraq News Coverage...

[im10ashus]

U.S. military leaders in Baghdad have put out for bid a two-year, $20 million public relations contract that calls for extensive monitoring of U.S. and Middle Eastern media in an effort to promote more positive coverage of news from Iraq.

The contract calls for assembling a database of selected news stories and assessing their tone as part of a program to provide "public relations products" that would improve coverage of the military command's performance, according to a statement of work attached to the proposal.

The request for bids comes at a time when Bush administration officials are publicly criticizing media coverage of the war in Iraq.

The proposal, which calls in part for extensive monitoring and analysis of Iraqi, Middle Eastern and American media, is designed to help the coalition forces understand "the communications environment." Its goal is to "develop communication strategies and tactics, identify opportunities, and execute events . . . to effectively communicate Iraqi government and coalition's goals, and build support among our strategic audiences in achieving these goals," according to the statement of work that is publicly available through the Web site http://www.fbodaily.com .

cont'd...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/30/AR2006083003011_pf.html

[spindrifter]

1. Will the Lincoln Group

get this one?

[Sherman A1]

2. Your tax Dollars at Work!

[im10ashus]

5. Truly.

They should all be hit over the head with bats for this little gem. How in hell does one put a positive spin on an illegal war?

[BOSSHOG]

3. Yo "conservatives" Colonel Jessup has you all pegged

"You can't handle the truth." You don't want the American people to know what is happening so you have to pay for fake news proving my point. You all make it so easy. "Conservatives" fear an educated electorate, yet they thrive on the ignorant "christians" who wave their flags and thump their bibles and hate in the name of Jesus Christ.

[louis-t]

4. Goebbels lives.

Neocons love comparing Iraq to WWII, Hitler etc. This is one connection they can't explain away.

[BuhByeChimp]

6. Any idea what was left out of this statement?

Its goal is to "develop communication strategies and tactics, identify opportunities, and execute events . . . to effectively communicate Iraqi government and coalition's goals

Any idea what the was left out in this statement?

[im10ashus]

9. "...and Arabs"

:shrug:

[Bozita]

7. probably funded with $$$ from treating vets' brain injuries

IIRC, one-half of the budget for treating such injuries is being eliminated.

[Justice Is Comin]

8. Well isn't that special.

They will have to do all the filming in the Green Zone.