Iraqi merchant: McCain visit propaganda (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Posted on Tue, Apr. 03, 2007

Iraqi merchant: McCain visit propaganda
KIM GAMEL
Associated Press

BAGHDAD - Iraqis in the capital said Tuesday that Sen. John McCain's account of
a heavily guarded visit to a central market did not represent the current reality
in Baghdad, with one calling it "propaganda."

Jaafar Moussa Thamir, a 42-year-old who sells electrical appliances at the Shorja
market that the Republican congressmen visited on Sunday, said the delegation
greeted some fellow vendors with Arabic phrases but he was not impressed.

"They were just making fun of us and paid this visit just for their own interests,"
he said. "Do they think that when they come and speak few Arabic words in a very
bad manner it will make us love them? This country and its society have been
destroyed because of them and I hope that they realized that during this visit."

Thamir said "about 150 U.S. soldiers and 20 Humvees" accompanied the delegation.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/17018261.htm

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...not to mention 5 helicopters overhead and sharpshooters on rooftops.

However, some of the merchants there did give McCain points for venturing
outside the Green Zone.

[salin]

1. it is ironic... the rw media (drudge leading the charge)

tried to ridicule those challenging the words and image of McCain in Iraq - and because of that there has been much more coverage ever since - including stories like this now getting picked up and carried in local papers across the country - and in the end it is McCain and the publicity stunt that look ridiculous. Had Drudge etal said nothing - the little PR stunt would get little play, and McCain's words would be taken with a grain of salt but would have little weight in the debate in the Senate and in the public.