Reaching Iraqis through their own channels

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Ali Hassham, a cameraman with Al-Ayn Media, films a ceremony marking the transfer of an American base to Iraqi control Monday in Baghdad’s Adl neighborhood. American leaders are working with Arabic media to speak directly to the Iraqi people about their country’s growing sovereignty.


Reaching Iraqis through their own channels
By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, February 5, 2009

BAGHDAD — Col. Joseph Martin had an impressive audience when he stood up to speak Monday at a ceremony in Baghdad’s Adl neighborhood to mark the handover of an American base to the Iraqi government. Tribal leaders, local dignitaries and Iraqi generals quietly listened to what he had to say as he spoke about the importance of the transfer to the Iraqi people.

"It’s the peace and prosperity they well deserve, for it’s their great nation," the brigade commander said.

But Martin’s most important audience may have been those who would watch the ceremony later on TV. Earlier that morning, brigade public affairs staff picked up a handful of local reporters to ensure that cameras would transmit the moment into Iraqi homes.

As they begin reducing their presence in Iraq, American units are focusing their media efforts on Arabic organizations. The outreach is an effort to communicate directly to the Iraqi people that the ongoing transfer of responsibility to the Iraqi government is real.

"I don’t know if many people (here) pick up The New York Times," Martin joked.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60484