propaganda at its finest

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Bush Videoconference With Troops Staged

It has emerged that President Bush's nationally televised videoconference with

US troops in Tikrit, Iraq on Thursday was scripted beforehand. The White House

had painted the event as an impromptu conversation with the troops, but video

from the satellite feed before the event gave lie to those claims. The ten US

soldiers and one Iraqi were coached in their answers before the event by Deputy

Assistant Defense Secretary Allison Barber. She stood at the White House podium

where Bush would later stand, she read part of his opening remarks and then

proceeded to outline the questions Bush would ask. At times, she suggested

phrasing for the soldiers' responses. With the referendum on Iraq's constitution

just days away and President Bush's popularity plummeting, the White House

clearly wanted this event to give the impression that the US plan in Iraq was

moving forward.

 

President Bush, " You defeat a backwards dark philosophy with one that is

hopeful. And that hopeful philosophy is one that is based on universal freedom.

I'm very impressed at the Iraqi government to have a constitution that attracts

Sunnis, Shias and Kurds. They worked hard to get a constitution and now the

people of Iraq are going to get to vote again, on a constitution. "

During the brief videoconference, the handpicked soldiers appeared to fawn over

the president. At one point, one told him, " We began our fight against terrorism

in the wake of 9/11, and we're proud to continue it here. " But a telling moment

came when Bush asked the soldiers to comment about their interactions with Iraqi

civilians and Captain David Williams could only cite a second hand account:

 

 

Capt. David Williams, " Sir, I was with my Iraqi counterpart in the city of

Tikrit last week, and he was going around talking to the locals. And from what

he told me that the locals told him, the Iraqi people are ready and eager to

vote in this referendum. "

The videoconference was set in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, which Bush

lightly acknowledged he could not safely visit. Interestingly, Tikrit was the

backdrop for many of Saddam Hussein's propaganda videos. There was one Iraqi

present for the videoconference, Sergeant major Akeel, whose only role was to

tell President Bush " I like you. "

 

When it emerged that the event was staged, reporters grilled White House

spokesperson Scott McClellan, asking him directly about the coaching:

 

 

MR. MCCLELLAN: I'm sorry, are you suggesting that what our troops were saying

was not sincere, or what they said was not their own thoughts?

Q: Nothing at all. I'm just asking why it was necessary to coach them.

 

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, in terms of the event earlier today, the event was set up

to highlight an important milestone in Iraq's history, and to give the President

an opportunity to, once again, express our appreciation for all that our troops

are doing when it comes to defending freedom, and their courage and their

sacrifice.

 

McClellan Says Helen Thomas Against War on Terror

Meanwhile, during the same White House press briefing, McClellan declared that

veteran correspondent Helen Thomas opposes what he called the broader war on

terrorism. His comment came in response to her critical questioning of Bush's

Iraq policy. Eventually ABC's Terry Moran jumped in defending Thomas. Here is

some of the exchange:

 

 

McCLELLAN: Well, you have a very different view of the war on terrorism, and I'm

sure you're opposed to the broader war on terrorism. The President recognizes

this requires a comprehensive strategy, and that this is a broad war, that it is

not a law enforcement matter. Terry.

TERRY MORAN: On what basis do you say Helen is opposed to the broader war on

terrorism?

 

McCLELLAN: Well, she certainly expressed her concerns about Afghanistan and Iraq

and going into those two countries. I think I can go back and pull up her

comments over the course of the past couple of years.

 

MORAN: And speak for her, which is odd.

 

McCLELLAN: No, I said she may be, because certainly if you look at her comments

over the course of the past couple of years, she's expressed her concerns --

 

THOMAS: I'm opposed to preemptive war, unprovoked preemptive war.

 

MR. McCLELLAN: -- she's expressed her concerns.

 

 

When they kick out your front door

How you gonna come?

With your hands on your head

Or on the trigger of your gun

 

When the law break in

How you gonna go?

Shot down on the pavement

Or waiting on death row