Iraq

Why Aren't US Journalists Reporting from Iraq?

by Sheldon Rampton — September 13, 2002 - 12:05pm

American journalists have totally fallen down on the job when it comes to reporting from Baghdad, writes Nina Burleigh, who was one of the first American journalists to enter Iraq after the Gulf War. That allows the White House to make increasingly
hyperbolic -- and false -- claims about the Iraqi threat to America. "This notion that the Iraqi leader is in cahoots with Osama will be easy to feed the American people. To the American people, one bad Arab is the same as the next, and Osama equals Saddam," Burleigh writes.

Main Source: 
http://www.tompaine.com/feature.cfm/ID/6363

The Chickenhawk Database

by Sheldon Rampton — September 8, 2002 - 8:37pm

What do George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Britt Hume, Rush Limbaugh, John Ashcroft, Tom DeLay, Trent Lott, Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reily and Jerry Falwell all have in common?

Main Source: 
http://www.nhgazette.com/chickenhawks.html

In War, Some Facts Less Factual

by Laura Miller — September 5, 2002 - 10:00pm

In 1990, George H. W. Bush built a case for war with Iraq by claiming that 250,000 Iraqi troops were positioned and threatening to invade Saudi Arabia. "It was a pretty serious fib," says journalist Jean Heller, who investigated the administration's claim and found no evidence for it. Now the administration of George the Younger seems to be using very similar disinformation.

Main Source: 
Christian Science Monitor, September 6, 2002

"Invade Iraq? Are you nuts?"

by John Stauber — September 2, 2002 - 10:00pm

George Hesselberg, columnist with the Wisconsin State Journal, is fed up with all the government and media hype for war on Iraq. He excoriates the ignorance of US citizens as reflected in recent surveys but asks, "What do you expect in a country where ... the media seem to spend more money printing fast-fading flags and producing flag-waving promotions than on researching and reporting the actual degradation of rights, even the dissolution of rights, among citizens. ...

Main Source: 
Wisconsin State Journal, September 3, 2002

Iraqi Dissident, "Keep Hammering On The Same Nail"

by Laura Miller — September 1, 2002 - 10:00pm

The State Department is providing media training to Iraqi dissidents to "help make the Bush administration's argument for the removal of Saddam Hussein," PR week reports. In addition to teaching the 17 Iraqis how to write "effective op-eds and speeches," the State Department is giving direction on "what to speak about in order to convince the public of the need to topple Hussein." PR Week reports a State Department spokeswoman saying, "The message is democracy. The message is open and free elections.

Main Source: 
On the Media, August 30, 2002; PR Week, September 2, 2002

Pentagon Calls In The Flacks

by Laura Miller — August 25, 2002 - 10:00pm

It seems Washington just can't get enough PR advice these days.

Main Source: 
PR Week, August 26, 2002

Wag The Puppy

by Laura Miller — August 22, 2002 - 10:00pm

"Some people are suspicious that President Bush will go for a 'wag the dog' strategy -- boosting Republican prospects with a military assault on Iraq shortly before Election Day. But a modified approach now seems to be underway. Let's call it 'wag the puppy,'" media watcher and nationally syndicated columnist Normon Solomon writes. He suggests the appearance of a "healthy debate" on Iraq may lack real substance and may instead serve to distract attention from negative economic issues facing the Bush Administration.

Main Source: 
TomPaine.com, August 23, 2002

How PR Sold the First War With Iraq

by Sheldon Rampton — August 21, 2002 - 12:00pm

As the current Bush administration gears up for a second war with Iraq, now would be a good time to refresh our memories about the PR campaign used to sell the first war to the American people. In our book, Toxic Sludge Is Good For You, we showed how the first Bush administration collaborated with the Hill & Knowlton PR firm to peddle a false story about "babies removed from incubators by Iraqi soldiers," which helped swell public outrage against Saddam Hussein.

Main Source: 
http://www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy10.html

Times Takes Flak on Iraq

by Sheldon Rampton — August 20, 2002 - 10:00pm

Conservative pundits such as Charles Krauthammer are accusing the New York Times of "liberal bias" for reporting that "Leading Republicans from Congress, the State Department and past administrations have begun to break ranks with President Bush over his administration's high-profile planning for war with Iraq." As Joshua Marshall notes, however, the Times coverage has been far more accurate than Krau

Main Source: 
Washington Post, August 21, 2002

The Fight for Good PR in the Arab World

by Sheldon Rampton — October 15, 2001 - 10:00pm

"In the days since the United States launched its armed and diplomatic responses to the Sept. 11 atrocities, few phrases have passed the lips of American leaders as often as 'this is not a war against Islam.' But as civilian casualties from American airstrikes in Afghanistan begin to pile up, and as the timeline for military action threatens to stretch into months, growing anti-American riots in the Muslim world are underscoring the message's limited reach."

Main Source: 
ABC News, October 16, 2001
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