Firm That Planted Propaganda Stories Gets New Pentagon Deal

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700603.html


By REBECCA SANTANA
The Associated Press
Wednesday, September 27, 2006; 9:56 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A public relations company that participated in a controversial U.S. military program that paid Iraqi newspapers for stories favorable to coalition forces has been awarded another multimillion-dollar media contract with American forces in Iraq.

Washington-based Lincoln Group won a two-year contract to monitor a number of English and Arabic media outlets and produce public relations-type products like talking points or speeches for U.S. forces in Iraq, officials said Tuesday.

"Lincoln Group is proud to be trusted to assist the multinational forces in Iraq with communicating news about their vital work," Lincoln Group spokesman Bill Dixon said in a statement. Details about the contract were confirmed by the U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, and were described in documents posted on a federal government Web site outlining contracts awarded.

The contract is worth roughly $6.2 million per year over a two-year period, Johnson said.

[Patsy Stone]

1. Look, a good propagandist is hard to find

You gotta stick with what works.

Oy. Nothing for the Rendon Group? They must be so bummed.

[0007]

3. Like Arthur Anderson is good at cooking books these guys, the

"Lincoln Group is proud to be trusted to assist God's Will in Iraq with junior and Dick Cheney lies.

Makes 'ya proud to be an American, almost!

[farmbo]

2. Their job (I'm NOT making this up!): To watch FOX and read the NYT...

From the article:

<snip>The list of media outlets to be watched includes the New York Times, Fox Television and the satellite channel, Al-Arabiya.<snip>

"I wish that our problem in Iraq was that the military wasn't getting good PR," Andrews said. "The problem seems to be that the country is sliding into civil war."<snip>

And, just by the way, this appears to be yet another "no bid" contract:

<snip>Johnson could not comment on how the Lincoln Group was chosen, saying it was a "standard contracting process." He said the contract did not include any provisions to purchase favorable coverage or pay for favorable stories. The Lincoln Group would not comment on the contract beyond the statement issued.<snip>

"standard contracting process" in Bushspeak = "no bid sweetheart deal to partisan cronies"

:grr: