U.S. Military Covertly Pays to Run Stories in Iraqi Press and Zot Trolls

Los Angeles Times ^ | 11/30/05 | Mark Mazzeti and Borzou Daragahi

[pirateman]

WASHINGTON — As part of an information offensive in Iraq, the U.S. military is secretly paying Iraqi newspapers to publish stories written by American troops in an effort to burnish the image of the U.S. mission in Iraq.

The articles, written by U.S. military "information operations" troops, are translated into Arabic and placed in Baghdad newspapers with the help of a defense contractor, according to U.S. military officials and documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

Many of the articles are presented in the Iraqi press as unbiased news accounts written and reported by independent journalists. The stories trumpet the work of U.S. and Iraqi troops, denounce insurgents and tout U.S.-led efforts to rebuild the country.

Though the articles are basically factual, they present only one side of events and omit information that might reflect poorly on the U.S. or Iraqi governments, officials said. Records and interviews indicate that the U.S. has paid Iraqi newspapers to run dozens of such articles, with headlines such as "Iraqis Insist on Living Despite Terrorism," since the effort began this year.

The operation is designed to mask any connection with the U.S. military. The Pentagon has a contract with a small Washington-based firm called Lincoln Group, which helps translate and place the stories. The Lincoln Group's Iraqi staff, or its subcontractors, sometimes pose as freelance reporters or advertising executives when they deliver the stories to Baghdad media outlets.

The military's effort to disseminate propaganda in the Iraqi media is taking place even as U.S. officials are pledging to promote democratic principles, political transparency and freedom of speech in a country emerging from decades of dictatorship and corruption.

[pirateman]

Interesting.

[IndyInVa]

I wonder who it is that pays the LA Times to publish.

[ARCADIA]

Democrats covertly pay US newspapers to run stories.

[SoFloFreeper]

Good. We're using the tools of the media to tell OUR side of the story. What the hell is wrong with THAT, L.A. Slimes?????

God, I am amazed sometimes at how much the mainstream media hates our soldiers and the idea of an American victory in Iraq.

[NavVet]

Thank god these Journalistic Jihadists at the LA Times weren't around in 1941 to expose our psyops to the enemy.

[ClearCase_guy]

Oh the humanity! This is so immoral! This would be like the US funding some radio station to blast propaganda at Cuba!

[/sarcasm]

Or, come to think of it, like the New York Times paying reporters to cover the news from a Leftist viewpoint. Wouldn't that be chilling??

[Mo1]

Though the articles are basically factual, they present only one side of events and omit information that might reflect poorly on the U.S. or Iraqi governments, officials said.

We are suppose to praise the enemy and their side of the story??

[reagan_fanatic]

U.S. covertly pays Iraqi newspapers to run stories

Well, it's not so covert now, is it?

[WhiteGuy]

It's done here, why would't it be done there?

[randog]

Democrats covertly pay US newspapers to run stories.

Indirectly. The DNC buys the fax machines that sit on the editors' desks with the sign "FRONT PAGE NEWS".

[travlnmn41]

>>Many of the articles are presented in the Iraqi press as unbiased news accounts written and reported by independent journalists.<<
Unbiased like what the LA Times prints, right? I've been in Air Force Public Affairs since 1991 and I hate dealing with these a-holes. They don't want to know and report the truth.

[roses of sharon]

So the US is trying to save lives, while the commie-vampire media is trying to destroy, kill, and promotes hatred and failure?

Sounds about right.

[EagleUSA]

I wonder who it is that pays the LA Times to publish.
------
The DNC, Soros, the unions, the ACLU, the NAACP....for starters.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Radio/TV Marti is another bete noire of the pinkos.

I'm sure they're just as contemptuous of Radio Farda and Sawa.

We can't have anybody promoting freedom, now can we?

(Prolonged eye roll.)

[noDixieCan]

Actually, the Democrats don't have to pay. The MSM is more than willing to thelp them.

[xzins]

The LA Times acknowledges that these are "information operation" troops that are placing these stories.

Now...if Scooter Libby had revealed part of our "information warfare" operations would that have been deemed dangerous to our national security? Would a special prosecutor have been called in?

[crazyhorse691]

CNN did the same thing for free(they did claim duress).

[mikethevike]

My thoughts exactly.

[AmericanChef]

Gee - propoganda during war? What a mind-boggling concept. The story underneath it should be "LA Times pays people to look at their worthless rag".

[MNJohnnie]

Stupid. Just more exaggerate the negative, ignore the positive from the Failed Media. Gee how horrible. They are trying to get their message out to the Iraqis to counter the Dinosaur Media's desperate need to server as the Terrorist's mouth piece. Wonder what their spin line will be to attack this complete nuking by Bush of the "Surrender Now" Democrats Hate America First Always Talking Points on Iraq

For anyone with questions about Iraq policy, please go to this link and read the National Security Council's "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/documents/Iraqnationalstrategy11-30-05.pdf