lies, liars and propaganda

[MTAtech]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3190934.stm

"US Army's 'fake' letters cause stir
A series of letters supposedly written by US troops in Iraq detailing their successes in the country were all written by their commander, it has emerged.
The publication of the letters, in several US newspapers, comes as the Bush administration has stepped up efforts to win over an American public increasingly sceptical of its handling of the situation in Iraq.

Critics said if the letters were found to be part of an organised effort by the military to win over US hearts and minds regarding the conflict it could be a violation of military ethics.

However, the soldiers' commander, Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Caraccilo, told ABC News on Tuesday his staff had written the letters merely to get "good news" back to the US more efficiently. "

[shahani]

US Military??

Nothing they do surprises me any more.

Did you expect anything better?

[tmx468]

Don't beleive anything you see now-a-days. A sad world to live in, but nothing is done for reportings sake anymore.

[M_Six]

The whistleblower was a mother who saw one of the letters in her local paper that was supposedly written by her son. She said she knew it wasn't really from him becasue it was too well written. Ouch!

[Creatures]

didnt children in the kindergarden had to write for american soldiers in vietnam?

just things i will never understand!

Creatures

[M_Six]

I think maybe the kids were writing to the soldiers in Vietnam, Creatures.

[J-Excel]

Points to the frustration the US Military is facing with the negative media. They know otherwise because they are there, yet have to resort to poor tactics like this to get the good news back home.

[Epidemic]

One would think that the BBC with it's massive resources could track some of these soldiers down and ask them their personal opinion.

I see nothing wrong with signing off on a paper that correctly represents your feelings and observation.

To call these letters fake I would need to know that the soldiers names were either cohersed or falsified.


What I find really interesting (actually maddening) is that the media does not seem to ask the grunts how things are going. Truely amazing how 155,000 players are not even asked questions as to how their mission is going. They only do fluff pieces about daddys who would like to visit their kids. By all means do not ask the soldiers about their impression of current events.

[osprey4]

This was already posted, but if MTAtech feels like beating a dead horse, feel free.

[M_Six]

To call these letters fake I would need to know that the soldiers names were either cohersed or falsified.

I saw an interview with the mother of one of the soldiers. She said her son agreed with everyrthing in the letter and signed it. As far as coercion, there will always be some of that in the military, even if it's unspoken.