Webb: Stop ‘propagandizing’ in Iraq

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Webb: Stop ‘propagandizing’ in Iraq
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 9, 2008 13:53:05 EDT

A key senator is asking the Pentagon to halt a $300 million program to produce pro-American news and public service messages in Iraq.

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., a member of the Senate armed services and foreign relations committees, wants the program halted until next year, when a new administration will be running the White House and after the Senate Armed Services Committee can review the proposal that would have civilian contractors produce news stories, entertainment programs and advertisements intended to influence Iraqi citizens’ views about America.

Webb has two basic objections to what the Defense Department is calling its “strategic information” initiative: He does not believe the program and the contracts are getting adequate review, and he thinks there are better uses for the $300 million.

“At a time when this country is facing such a grave economic crisis, and at a time when the government of Iraq now shows at least a $79 billion surplus from recent oil revenues, it makes little sense for the Department of Defense to be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to propagandize the Iraqi people,” Webb said in a statement.

He called the Iraqi government “capable, both politically and financially, of communicating with its own people” and warned that messages paid for by the U.S. might prompt complaints about foreign interference in internal matters.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_proamercian_iraqnews_100908w/%2e