Bush plans huge propaganda campaign in Iran

[ECH1969]

The Bush administration made an emergency request to Congress yesterday for a seven-fold increase in funding to mount the biggest ever propaganda campaign against the Tehran government, in a further sign of the worsening crisis between Iran and the west.

Although US officials acknowledge the limitations of such a campaign, the state department is determined to press ahead with measures that include extending the government-run Voice of America's Farsi service from a few hours a day to round-the-clock coverage.

The sudden budget request, which follows an outlay of only $4m over the last two years, is to be accompanied by a diplomatic drive by Ms Rice to discuss Tehran's suspect nuclear weapons programme. She is to begin with a visit to Gulf states. Ms Rice told the Senate foreign affairs committee that Iranian leaders "have now crossed a point where they are in open defiance of the international community".

She added: "The United States will actively confront the aggressive policies of the Iranian regime. At the same time, we will work to support the aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom and democracy in their country."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1710699,00.html?gusrc=rss

[stepnw1f]

1. and Has Here Too

gee... it's the Merikan't way!

[Nancy Waterman]

2. He must think the Iranians are as stupid as the Americans

They won't fall for it the way the Kool Aid drinkers here have.

[stepnw1f]

5. That's the Effect of Stupidness

always blinding them from what stupid is.

C-A-N N-O-T C-O-M-P-R-E-H-E-N-D ....

[spindrifter]

3. Watch for Lincoln Group involvement

in this fiasco. You can get background on this outfit from SourceWatch:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lincoln_Group

Dirty business, eh?

[bemildred]

4. Not getting any traction with their bullshit.

So, the solution is even more bullshit.

[CoffeeCat]

6. If they're planning a propaganda campaign...

...then someone, ANYONE, needs to get in front of it and call "bullshit" before Junior gives the first speech.

Come on Democrats. Tell the truth. That we are in no grave danger. That Iran is at least several years away from having a nuclear weapon if they wanted to build on--and they're saying they have no desire or plans to build one.

Get in front of these sick bastards. Otherwise, America will go more bankrupt, be more hated in the world, and more innocent soldiers and Middle Easterners will die for nothing.

Maybe I'll start my own PR campaign and tour across the country. I'll call it the, "Fool Me Once, Can't Get Fooled Again!" tour. How difficult could it be to point out the obvious?

[LynnTheDem]

7. "biggest ever propaganda campaign"; remember when "propaganda" was a BAD

word, just like the words "INVASION", "OCCUPIER", and "TORTURE"?

Remember when Americans would have been highly insulted & offended at even the mention of America doing PROPAGANDA or INVASION or OCCUPATION or TORTURE?

And now the pResident of the United States not only casually & publicly talks about catapulting his PROPAGANDA...it's a BUDGET ITEM.

Fucking hell.

[LynnTheDem]

8. BTW, Rice, since you're totally ignorant, the Iranian people ELECTED

their government you're trying to topple and the VAST MAJORITY of the Iranian people are very PROUD of Iran's pursuit of nuclear energy.

So GOOD LUCK catapulting your propaganda bullshit!

[AndyTiedye]

9. Most of That Will Be For the Propaganda Campaign HERE

Bush** doesn't need to convince Iran that he is going to attack them.
They know that already.
The big propaganda campaign will be to sell us another war.
They will have to go into full media saturation mode this time.
They can save a little money by recycling all the old propaganda from before the Iraq war, just change Q to N.

[Rocknrule]

36. Why does he even try to get our support for another war?

He's going to attack them whether we like it or not. He doesn't give a shit if God Himself opposes the war, he's going to do it.

[madrchsod]

10. if one studies the Iranian political structure

you`d see little difference between the US and the Iranian political structure and influences....once again the whitehouse is blowing shit. oh yes the irainians are just as fucking crazy as the bush kids

[rodeodance]

11. Rice Asks for $75 Million to Increase Pressure on Iran (my gawd)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/15/AR2006021500672.html

Rice Asks for $75 Million to Increase Pressure on Iran

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 16, 2006; Page A01

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked Congress yesterday to provide $75 million in emergency funding to step up pressure on the Iranian government, including expanding radio and television broadcasts into Iran and promoting internal opposition to the rule of religious leaders.

