Iraq: Buying Good News - Another US Disgrace
azzaman: No money can buy good news
The current U.S. administration is unwilling to learn from the series of its ill-fated campaigns in Iraq.
It has been moving from one blunder to another, undercutting its credibility in the eyes of the Iraqis and eroding any remaining confidence in its efforts in the country.
To salvage U.S. image, the Pentagon thought it could buy Iraqi trust by implanting 'positive' stories in local media.
The Pentagon is reported to have paid millions of dollars to have these stories published.
While we are sorry to know that many Iraqi reporters, newspapers and other media outlets were involved, we would like to underscore that the effort is yet another stigma of disgrace on the forehead of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
After undermining the country's institutions, sovereignty and credibility, the Pentagon eventually moved to humiliate its national and independent press.
True, there are now scores of newspapers, magazines, radios and television stations in Iraq.
But it should be noted that the media mushroom has been rather a curse than a blessing - evidence the multi-million dollar subsidies the Pentagon has been paying for many of these outlets.
The Iraqi media landscape may look varied and fragmented but this is not at all a sign of multiplicity and freedom of speech.
The U.S. occupation has helped the emergence of newspapers, radio and televisions that lack the basics of balanced and credible reporting.
These outlets have become merely tools in the hands of the Pentagon or the factions that advance its policies in the country.
This disgusting, U.S. financed media campaign is an insult to the Iraqi people, Iraqi media and the future of the country.
We would like to confirm to our readers that none of the Pentagon-sponsored material has found its way to the pages of our newspaper.
We are proud of this and promise to keep our independence no matter the cost and the threats we occasionally receive.
We cannot and should not fall in the trap of the U.S. occupation and its games both of which we strongly condemn.
The campaign is another signpost on the aggressive and brutal path the U.S. has been pursuing since its 2003 invasion. Link
The current U.S. administration is unwilling to learn from the series of its ill-fated campaigns in Iraq.
It has been moving from one blunder to another, undercutting its credibility in the eyes of the Iraqis and eroding any remaining confidence in its efforts in the country.
To salvage U.S. image, the Pentagon thought it could buy Iraqi trust by implanting 'positive' stories in local media.
The Pentagon is reported to have paid millions of dollars to have these stories published.
While we are sorry to know that many Iraqi reporters, newspapers and other media outlets were involved, we would like to underscore that the effort is yet another stigma of disgrace on the forehead of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
After undermining the country's institutions, sovereignty and credibility, the Pentagon eventually moved to humiliate its national and independent press.
True, there are now scores of newspapers, magazines, radios and television stations in Iraq.
But it should be noted that the media mushroom has been rather a curse than a blessing - evidence the multi-million dollar subsidies the Pentagon has been paying for many of these outlets.
The Iraqi media landscape may look varied and fragmented but this is not at all a sign of multiplicity and freedom of speech.
The U.S. occupation has helped the emergence of newspapers, radio and televisions that lack the basics of balanced and credible reporting.
These outlets have become merely tools in the hands of the Pentagon or the factions that advance its policies in the country.
This disgusting, U.S. financed media campaign is an insult to the Iraqi people, Iraqi media and the future of the country.
We would like to confirm to our readers that none of the Pentagon-sponsored material has found its way to the pages of our newspaper.
We are proud of this and promise to keep our independence no matter the cost and the threats we occasionally receive.
We cannot and should not fall in the trap of the U.S. occupation and its games both of which we strongly condemn.
The campaign is another signpost on the aggressive and brutal path the U.S. has been pursuing since its 2003 invasion. Link
posted by exoplanet at 8:31 PM
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