Webb wants review of contracts for pro-U.S. news in Iraq

Posted to: Iraq Military Virginia

By Dale Eisman
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 12, 2008

WASHINGTON

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia wants the Pentagon to freeze up to $300 million in contracts with companies the military is hiring to place pro-U.S. news stories and entertainment programs in the Iraqi media.

Webb wrote Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday to ask that the deals be suspended until they can be reviewed by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the next presidential administration. A freshman Democrat, Webb sits on the Armed Services panel.

With the United States in "a grave economic crisis" and Iraq's government carrying a $79 billion budget surplus drawn from oil exports, "it makes little sense for the U.S. Department of Defense to be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to propagandize the Iraqi people," Webb wrote.

Gates was traveling outside the United States on Thursday. Pentagon spokesman Chris Isleib said in an e-mail that the Defense Department will give "serious consideration" to Webb's proposal.

Webb has been a persistent critic of the Pentagon's use of private firms in Iraq. At his request, Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen launched a detailed review of such contracts.

Jessica Smith, a Webb spokeswoman, said Thursday that the senator's office understands that the review is being carried out by a task force drawn from all the military branches and covers some 1,500 contracts.

The "information warfare" efforts in the four contracts Webb focused on Thursday are part of a dramatic expansion in U.S. efforts to win over Iraqi civilians and enlist their help in identifying and tracking down suspected terrorists. The counterinsurgency doctrine championed by Gen. David Petraeus puts a premium on such "soft power" initiatives.

Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com

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Thanks Jim

Submitted by Citizen 2583 on Mon, 10/13/2008 at 8:09 am.

What's the difference between a republican and a terrorist?

Not much. They both support torture, propaganda and the death of innocent civilians as a means to an end.

Sen. Webb speaks for the majority of Americans who believe terrorists can be defeated without tossing American values out the window.

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What an idiot!!!

Submitted by Jon1982 on Sun, 10/12/2008 at 10:48 pm.

Hope this guy is voted out soon. He is a complete do nothing idiot when it comes to military matters.

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Webb

Submitted by lawrenceb82104 on Sat, 10/11/2008 at 6:34 pm.

He was a failure as Secretary of the Navy. He is no different now.

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I'm sure glad i didn't vote

Submitted by vbsteel on Fri, 10/10/2008 at 1:08 pm.

I'm sure glad i didn't vote for this guy. All he and his ilk want to do is make the other side look bad.

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Webb

Submitted by kstebritz on Fri, 10/10/2008 at 7:36 am.

Another Dem just mucking up the military!

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Disgruntled republican

Submitted by Willy Brown on Fri, 10/10/2008 at 7:32 am.

Jr. Senator Webb sit down, be quiet your tenure in the senate will over soon.

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Webb

Submitted by T Rod on Fri, 10/10/2008 at 7:10 am.

He is a arrogant, pompous jerk. He is trying to dictate the news. He is in his position for his party and himself not the people.

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Senator Webb,

Submitted by Brigitte C. on Fri, 10/10/2008 at 2:40 am.

does, what concerned citizens, who elected him want him to do. Please, read the above printed article again. Senator Webb is not against publishing pro US news. He is against wasting another $300 million dollars that we don't have! The Iraqi stock market is doing fine and they have a $79 billion $ surplus. Americans have sacrificed so much already, just when is enough, enough? What's a few million here and a few billion there, well, that's exactly the ignorant attitude that has bankrupted the government. I appreciate and thank Senator Webb for his diligent and hard work.

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Webb served in Vietnam, he should know better than this

Submitted by HM on Fri, 10/10/2008 at 12:20 am.

Sorry, Jim, I can't agree with you on this. You know full well what is going on as a Vietnam-era vet. If you try to stop this you are showing a clearly partisan side of yourself that trashes your past.

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am i seeing this right? a sitting senator does not want

Submitted by NCguy on Thu, 10/09/2008 at 7:53 pm.

PRO-American information to be desimenated in Iraq? He wants PRO-American information to be held back? He did not say information, he said PRO-American information. Senator Webb, am I missing something here? You do not want positive American things to be transmitted in Iraq? What do you want, NEGATIVE-American things? Congress just approved throwing away $800billion so what is $300million? O yea, it will help the guys on the ground. Positive reinforcement begets positive action. I guess Sen Webb does not want that in Iraq. It looks like he WANTS? our guys and the movement in Iraq to fail? WHY? He did not say it was propaganda, but PRO-American information. Legitamate, honest to goodness good stuff about Americans that show us doing good in Iraq. That aparently is either to costly or just not right for the Senator. Am I missing something with this?

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I thought FauxNews had the Iraq propaganda news contract....

Submitted by TR on Thu, 10/09/2008 at 2:52 pm.

.... since 2002. Is it up for renewal?

Actually, whats old is new again.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html?pagewanted=all

In turn, members of this group have echoed administration talking points, sometimes even when they suspected the information was false or inflated. Some analysts acknowledge they suppressed doubts because they feared jeopardizing their access.

A few expressed regret for participating in what they regarded as an effort to dupe the American public with propaganda dressed as independent military analysis.

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Thanks Senator Webb

Submitted by katet43483 on Thu, 10/09/2008 at 1:31 pm.

It's staggering to contemplate the billions spent on this crazy war. Better oversight of money spent on government contractors can't come soon enough for me!

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