ATS: U.S. Military Circumvents The Press Corps

In yet another move by the Bush administration to manage perception, as opposed to changing suspect policies, the U.S. military will launch its own news service in Iraq and Afghanistan to send military video, text and photos directly to the Internet or news outlets. The $6.3 million project, expected to begin operating this month, is one of the largest military public affairs projects in recent memory, and is intended to allow small media outlets in the United States and elsewhere to bypass what the Pentagon views as an increasingly combative press corps.

( buried in) THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER



U.S. officials have complained that Iraq-based media focus on catastrophic events such as car bombs and soldiers' deaths, while giving short shrift to U.S. rebuilding efforts. The project, called Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System or DVIDS, will also give the Pentagon more control of the coverage when calamities do happen.
"We have an unfair advantage," Baucom said. "We're going to be able to get closer to the incident and provide better spokespeople to give the right information. The important thing is that we provide the public with accurate information."

"Better" spokespeople who will provide the "right information"??? It's here folks....we have the nadir convergence of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" with " War is Peace".



[Edited on 6-4-2004 by SkepticOverlord]

This story was widely reported in al-Jazeera last month. I'll try to find the story.

_____________