The request would substantially boost the money devoted to confronting Iran -- only $10 million is budgeted to support dissidents in 2006 -- and signals a new effort by the Bush administration to persuade other nations to join the United States in a coalition to bolster Iranian activists, halt Iran's funding of terrorism and stem its nuclear ambitions, State Department officials said.


"The United States will actively confront the policies of this Iranian regime, and at the same time we are going to work to support the aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom in their own country," Rice told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a hearing on the administration's foreign affairs budget.

Iranian officials announced this week that they have begun enriching uranium, a step that appears likely to ensure that the country's nuclear program will be discussed by the U.N. Security Council next month. But U.S. officials despair that any action by the council will be slow and deliberate, so yesterday's effort appears to be part of a sustained campaign to enlist other countries to act against Iran even sooner.

[FloridaPat]

12. Not that it matters, but isn't promoting internal opposition illegal?

[spindrifter]

13. This is such

b.s. I am certain this is a Lincoln Group operation. See SourceWatch for information on them.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lincoln_Group
They were the outfit that put the fake, paid "news" into Iraqi papers recently. Although they are registered in Wa., D.C., they have clear British connections. I think of them as the H8burton of the propaganda trade.

[marmar]

14. But every time BushCo tries to destabilize a govt...

The more it unites the people of that country in their hatred of the United States. I wish someone would make such broadcasts here. The gall of these BushCo brownshirts never ceases to amaze me.

[TexasLawyer]

23. According to Seymour Hersh's sources...

our glorious leaders anticipate that once Israel and the US nuke Iran's nukes, the Iranian people are going to rise up and overthrow the Iranian theocracy. As if!

Maybe BushCo's trying to put the finishing touches on this absolutely brilliant master plan. :sarcasm:

[antonialee839]

15. We are cutting programs here at home for lack of funds, to pay for

this nonsense? This is going to go over about as well as Charlotte Beers marketing America to Muslims. If Congress gives Rice the money, they are just as stupid as she is. When will enough finally be enough?

[IDemo]

16. Citizen, we're promoting freedom from nucloclacy

Or, we're threatening mullah-tizational nationalism. Whichever.

Democracy may be fine for Western civilization, or most of it. Or the part of it that remains unafflicted by election tampering, lobbying scandals, or a refusal by part of its governing body to recognize the other 2/3 of the government; oh, say our Executive branch, for purely rhetorical purposes...

So it's Democracy that we freedom-lovin' condoleezans will choose to promote worldwide, even if we are unwilling or unable to protect it within our own borders. Yeah, democracy, "free" elections, and gallons of purple finger-ink for the oppressed peoples of Axis of Evil™ nations planetwide. We'll get the Diebold machines in place just as soon as possible to expedite your democracy-tization, folks.

That an oil well over there? Gawd, I love oil wells! Whatcha think of the new Hummer H3? Just dip your right thumb in the purple ink over there. That's right, good job.......

[saltpoint]

17. How 'bout we give her the money but not for Iran. How 'bout we

build a hospital and a few schools in Afghanistan and Baghdad?

Dr. Rice has her priorities scrambled. Peace is more likely when the quality of life for all is raised, not when the level of global suspicion is raised.

Such a mixed-up muddle she's in.

[stepnw1f]

18. no, But You Can RESIGN RIGHT AWAY!

fugly bitch.

[stillcool]

19. Everything old is new again with these people...

However, you would think that with all the info floating around concerning their past modes of behavior, they would have either learned how to be more clandestine...or come up with better cover stories. It's getting so trite.

http://www.aliveness.com/kangaroo/CIAtimeline.html

[flyarm]

25. this is bullshit..money out for iraq..money out for iran..and we have

Americans who have lost fucking everything..everything..and they are fucking kicked out of hotels this week..and condi fucking shoe buying bitch wants 75 million for propaganda..i am spending tommorrow on the phone all day and calling senators and congress people and i am blowing my cork...

i am fucking sick of this bullshit!

i want the people of katrina taken care of with my tax money..not fucking more damned * and condi fucking propaganda..wow i am pissed!

i could just scream and spit!

fly

[saigon68]

40. RICE IS A FOOL

SHE IS NO BEAUTY CONTEST WINNER EITHER



LOOK AT THE EVIL FACE

[951-Riverside]

20. Save the money and let them watch FOX news for free on Satellite :)

[Whoa_Nelly]

21. WTF?? With MY MONEY???

Like hell!

