WASHINGTON - The Bush administration, battling negative perceptions of the Iraq war, is sending Iraqi-Americans to deliver what the Pentagon calls ``good news'' about Iraq to U.S. military bases and has curtailed distribution of reports showing increasing violence in that country.
The unusual public relations effort by the Pentagon and the U.S. Agency for International Development comes as details have emerged showing that the U.S. government and a representative of President Bush's re-election campaign were heavily involved in drafting the speech given to Congress last week by interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. Combined, they indicate that the federal government is working assiduously to improve Americans' opinions about the Iraq conflict - a key element of Bush's re-election message.
Security Contractor Silenced
USAID said this week that it will restrict distribution of reports by contractor Kroll Security International showing that the number of daily attacks by insurgents in Iraq has increased. On Monday, a day after The Washington Post published a front-page story saying ``the Kroll reports suggest a broad and intensifying campaign of insurgent violence,'' a USAID official sent an e-mail to congressional aides stating: ``This is the last Kroll report to come in. After the WPost story, they shut it down in order to regroup. I'll let you know when it restarts.''
Asked about the Kroll reports Wednesday, USAID spokesman Jeffrey Grieco said:``The agency has restricted its circulation to those contractors and grantees who continue to work in Iraq.'' He said the reports were given to congressional officials who sought them, but the Kroll reports will now be ``restricted to those who need it for security planning in Iraq.'' An agency official said the decision was unrelated to the Post story and was based on a fear that the reports ``would fall into insurgents' hands.''
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's office has sent commanders of U.S. military facilities a five-page memorandum titled ``Guidance to Commanders.'' The Pentagon, the memo says, is sponsoring a group of Iraqi- Americans and former officials from the Coalition Provisional Authority to speak at military bases throughout the United States starting Friday to provide ``a firsthand account'' of events in Iraq. The Iraqi-Americans and the coalition officials worked on establishing the interim Iraqi government. The Iraqi-Americans ``feel strongly that the benefits of the coalition efforts have not been fully reported,'' the memo says.
The memo says the presentations are ``designed to be uplifting accounts with good news messages.'' Rumsfeld's office, which will pay for the tour, recommends that the installations seek local news coverage.
The memo anticipates controversy. ``It is well understood that the efforts and sacrifices associated with Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom have resulted in a significant human toll,'' it says. ``As such, emotions and apprehensions may run high in response to the conduct of these visits.'' The memo offered reassurance that those on the tour ``are not political policy-makers'' and said base commanders ``are in the best position on how to market this voluntary attendance program effectively.''
Lt. Col. Joe Richard, a Pentagon spokesman, said most of the Iraqi-Americans are teachers who will be emphasizing improvements made to the Iraqi education system. He said the participants want to ``provide some perspective on the operation'' in Iraq. ``I wouldn't characterize it as unusual,'' Richard said. ``There are provisions that allow for it.''
Scripted Address?
White House spokesman Scott McClellan, asked Tuesday about similarities between Bush's statements about Iraq and the wording of Allawi's speech to Congress last week, said he did not know of any help U.S. officials gave with the speech. ``None that I know of,'' he said before adding, ``No one at the White House.'' McClellan said he did not know whether the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad had seen the speech.
However, administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the prime minister was coached and aided by the U.S. government, its allies and friends of the administration. Among them was Dan Senor, former spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority who has more recently represented the Bush campaign in media appearances. Senor, who has denied writing the speech, sent Allawi recommended phrases. He also helped Allawi rehearse with a TelePrompTer while the interim prime minister was in New York for the U.N. General Assembly last week, officials said. Senor declined to comment.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and British Foreign Service officials also helped Allawi with the text and delivery of his remarks, said administration officials who were involved.
The unusual public relations effort by the Pentagon and the U.S. Agency for International Development comes as details have emerged showing that the U.S. government and a representative of President Bush's re-election campaign were heavily involved in drafting the speech given to Congress last week by interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. Combined, they indicate that the federal government is working assiduously to improve Americans' opinions about the Iraq conflict - a key element of Bush's re-election message.
Security Contractor Silenced
USAID said this week that it will restrict distribution of reports by contractor Kroll Security International showing that the number of daily attacks by insurgents in Iraq has increased. On Monday, a day after The Washington Post published a front-page story saying ``the Kroll reports suggest a broad and intensifying campaign of insurgent violence,'' a USAID official sent an e-mail to congressional aides stating: ``This is the last Kroll report to come in. After the WPost story, they shut it down in order to regroup. I'll let you know when it restarts.''
Asked about the Kroll reports Wednesday, USAID spokesman Jeffrey Grieco said:``The agency has restricted its circulation to those contractors and grantees who continue to work in Iraq.'' He said the reports were given to congressional officials who sought them, but the Kroll reports will now be ``restricted to those who need it for security planning in Iraq.'' An agency official said the decision was unrelated to the Post story and was based on a fear that the reports ``would fall into insurgents' hands.''
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's office has sent commanders of U.S. military facilities a five-page memorandum titled ``Guidance to Commanders.'' The Pentagon, the memo says, is sponsoring a group of Iraqi- Americans and former officials from the Coalition Provisional Authority to speak at military bases throughout the United States starting Friday to provide ``a firsthand account'' of events in Iraq. The Iraqi-Americans and the coalition officials worked on establishing the interim Iraqi government. The Iraqi-Americans ``feel strongly that the benefits of the coalition efforts have not been fully reported,'' the memo says.
The memo says the presentations are ``designed to be uplifting accounts with good news messages.'' Rumsfeld's office, which will pay for the tour, recommends that the installations seek local news coverage.
The memo anticipates controversy. ``It is well understood that the efforts and sacrifices associated with Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom have resulted in a significant human toll,'' it says. ``As such, emotions and apprehensions may run high in response to the conduct of these visits.'' The memo offered reassurance that those on the tour ``are not political policy-makers'' and said base commanders ``are in the best position on how to market this voluntary attendance program effectively.''
Lt. Col. Joe Richard, a Pentagon spokesman, said most of the Iraqi-Americans are teachers who will be emphasizing improvements made to the Iraqi education system. He said the participants want to ``provide some perspective on the operation'' in Iraq. ``I wouldn't characterize it as unusual,'' Richard said. ``There are provisions that allow for it.''
Scripted Address?
White House spokesman Scott McClellan, asked Tuesday about similarities between Bush's statements about Iraq and the wording of Allawi's speech to Congress last week, said he did not know of any help U.S. officials gave with the speech. ``None that I know of,'' he said before adding, ``No one at the White House.'' McClellan said he did not know whether the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad had seen the speech.
However, administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the prime minister was coached and aided by the U.S. government, its allies and friends of the administration. Among them was Dan Senor, former spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority who has more recently represented the Bush campaign in media appearances. Senor, who has denied writing the speech, sent Allawi recommended phrases. He also helped Allawi rehearse with a TelePrompTer while the interim prime minister was in New York for the U.N. General Assembly last week, officials said. Senor declined to comment.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and British Foreign Service officials also helped Allawi with the text and delivery of his remarks, said administration officials who were involved.
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