MSM Steps Up Propaganda Campaign Against US Military

How else to explain the grossly offensive way that Washington Post writer Thomas E. Ricks chose to phrase his "exposé" disclosing that [gasp] the American military would like Iraqis to think badly of brutal terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi? [emphasis added to excerpt below]

The U.S. military is conducting a propaganda campaign to magnify the role of the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, according to internal military documents and officers familiar with the program. The effort has raised his profile in a way that some military intelligence officials believe may have overstated his importance and helped the Bush administration tie the war to the organization responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The idea that publicizing the undisputed terrorist acts of Zarqawi in an effort to cut off any support he has among the Iraqi populace is somehow nefarious is ridiculous. This is the man who sawed off Nick Berg's head.

Ricks is likewise outraged that the US "home audience" is part of the "propaganda operation". Horrors! Everyone knows that only mainstream journalists are allowed to target American citizens with propaganda. Actually, Ricks' outrage seems to be jealousy that a New York Times reporter, Dexter Filkins, was given a scoop that Ricks missed out on. Since it wasn't given to Ricks it's not a "tip", it's a "leak".

In his zeal to damage the Bush administration, reporter Ricks has betrayed his profession, as well as his country.

Also posted at The Jawa Report and Vince Aut Morire.