Coalition Provisional Authority hires top British PR firm to spin Year Two

[donsu]

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=16641

Coming soon to Iraq: The Passion of the Handover
Occupation's bad news beat goes on as the Coalition Provisional Authority hires top British PR firm to spin Year Two

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With the so-called handover of power to Iraq's Coalition Provisional Authority only a few months away, the CPA is going back to the PR well, awarding a $5.8 million contract to the British public relations firm Bell Pottinger Public Affairs "to promote the establishment of democracy as the country recovers from war," the Holmes Report recently announced.

Led by company founder Lord Tim Bell, who according to The Independent, "masterminded Margaret Thatcher's rise to power in 1979," Bell Pottinger -- one of the largest public relations companies in the United Kingdom, and one of 14 companies operating within the public relations division of Chime Communications PLC -- will lead a consortium that includes the Dubai-based advertising agency Bates PanGulf and the media services company Balloch & Roe, which already has offices in Baghdad. Corporate Watch reported in 1999 that Lord Bell "can also boast on his CV the following illustrious clients: South Africa's National Party; the Coal Board during the 1984 miners' strike; post-Dayton, Milosevic-led Yugoslavia."

A company spokesperson said that it would inform "the Iraqi people about the democratic process that will see sovereignty returned to an interim Iraqi administration, the conduct of democratic elections, and the establishment of a new constitution for Iraq" by employing a multi-media strategy, including television, print, outdoor posters, and leaflets. If necessary, it would convene town hall meetings as well.

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According to Principles of Salesmanship 101, every deal needs a dependable closer. Is Bell Pottinger's Lord Bell up to the task? Will he bring back Maggie Thatcher? Will he persuade Mel Gibson to pull together a director's cut of "The Passion of The Handover" in time for an Easter Sunday premiere?

If he doesn't do the former and can't do the latter, Baghdad Bob and Lt. General Boykin might be available.
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now they are outsourcing propaganda