A Slip-Up in the Propaganda War

Maybe now is a good time for an update as to how the war for the 'hearts and minds' of Iraqis is going.

From CNN:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. military on Sunday said it was looking into how virtually identical quotations ended up in two of its news releases about different insurgent attacks.

Following a car bombing in Baghdad on Sunday, the U.S. military issued a statement with a quotation attributed to an unidentified Iraqi that was virtually identical to a quote reacting to an attack on July 13.

After questioning by news media, the military released the statement without the quotation.

Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, spokesman for the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said use of the quote was an "administrative error." He said the military was looking into the matter.

*snip*

Following are the two quotes as provided by the U.S. military in news releases:

Sunday's news release said: "'The terrorists are attacking the infrastructure, the ISF and all of Iraq. They are enemies of humanity without religion or any sort of ethics. They have attacked my community today and I will now take the fight to the terrorists,' said one Iraqi man who preferred not to be identified."

The July 13 news release said: "'The terrorists are attacking the infrastructure, the children and all of Iraq,' said one Iraqi man who preferred not to be identified. 'They are enemies of humanity without religion or any sort of ethics. They have attacked my community today and I will now take the fight to the terrorists.'"

Please keep this bizarre 'administrative error' in mind the next time you read a story, dutifully reported by CNN or others, where the U.S. military claims to have killed x many 'insurgents' in an attack, or how various 'Iraqis who preferred not to be identified' are supportive of the war.

In this occupation, the U.S. military is in almost complete control of the information supply; as you can see, that calls for a healthy dose of skepticism.