[UnseenUndergrad]

22. Reminds me...

of that M*A*S*H* episode where Henry trys to tune the radio into the Army-Navy football game and immediately gets a North Korean Propoganda broadcast ranting about 'imperialist dogs"... course, he was more entertaining.

[area51]

38. Welcome to DU, UnseenUndergrad. (n/t)

[HuffleClaw]

24. propaganda?

bwahahahhahahahahahahaaaaaaaa

yeah, that'll work, just like their similar approach worked in iraq during those elections.

and the only folks who are 'in open defiance of the international community' is BUSH and his warmongering minions who sure love to speak for everyone else.

[remfan]

26. Propaganda will solve nothing

and probably only serve to exacerbate the problem. The Iranian people aren't stupid, they don't live in a vacuum and, more importantly they understand and KNOW their own history. 50 years ago a stealth campaign of propaganda 'worked' to set them on this course, they are very much aware of that, and aren't likely to welcome a repeat. To assume the people of Iran, or any country for that matter, are incapable of deciding their own future, in their own way and on their own terms, is hardly something we should advocate. Making a blatant announcement that we intend to do such a thing...since when did we become the marketing department for the new and improved "freedom and democracy" product?

Simply put, every person yearns for freedom and democracy, and left to their own devices they will eventually demand such things from their 'leaders'. The process is often bloody and more often than not comes in fits and starts. Adding the heavy hand of foreign intervention through propaganda to try and force it, to try and mold it into something acceptable, is a losing proposition.

I support a free and democratic Iran created by the Iranian people. If it takes the next 30 years for the PEOPLE of Iran to create such a thing, so be it.

[RedEarth]

27. Massive PR offensive to target Iran

THE Bush Administration has made an emergency request to the US Congress for a seven-fold increase in funding to mount a huge propaganda campaign against the Tehran Government.

In a further sign of the worsening crisis between Iran and the West, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the $US75 million ($A101 million) in extra funds, on top of $10 million already allocated for this year, would be used to broadcast US radio and television shows into Iran, help pay for Iranians to study in America and back democracy groups inside Iran.

US officials acknowledge the limits of such a campaign, but the State Department is determined to bring in measures such as extending the government-run Voice of America's Farsi service from a few hours a day to round-the-clock coverage.

The sudden budget request, which follows an outlay of only $4 million over the past two years, is to be accompanied by a diplomatic drive by Dr Rice to discuss Tehran's suspect nuclear weapons program. She is to begin with a visit to Gulf states.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/massive-pr-offensive-to-target-iran/2006/02/16/1140064203376.html

[revree]

My God, all the children we could feed with that money...

But then that wouldn't be the Christian thing to do, would it, Bush?

[Theres-a]

29. Post of the day

:(

[laheina]

31. Somebody posted this yesterday.

I'm gonna' post it again to spread it around. It deals with the issue of social services versus war mongering money. I found it very interesting. Check it out!

http://www.truemajority.org/oreos/

[Nickster]

30. 75 Million....hmmmm sounds familiar. Isn't that the amount they diverted

from Afghanistan funding to get the party started in Iraq? Pretty easy to get the money approved and then divert it without telling Congress. Strikes me as being real familiar.

[Auntie Bush]

32. So most of that money will go to Rice to campaign all over the world

to promote fear...just like they did in Iraq.Great! But we can't help our own people and country....think NO and not health care etc.

[tonkatoy57]

33. This does not add up

"...Condoleezza Rice said the $US75 million ($A101 million) in extra funds, on top of $10 million already allocated for this year, would be used to broadcast US radio and television shows into Iran, help pay for Iranians to study in America and back democracy groups inside Iran."

Soft diplomacy and public diplomacy are not tools of the current administration.

Where is the money really going? If they need money for their next little nefarious game why don't they just use cash from their Iraq slush fund?

