FRIDAY'S LETTERS: Job Cuts and Psychological Ops

By: Jay DeFoore The largest news stories of the week included the continuing cutting of newsroom staffs -- with the Tribune Co. being the biggest cutter -- and the discovery of U.S. propaganda being inserted into Iraqi newspapers at the expense of the American taxpayer. Plus, a load of opinion and perspective on everything from the utility of Craigslist to a dispute over Cindy Sheehan's book-signing photos. Here is the week that was.

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A Plea For the Return of Don't-Give-Me-That-Crap-Reporting

Re: So Who is Behind Planting Stories in Iraqi Press?

You are writing about the most secretive, corrupt, manipulative administration ever known to the history of man. You ask who is behind these stories in the Iraqi press? Once again, you're kidding right?

Lets see...who closed down the Iraqi newspaper that was controversial and printing true stories about the Iraqi invasion?

Whose administration was paying Armstrong Williams $240K for Bush 'payola'? Was there an investigation? Ed's Note: Actually, yes, there was. On Sept. 30, E&P reported on the results of a nonpartisan Government Accountability Office investigation which found that the Bush administration had broken the law with its payments to Armstrong, payments the GAO deemed "covert propaganda," and that it also stepped over the line when it hired a public relations company to analyze media perceptions of the Republican Party. What further reporting was done about the GAO report in the mainstream media is another matter.

This case is nothing more than the Bush administration bribing a journalist to color his news reports in favor of a particular point of view. I am not so naive as to think it stopped with Mr. Williams. Take it to the bank, or they did...there are more. Any wonder the press is considered a lapdog and not the watchdog it once was?

Now we hear of a secret U.S. military offensive to plant stories in the Iraqi media. This administration comes out and asks who did this? lol Gimme a C. O. V. E. R U. P!

The slippery slope exists no more; we have gone down it already. This country no longer puts forth the high ideals it once had and which I fought and almost gave my life for. All I yearn for is some good old honest, don't-give-me-that-crap-reporting to return. No one on the horizon. The Presidential Press conferences are a joke. We are toast. I am waiting for someone to dig in and get a clue as to what is happening to this once great country. Reveal, write, report like our lives counted on it, because...they do!

Daniel F. Ciskal
Phoenix, Ariz.

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A Former Marine Weighs in on White Phosphorous Debate

For background on the U.S. military's use of white phosphorous, or "willie pete," in Iraq, see Greg Mitchell's Pressing Issues column.

As a former Marine myself, I am thrilled to have Gen. Pace as CJCS, however, the transcript excerpt you included demonstrated a clear misdirection of information.

You'll notice that most pentagon justifications for using white phosphorous focus on its application for illumination. When so used, the phosphorus shell doesn't explode, it burns...this is a completely different form of WP (aka "Willie Pete," aka white phosphorous) than the weaponized versions that produce deadly, burning clouds upon impact.

It is the weaponized (cloud-version) of WP that is useful to mark targets and screen movement, but neither of those applications were its designed purpose, and are merely useful byproducts of WP's use as a conventional (chemical) weapon.

Here's what is disturbing and misleading; the U.S. has purpose-made ammo for target marking, screening movement, and illumination, and none of them involve exploding clouds of deadly phosphorus. They use colored (and non-colored) smoke and magnesium flares to serve those functions because they are more cost effective and widely distributed than WP, and because they aren't as dangerous and don't cause nearly the collateral damage as WP.

Therefore, there is no justifiable need for using WP when purpose made smoke-shells and flares do the same job for less money and w/o the war-crimes-imaging that accompanies willy pete. The pentagon would be wise to order an immediate stop to the use of WP, recall all WP ordinance from Iraq, and destroy them.

Semper Fi,

Rob "Torch" Ferguson

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A Differing View on WIllie Pete

The most significant insight I gleaned from Mr. Mitchell's editorial was that an American reporter, Mr. Mortenson, confirmed that he did not witness civilians being targeted by US troops using the white phosphorus. The Italian documentary, citing some alleged but "unsubstantiated" claims that civilians were targeted, is as we can expect from the hate-America crowd in Europe, it's rubbish.

One has to remember that Fallujah was a hotbed of Hussein loyalists, so is it not expected that they would falsely accuse the U.S. military of targeting civilians?

In the event that civilians were injured or killed by the use of white phosphorus, that's tragic, but war is an ugly undertaking and non-combatants are sometimes involved. That said, I, as one American, approve, wholeheartedly the military's use of any and every weapon they have available to save the lives of our military personnel and the removal of every Islamic extremist who desires to make war against Americans or the majority of Iraqis who are enjoying their freedom that came at the cost of blood shed by American patriots.

John Salsgiver
Ford City, Pa.

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Chicago Tribune's Problems

In this story, Chicago Tribune Editor Ann Marie Lipinski notes as a reason for cutting 28 editorial staffers:

"But the familiar gale winds that buffet the American economy in general..."

What? See, this is her problem. She's an editor of a major metropolitan newspaper and she thinks the American economy is in bad shape.

It's booming! No wonder the Tribune is in trouble. They don't know what the "news" is.

