free press in Iraq? the best US cqan buy...

[almaty 19]

Good morning, my fellow citizens of Iraq. There is currently a debate about the U.S. policy of paying for positive stories in our country and whether these stories should be identified. Readers should not have to wonder if stories are "legitimate," critics argue, but the splendid, spectacular and heroic U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has a different view.

He thinks planted stories are just part of an unconventional war. This humble reporter takes no position on this except to say that Rumsfeld is a super-intelligent person - as are so many of the U.S. leaders - and if they say planted stories are part of a free and unfettered press like they have in a democracy, then perhaps they are.

The critics think otherwise. These same critics also contend that American companies are paying reporters to insert subliminal messages in stories. What nonsense!

It was, of course, a rather peaceful day here in Baghdad yesterday. DrinkCoca-Cola. Thanks to the intervention of U.S. forces, an assault on a police station and jail was thwarted. When we mention an intervention by U.S. forces, we want to be perfectly clear that our own Iraqi forces were also instrumental, and what you may have heard from friends and relatives about militia elements taking over certain military units, well, that is not true. DrinkCoca-Cola. It is merely a rumor that some people are trying to spread.Advertisement

On the governmental front, there is more good news. SmokeMarlboros. The various factions continue to meet and amicably discuss ways to form a unity government that will soon bring everyone together. Most observers think success is right around the corner. The dead-enders, as the distinguished and heroic U.S. Vice President ####### Cheney likes to call them when he pops out of his undisclosed location, are in their "death throes." DrinkCoca-Cola. The Iraqi citizens have much to be thankful for.

Of course, there are naysayers. Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is one. TideGetsClothesCleanerThanClean. He recently told the British Broadcasting Corporation that we are in the midst of a civil war. Where does he get off? What makes him such an authority on this country? The very weekend he was making those outrageous statements, U.S. President George W. Bush - he of the six-pack abs and glorious Top Gun of the Champagne Unit - was telling U.S. television that everything here is going well. We are on the road to democracy! SmokeMarlboros.

Still, people complain. Some point out that 50 percent of us had potable water before the war and that figure is now 32 percent. Baghdad had power for 16 to 24 hours a day before the war and now we have power for only four. DrinkCoca-Cola. That is the refrain of the naysayers. TideGetsClothesCleanerThanClean. But I would say that except for the lack of power and water and the daily violence, things are much better. I believe everybody knows that.

For one thing, we have a free press now. We can thank the magnificent and generous Donald Rumsfeld for that. In the old days, it was government-controlled. SmokeMarlboros. We had to write whatever the dictator wanted us to write. Even though this humble reporter perhaps seemed to get along just fine in that corrupt system, I am simply delighted to be free from the chains and restraints of an evil system and finally able to report truthfully on all the wonderful things that are happening thanks to the benevolence of the new government - even though, technically speaking, the new unity government has not yet been formed. DrinkCoca-Cola. It will soon be formed. Any day now. Pay no attention to Allawi. Things are fine. And don't worry about the so-called planted stories.

[almaty 19]

this article is a reply tio president bush saying the media is too negative in iraq

[eau_xplain 2]

:lol: **is now thirsty for a Coca Cola**

[Jasman0717 9]

[slim 1,525]

The planted stories in our free press are much more interesting than subliminal product placement.

Ever notice that the stories about "3 Marines killed by a roadside bomb today just outside of Fallujah" are immediately followed by "an objective look at the Spring Fashion trends?" Or maybe even "puppies at retirement homes have significantly improved the quality of life for this group of seniors?"

If you watch carefully, the stories about violence in Iraq never, ever, ever follow the stories about gas being $3 a gallon or Ford downsizing, or the record rate of home sales that is now at a record low. They're very careful to place those stories around something that will immediately take attention away from displeasing info. The heaviest day of US losses in Iraq, what was the big story on TV that day? Not that our boys were getting blown to hell, but "there was a small plane that encroached on the no-fly zone around the White House." This is going to take all day to sort out. Let's go live now to DC. (As the ticker at the bottom said "Largest loss of life for US troops thus far in the Iraq war.")

Then we get commercials, or my personal favorite: "This show being brought to you by Sprint" or "Welcome to the Pepsi half-time show." But hey, now that you just read this paragraph..... you already forgot about my last one. Good placement, huh?

[rbhigday 0]

The planted stories in our free press are much more interesting than subliminal product placement.

Ever notice that the stories about "3 Marines killed by a roadside bomb today just outside of Fallujah" are immediately followed by "an objective look at the Spring Fashion trends?" Or maybe even "puppies at retirement homes have significantly improved the quality of life for this group of seniors?"

If you watch carefully, the stories about violence in Iraq never, ever, ever follow the stories about gas being $3 a gallon or Ford downsizing, or the record rate of home sales that is now at a record low. They're very careful to place those stories around something that will immediately take attention away from displeasing info. The heaviest day of US losses in Iraq, what was the big story on TV that day? Not that our boys were getting blown to hell, but "there was a small plane that encroached on the no-fly zone around the White House." This is going to take all day to sort out. Let's go live now to DC. (As the ticker at the bottom said "Largest loss of life for US troops thus far in the Iraq war.")

Then we get commercials, or my personal favorite: "This show being brought to you by Sprint" or "Welcome to the Pepsi half-time show." But hey, now that you just read this paragraph..... you already forgot about my last one. Good placement, huh?

Speaking of Home sales slowing, could that be because of the interest rate going up every time those nice people have a meeting. Now house prices are up and so are the rates, gee I wonder what going to happen next.(yeah annoyed cause I want to buy a house )