I wouldn't trust these people as far I as could throw Dick Cheney's fat ass.

[RedEarth]

28. Massive PR offensive to target Iran

This thread has been combined with another thread.

Click here to read this message in its new location.

[harlinchi]

34. We will support Iran's aspirations for democracy.

"...She added: "The United States will actively confront the aggressive policies of the Iranian regime. At the same time, we will work to support the aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom and democracy in their country."

Ms. Rice means that we will if by 'supporting Iran's aspirations for democracy' she means supporting the aspirations of US multinationals to secure long-term PSA's in Iran as they did to the tune of $200 billion in Iraq, while wasting as much as possible of their available cash by spending it on Halliburton's Iran reconstruction contracts!


BTW, what happened to ANY discussion of the missing $8.8 billion (BILLION) reported by Sixty Minutes?

[Rocknrule]

35. Can you say Deja Vu?

[cliss]

37. OK: I'm going to cuss -

That God-damned fool is going to start a media campaign in Iran? Who else is amazed at the stupidity of this? Let's look at the track record of Bush's "campaigns", especially in foreign countries.

In Iraq, the Bush administration was caught recently writing favorable articles about the U.S. occupation. It created a firestorm of criticism. They spent I think $50 million for slanted articles from the Lincoln Group. How effective was that? Did it change anybody's mind in Iraq that the occupiers are still obnoxious?

Next, we hear that the U.S. has been printing a magazine targeted to muslim youths. It's called "Hello". Apparently, it wasn't popular and nobody was reading it. We have tried this the past

Folks, this is pure, raw desperation. The fact that they are trying this means that they don't have many other alternatives. Maybe none. Russia is already warning the US not to attack Iran.

Here's why any kind of campaign in Iran is going to bomb on them, big time.
1) Iranians are smart, very loyal to their country. The US should not underestimate them. They will probably start a campaign based on "freedom, break away from the tyranny, throw out Ahmadinejad".

2) Iran has already had a taste of Freedom, American-style. In the 70's, we installed a dictator named the Shah of Iran. He was a puppet of the worst kind. The Iranians threw him out.

3) The Iranians have the upper hand in this mess. No matter what happens, even if we bomb them, THEY WILL STILL BE SITTING ON TOP OF THAT OIL. The world's #2 supply. This is doomed to fail.

[Tight_rope]

39. You got to be kidding me...RIGHT?

[bemildred]

41. US budget against Iran shows its weakness: EC

Actually, this fellow may be on to something. In Syria we have support for "pro-democracy" groups, in Venezuela "inoculation", in Iran propaganda and support for "pro-democracy" groups. In a number of other places nothing much at all, a sort of stupefied silence, e.g. Haiti and Bolivia. This IS a change from the open threats that were the norm in the past. Maybe the utter disterous folly of their methods has begun to dawn on the Bushites a bit.

Council Mohsen Rezaei said here Saturday the recent measure by the United States to allocate funds against Iran showed its weakness.

Rezaei made the remark while talking to IRNA about Wednesday's remarks by the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the allocation of a 75-million-dollar budget to promote US plans on Iran.

"Such a stance by the US officials indicate their weakness and inability to do something against Iran.

"The US officials had not made such remarks against (former Iraqi president) Saddam Hussein and the Taliban regime because they were confident they could overthrow them.

IRNA

[george_hurley]

42. ***SIGN MY PETITION: NO WAR WITH IRAN!****

Hello,

For the past year, the growing tensions mounting between the US, Israel, and Iran are reaching a point where military action against Iran is w/in months of becoming reality. The repercussions are terrifying as such military action could involve countries such as China and Russia as they share massive energy/economic interests w/ Iran. The most likely scenario we would face would be the collapse of the US economy as the combination of a massive rise in oil prices and a run on the US dollar would surely be the weapon many countries would use to fight back against a preemptive US or Israeli strike.

For a collection of articles and resources on this subject you can visit this link: http://reseaudesign.com/research/iran/iran_summery.html

I'm starting up a petition which I will be sending out to as many members of Congress as possible. I'm asking for help to get this signed by as many people, possible in the next month. Send it to as many people you can.

http://www.petitiononline.com/n0war1rn/


Thanks for your time