The P.R. of War

[Nbadan]

By Joe Strupp
Published: January 18, 2005 12:00 PM ET


NEW YORK As the U.S. military approaches nearly two years in the Iraq conflict, media training for soldiers going into the war zone has been stepped up, becoming mandatory for Army troops since October, E&P has learned.

"Talking point" cards for military personnel, meanwhile, are being updated regularly as the war progresses -- often as much as once a week -- to keep up with the conflict's changing issues and the proximity of embedded reporters. Among the current talking points: "We are a values-based, people-focused team that strives to uphold the dignity and respect of all."

Soldiers preparing for deployment in hostile or critical areas have received some kind of media training in handling press inquiries since as far back as the first Persian Gulf War, according to several military press officers. Such training has also included pocket cards with suggested talking points for the combatants, which advise them how best to promote the military operation and avoid awkward or confrontational interviews.

"As situations happen, you will have ever-changing talking points, as much as every week," said Capt. Jeff Landis, a Marine Corps public-affairs spokesman. "They are tailored to the situation."

~snip~

"It is a standard part of deployment preparation," said Lt. Col. Gerard Healy, an Army spokesman based at the Pentagon.

~snip~

The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C., noted this week that the first talking point in a slide show for troops at Fort Bragg was: "We are not an occupying force."

... Condiliar threw that line out today during the hearings today. "We are no longer an occupying force since the turnover of power from the CPA to the legitimate interim government."

... read on for the list of "talking points" which is a creative term for lying!

Media Info (http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000760609)

By the way...

**Ketchum Inc. is the same firm that the Bush admin funneled 240,00 dollars through to pay Armstrong Williams.

The full article is a must read--(I can't post enough here in a few paragraphs to fully illustrate how involved Ketchum is with the US military's PR that has been released to the media)

READ MORE HERE (http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:y--CvPKymEIJ:www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/20021112workingp2.asp+ketchum+saudi+arabia&hl=en&ie=UTF-8)

[Nbadan]

Meanwhile, the real PR war is being lost on the ground in Iraq...


BAGHDAD, Jan 18 (IPS) - The U.S. military is resorting to collective punishment tactics in Iraq similar to those used by Israeli troops in the occupied territories of Palestine, residents say.

Military bulldozers have mown down palm groves in the rural al-Dora farming area on the outskirts of Baghdad, residents say. Electricity has been cut, the local fuel station destroyed and the access road blocked.

The U.S. action comes after resistance fighters attacked soldiers from this area several weeks back.

”The Americans were attacked from this field, then they returned and started cutting down all the trees,” says Kareem, a local mechanic, pointing to a pile of burnt date palms in a bulldozed field. ”None of us knows any fighters, we all know they are coming here from other areas to attack the Americans, but we are the people who suffer from this.”

The military action follows a similar round of attacks and retaliation earlier this month.

U.S. Army Brigadier-General Mark Kimmit told reporters then that the military had launched 'Operation Iron Grip' in the area to send ”a very clear message to anybody who thinks that they can run around Baghdad without worrying about the consequences of firing RPGs (rocket propelled grenades), firing mortars.”

Gen. Kimmit said ”there is a capability in the air that can quickly respond against anybody who would want to harm Iraqi citizens or coalition forces.” Then as now, local people denied any knowledge of harbouring resistance fighters.

~snip~

Other residents say soldiers beat them up during random home raids. ”I was beaten by the Americans,” said Ihsan, a 17 year-old secondary school student. ”They asked me who attacked them, but I do not know. My home was raided, our furniture destroyed, and one of my uncles was arrested.”

People in Abu Hishma village in the area spoke of similar experiences earlier. After U.S.. soldiers were attacked, the entire village was encircled with razor wire. Residents were forced to acquire military identity badges and enter through a military controlled checkpoint.

The main farm road was blocked by four large concrete slabs after attacks several weeks ago. Residents used tractors to remove the blocks, but last week they say the military installed four larger blocks.

”They humiliate us when we talk to them,” said Hamoud Abid, a 50-year-old farmer. ”They would not tell us when they will remove these blocks, so we are all walking now.”

A military spokesperson in Baghdad declined to comment on the statements by the people in al-Dora, and declined a request for his name. But he said there were ongoing security operations in al-Dora.

IPS News (http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27077)

[Useruser666]

Dan you are a talking point by your definition.