Arthur Gary

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Re: 'Chicago Tribune' Shutting Down Successor of Legendary City News Bureau

I just read your article on the closing of City News Bureau. I started my career there more than 10 years ago as a copy editor for PR News Service, which was sold off to PR Newswire in 1997. It was sad to know that CNB would eventually find itself in its current state, having been the catapult for some rookie journalists. While PR Newswire has been good to those of us who are still here, I still miss the bunch -- especially Paul, Woody -- and Steve , who just recently passed away.

Even though it's been a while, I'm glad to have been a part of it at all.

Alisa Janiszewski
Editorial Supervisor
PR Newswire

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Ron Silver, Hollywood Crony?

Re: 'NY Times' Sunday Preview: Ron Silver's Mettle

It seems pretty clear that he got his position because he campaigned for Bush last year, getting air time because he was one of the few Hollywood celebrities to be for Bush. I guess Brownie wasn't available for this job so they went with the Silver instead.

Greg Klein
New York, N.Y.

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Psychological Warfare

Re: So Who is Behind Planting Stories in Iraqi Press?

The only thing you left out was where the specific office locations were so that terrorists could bomb the place of business. You are either a fool or you live in a biosphere. Was it the cost of the contracts or the fact that Psychological Operations are actually used as a part of a strategy in Iraq. Have you never heard of Tokyo Rose, or dropping pamphlets from the sky, or those terrorists (when you intentionally kill the innocent, it is terror, not war) showing executions on television and the Internet. This is the same thing. But nobody is killed with words are they? The battle is fought on many battlefields, the one for the hearts and minds of the locals is one of them.

Give me a break, why don't you knock off a little early and go have a pizza and a beer with your friends.

Daniel Patterson

Ed's Note: If you're buying, we'll take a large pepperoni with extra cheese and a Sam Adams.

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Move Along, Nothing to See Here

I fully expect (along with every literate individual I know) that our forces will use propaganda during a time of conflict, as it has since the beginning of time. The fact our military has paid for good PR is not a news story, to treat it as such shows ignorance. It is a fact of war, you know it, I know it, the American public knows it. A real story would be if the military didn't pay for good PR.

Move on, this is not a story.

Roger Wirsing
Los Angeles, Calif.

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Study History

Why are you surprised that it is happening here? Why is this news? Why do you seek to create a negative view of anything that this administration touches? One might think that you were engaged in an anti-war, anti-Bush propaganda program.

Brian Tremblay
Smithfield, N.C.

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Re: Lincoln Group Article

Thanks for the article -- how about a similar article on how that works domestically?

Doug Weber

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Re: AP Unveils New Values

A summary of the AP's new policy, "We at the AP don't have any values or ethics so we are going to stop pretending we do."

Dennis Meyler

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The Craigslist Effect

Re: More People Go Online for Classifieds -- To Craigslist

Yes! It is true! Craigslist rocks. It seems that the print media hasn't figured it out. Craigslist is a simple equation and it works for tons of people. I have bought, sold, and given away tons of things. Granted, it doesn't always work, but I can see the items I want and is actually easier than eBay for transactions. Tons of selections (in the Bay Area) have allowed folks to be choosy in what they are looking for. I think it has also helped save our landfills quite a bit as well... the 'free' items list is amazing. I posted the items below and in 20 minutes had so many inquiries that I had to pull the ad!

I have bought items essentially sight unseen. The bed for my daughter I found on Craigslist five minutes after someone posted it. Called them, told them I would take it as long as it looked the same as the photo when I got to pick it up. Makes it tons easier than eBay as well as you are dealing with computer literate people and higher quality stuff and no shipping or scams!

Rupert Murdoch or Knight Ridder needs to buy Craigslist or do something radical quick or the remainder of their classifieds ad business is going down the tubes. Who under 30 years of age has ever looked at a classified ad? This is the generation of those who buy and sell now.

Sample of some of the transactions I have done:

Bought:
Tree classis Xmas tree
Pottery barn bunk beds
Bose headphones
Maternity clothes

Sold:
Baby clothes
Car
Bike
Stereo equipment
Stroller
Wood filing cabinet

Given away:
10 sheets of drywall that would have gone to the dump
10 concrete stepping stones
roof top antenna!!! (I can't believe someone wanted that thing!)

Vendors Hired:
Licensed electrician
Carpenter
hauling
Mason
landscaper
Painter

John Harrison
"Thirty something in silicon valley."

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Horchak Gets The Last Word

Re: Cindy Sheehan Claims Photos Falsely Implied Her Book Signing was a Flop

I can't believe the letters on this sight display an ignorance of the industry that is common among the general population. I mean this is an industry sight mostly and the people who read and write in should have at least some common sense when writing. For example look at the letters claiming the AP tried to mislead the public on the Sheehan book signing. As another writer wrote the caption said she was waiting for people to come and get their book signed. What is incorrect about that? It did not say it was a flop, even though 100 people in a day from the throng of people who support the anti-war effort is pitiful.

But my point is they said why not use another photo? Well, it's a damn book signing. I am sure AP photographers have better and more newsworthy things to do than hang out for six hours at a public relations event and make sure they get a photo that will make the book publishing people happy. For all that I don't think the whole event was worth a mention in any newspaper except the local paper and it for sure isn't worth the time spent talking about it. I could go on but it is not worth any more of my time.

David J Horchak
Newington, Conn.