When the news coming out of Iraq isn't good, just spend a few million to spin it.
Coming soon from The
Washington Post
(not online yet):
WASHINGTON 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.
I think we should send in some SNARK proposals! Enter
HERE
This story fits in with the WaPo lead story on Thursday:
Bush launching a major pre-election campaign touting the war.
Let me see, perhaps if they called body bags Ziplock
More from WaPo:
The proposal, which calls in part for extensive monitoring and analysis of Iraqi, Middle East 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 www.fbodaily.com.
So who cares about the SUBSTANCE of what is going on in Iraq.
The REAL war is over perception.
The proposal calls for monitoring ``Iraqi, pan-Arabic, international and U.S. national and regional markets media in both Arabic and English.'' That includes broadcast and cable television outlets, the Pentagon channel, two wire services and three major U.S. newspapers--The Washington Post, New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
Monitors are to select stories that deal with specific issues, such as security, reconstruction activities, "high profile'' coalition force activities and events in which Iraqi security forces are "in the lead.'' The monitors are to analyze stories to determine the ``dissemination of key themes and messages'' along with whether the "tone,'' is positive, neutral or negative.
Possible media enemies list?
The proposal suggests a team of 12 to 18 people who would provide support for the coalition military command as well as the Iraqi government leadership.
Propoganda by another name ...