# Isn't this a stupid thing for the US to do? \[Secretly paying for Iraqi press stories\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 30, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422 "2005-11-30T18:49:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/1 "2005-11-30T18:49:49Z")
This morning’s _LA Times_ reports that our military has been secretly[paying for good news stories](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-infowar30nov30,0,5638790.story?coll=la-home-headlines) about Iraq in Iraqi newspapers. I think that once such clandestine operations are known, and they are certain to be known, even legitimate stories about any good things are dismissed as mere flackery. Where is it written that our leaders must keep shooting us in the foot? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/2 "2005-11-30T18:57:39Z")
Why did I just know there would be a thread about this when I read my paper this morning? 🙂 Yes, this is incomprehesively stupid. How could anyone think that the truth wouldn’t get out? Why not just do this stuff, if do it we must, above board? Just come right out and say that we are providing some examples of the good work being done by our troops. The mind boggles. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/3 "2005-11-30T19:15:27Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Why did I just know there would be a thread about this when I read my paper this morning? 🙂 > > Yes, this is incomprehesively stupid. How could anyone think that the truth wouldn’t get out? Why not just do this stuff, if do it we must, above board? Just come right out and say that we are providing some examples of the good work being done by our troops. > > The mind boggles. Maybe incompetence, like shit, rolls downhill from the topmost echelon. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/4 "2005-11-30T19:25:59Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Maybe incompetence, like shit, rolls downhill from the topmost echelon. Yes, and the American public is standing at the foot of the hill. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/5 "2005-11-30T19:49:51Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Maybe incompetence, like shit, rolls downhill from the topmost echelon. BTW, that was supposed to be “inocmprehensibly stupid”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/6 "2005-11-30T19:52:02Z")
I find it ironic, if nothing else. You know, freedom fighters subvert freedom of the press. But since the government was found to be paying off American columnists, I’m sure not shocked that they would do the same abroad. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/7 "2005-11-30T20:13:38Z")
You might’ve noticed, **David** , that “stupid” is not a turn-off for the guys in charge these days. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/8 "2005-11-30T20:18:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You might’ve noticed, **David** , that “stupid” is not a turn-off for the guys in charge these days. Since he got re-elected, it’s apparently OK with the public as well. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/9 "2005-11-30T20:24:34Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Yes, this is incomprehesively stupid. > [@](#): > > BTW, that was supposed to be “inocmprehensibly stupid”. Ha! Good times. Nothing to add as to the OP. Stupid, but par for the course and I’m not surprised. This administration has proven it is completely incompetent time and time again. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/10 "2005-11-30T20:35:31Z")
Guys (and gals), this is pretty much SOP miliary propaganda. Not really different than similar work in WWI, II, Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Heck, right now it’s not really that far from SOP for everyday ad companies or special interest groups. Many stories these days are written by some political group and quietly handed out to reporters. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/11 "2005-11-30T20:38:38Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > Guys (and gals), this is pretty much SOP miliary propaganda. Not really different than similar work in WWI, II, Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Heck, right now it’s not really that far from SOP for everyday ad companies or special interest groups. Many stories these days are written by some political group and quietly handed out to reporters. It’s still stupid, especially if you want people to believe you. After this, why would I believe any good news from Iraq ( assuming I believed it before ) ? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/12 "2005-11-30T20:51:35Z")
Well, they are paying Iraqi newspapers, not American ones. And in fact, things _have_ gotten better there over most of the country, statistically and materially. Obviously, the U.S. wants to tell people about it, and will naturally favor itself in doing so.Realistically, the only mistake was not putting a big sign saying this was an American editorial. Stupid? Maybe. But hardly unusual. Everyone has a bias, and as I pointed out, this isn’t really any different from what goes on today all over TV, America newspapers, blogs, radio… ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/13 "2005-11-30T20:53:20Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > Stupid? Maybe. But hardly unusual. Everyone has a bias, and as I pointed out, this isn’t really any different from what goes on today all over TV, America newspapers, blogs, radio… Which is one reason why it’s largely useless garbage. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/14 "2005-11-30T21:05:00Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > And in fact, things _have_ gotten better there over most of the country, statistically and materially. Cite? For instance, what’s the current rate of unemployment? Can Iraqis (living in one of the world’s major oil-producing countries) now buy gasoline without waiting line for hours? Can most of them get clean water? A reliable supply of food? Health care? I ask out of sincere curiosity. I’ve read a lot of stories painting a really horrible picture of a totally dysfunctional society and a hopelessly crippled economy, but those stories are, IIRC, at least several months out of date. (John Crawford’s memoir _The Last True Story I’ll Ever Tell_ ([http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157322314X/qid=1133384510/sr=8-1/ref=pd\_bbs\_1/102-8357406-3872927?n=507846&s=books&v=glance](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157322314X/qid=1133384510/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-8357406-3872927?n=507846&s=books&v=glance)) paints an even worse picture, but he left Iraq within a year or two after the invasion, I think.) ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Sweet\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/15 "2005-11-30T21:43:02Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > Many stories these days are written by some political group and quietly handed out to reporters. I don’t see how that excuses this completely hypocritical subversion of democratic ideals. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/16 "2005-11-30T21:49:12Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > And in fact, things _have_ gotten better there over most of the country, statistically and materially. And we have to pay the people who are the recipients of these better things to say so? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/17 "2005-11-30T21:51:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’ve read a lot of stories painting a really horrible picture of a totally dysfunctional society and a hopelessly crippled economy, but those stories are, IIRC, at least several months out of date. Depends on the time frame you’re comparing it to. Things are most definitely better than they were the first few months after the invasion, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/18 "2005-12-01T00:17:53Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** Edited thread title for clarity. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/19 "2005-12-01T01:45:43Z")
There is no truth in Pravda. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422/20 "2005-12-01T03:06:13Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > There is no truth in Pravda. But there is news in Isvestiya! 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-this-a-stupid-thing-for-the-us-to-do-secretly-paying-for-iraqi-press-stories/333422.md?page=2)