Did US pay Iraqis to plant fake news stories?

The backdrop of the story is there's a section in the U.S. law that bars the American government from planting propaganda in the media: it only bars them from planting stories directly in the U.S. media - and, even though they've found other ways to run domestic propaganda campaigns, it at least keeps a lid on that sort activity. But if they plant a bogus story abroad, and it, as even may be intended, finds its way into the U.S. media where it's widely discussed as fact, that's perfectly legal. If a reporter (like Judith Miller) meets a CIA-trained "informant" abroad for a story to appear in the NYT the next day, that's perfectly legal. See where this starts getting on the slippery-slope of disinformation to American citizens?

Because what's the value of victory if we resort to the same tactics used by those we're fighting against?

Oh right, cause it's us, we can do those things. It's not evil when we do it, only when some non-christian country of brown people does it. Torture, lying, planting evidence, it's just not cool when THEY do it.

Unfortunately, if propaganda planted abroad and trickling back into America keeps half of the US public in the cozy belief things are just going great in Iraq, and dissenting voices can easily be tuned out by dismissing them as unfair and unbalanced bias, it will slow down the process of withdrawing. The war the US government is leading is mainly a propaganda war against its own people.

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Originally Posted by Xiahou

That says it all honestly. The enemy is getting their propaganda out freely, but when we try to counter it it's apparently a criminal act. ~:handball:

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Originally Posted by solypsist

Because what's the value of victory if we resort to the same tactics used by those we're fighting against?

Oh right, cause it's us, we can do those things. It's not evil when we do it, only when some non-christian country of brown people does it. Torture, lying, planting evidence, it's just not cool when THEY do it.

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Oh yes, now we're equating news stories with torture. I doubt they were that badly written.

The terrorists are using guns too I understand- we better stop using them as well since 'what's the value of victory if we resort to the same tactics used by those we're fighting against?' Gimme a break. ~:rolleyes:

I can't see anything wrong with using fake news to get peace in Iraq....

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Originally Posted by bmolsson

I can't see anything wrong with using fake news to get peace in Iraq....

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LOL .... I know you jest!

That is just the most preposterous one liner I have yet to read here (aside from the No's, yeses, maybes, and I be withs hims).

The point of the entire thing is quite simple: at what point do we become what we purportedly abhore by employing their methods? Is it OK for us to use propagandic methods, while deploring the use by an opposition? Or, is it that we are so right in our cause, that they are absolutely wrong in theirs?

Peace, has nothing to do with the use of propaganda. Propaganda is about supporting the continuance of failed policy (s). Propaganda is used when all else fails, and to promote ideas normally beyond the acceptance of a society (like torture being OK under the proper circumstances, or going to war because you scared the bejesus outta your populace). Paying papers that oppose your philosophical slant on things (and believing it will stay a secret?), is dumb. Just dumb, not stupid - just naive beyond belief. Then again, what else could we expect from Bushy's clan of inempt loyalists. You do know this is from the school teacher (Mrs. whatever) he put in charge of the "hurts and mine" (ms intent) policy?

Unbelievaaaaaaaaaaaable! Can this administration get much dumber? Turn in tomorrow - same bat channel......... ~;p

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Originally Posted by KafirChobee

Is it OK for us to use propagandic methods, while deploring the use by an opposition? Or, is it that we are so right in our cause, that they are absolutely wrong in theirs?

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Are you joking? Of course that's the difference- there's no moral equivilence between the Iraqis and coalition members who are trying to setup a stable representitive government and the insurgents who only seek to blow up and murder their own people.

Now I'll sit back and wait for people to explain how we're every bit as bad as the terrorists.~:rolleyes:

I can't see anything wrong with using fake news to get peace in Iraq....
The news isn't really fake , only the supposed source .
Now that the story is out that the good news being published is really coming not from independant sources but from people who have in the past put out fake news means that even if the good news is real people won't believe it because the real source is a proven liar . So it is a waste of money .
Once again it is a case of "the boy who cried wolf" .

So while last week we had government figures making speeches that Iraq is moving to freedom and openess as evidenced by the establishment of 18 independant newspapers , this week we hear that the independant newspapers are being paid to run stories by people who claim to be someone else .
How many times can this administration shoot itself in the foot ?

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Originally Posted by Proletariat

I don't understand what you're saying. Are you saying that Iraqi citizens who live in a country apparently on the brink of a civil war are impervious to misinformation, but the people outside with access to multiple sources of media and information are gullible and susceptible?

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Not quite. It really depends on how slanted the articles in question are, and to be honest I don't know how far the ones in question went; if there's too large a discrepency between what's reported and the truth Iraqis would be able compare what they read to what they see for themselves and decide how trustworthy an article is. Outside Iraq, we are forced to rely on second-hand information provided by the media or by our governments, and don't have the personal experience to accurately evaluate their worth and hence, yes, are more susceptible to selective reporting or political bias. This works both ways, both when it comes to liberal or conservative bias, terrorist propaganda or US spin.

The Iraqis aren't immune to misinformation any more than people in the rest of the world, but they do have the personal experience of the situation that they can apply to what they're told which, something most of us people in the West lack.

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Originally Posted by Xiahou

Are you joking? Of course that's the difference- there's no moral equivilence between the Iraqis and coalition members who are trying to setup a stable representitive government and the insurgents who only seek to blow up and murder their own people.

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But is that government (or in this case, the media) stable and representative if it's being propped up by an outside force such as the US?

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Originally Posted by Xiahou

Are you joking? Of course that's the difference- there's no moral equivilence between the Iraqis and coalition members who are trying to setup a stable representitive government and the insurgents who only seek to blow up and murder their own people.

Now I'll sit back and wait for people to explain how we're every bit as bad as the terrorists.

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No...Don't worry...We all know that you're the crusaders.
It's amazing that this same kind of irrational behavior of a thousand years ago is still present. You fight for something (dunno, maybe oil, more economic and political power?), the others fight for other reasons, maybe you know what are their reasons, you appear to know "terrorists", not humans he! terrorists!, very well don't you?~:rolleyes: