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Djinn Raffo · 03-27-2003, 03:35 PM

Canada's contribution: Dion

Anne Marie Owens
National Post

Celine Dion, the sentimental Canadian crooner who delayed her Hollywood Walk of Fame installation yesterday in deference to the war, is playing a more direct role in the military action.

If experts at the U.S. Army's 4th Psychological Operations Group are correct, the diva's music could be instrumental in convincing Iraqi soldiers to surrender.

Francine Chaloult, Ms. Dion's spokeswoman, said the singer would be very happy to hear her music is being used as one of the "weapons of mass persuasion" employed by the U.S. military in an initiative that blasts Western music and propaganda over Iraqi airwaves in the hopes it will help break enemy morale.

"She thinks it's terrible for the people in Iraq," said Ms. Chaloult, who is in Las Vegas to help Ms. Dion launch a glitzy new spectacle at Caesar's Palace next week. "I am sure she would be happy to do anything to help."

When Ms. Dion announced she was cancelling her scheduled Walk of Fame appearance, she said, "My thoughts and prayers are with the men, women and children who are involved in this at home and overseas."

Her music, along with tunes by Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks and Santana, is being played in regular cycles on Iraqi airwaves each night, courtesy of Commando Solo, the military's psychological warfare broadcaster. The songs, which have been chosen because they are apparently popular with the Iraqis, are played in between messages that tell people to lay down their arms and stay out of harm's way.

"The music is there for entertainment value -- they hear us broadcasting it and it draws them in," explained Lieutenant Edward Shank of the 193rd Special Operations Wing, which runs the Commando Solo program.

The Canadian chanteuse's elevation to American wartime warbler is not surprising: Ms. Dion has a long history of being embraced by the U.S. during its most emblematic moments of nationhood: she sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl and God Bless America in a memorial for the World Trade Center bombings.

03-27-2003, 03:35 PM	#1
Djinn Raffo Ra Join Date: March 11, 2001 Location: Ant Hill Age: 50 Posts: 2,397	source: National Post Canada's contribution: Dion Anne Marie Owens National Post Celine Dion, the sentimental Canadian crooner who delayed her Hollywood Walk of Fame installation yesterday in deference to the war, is playing a more direct role in the military action. If experts at the U.S. Army's 4th Psychological Operations Group are correct, the diva's music could be instrumental in convincing Iraqi soldiers to surrender. Francine Chaloult, Ms. Dion's spokeswoman, said the singer would be very happy to hear her music is being used as one of the "weapons of mass persuasion" employed by the U.S. military in an initiative that blasts Western music and propaganda over Iraqi airwaves in the hopes it will help break enemy morale. "She thinks it's terrible for the people in Iraq," said Ms. Chaloult, who is in Las Vegas to help Ms. Dion launch a glitzy new spectacle at Caesar's Palace next week. "I am sure she would be happy to do anything to help." When Ms. Dion announced she was cancelling her scheduled Walk of Fame appearance, she said, "My thoughts and prayers are with the men, women and children who are involved in this at home and overseas." Her music, along with tunes by Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks and Santana, is being played in regular cycles on Iraqi airwaves each night, courtesy of Commando Solo, the military's psychological warfare broadcaster. The songs, which have been chosen because they are apparently popular with the Iraqis, are played in between messages that tell people to lay down their arms and stay out of harm's way. "The music is there for entertainment value -- they hear us broadcasting it and it draws them in," explained Lieutenant Edward Shank of the 193rd Special Operations Wing, which runs the Commando Solo program. The Canadian chanteuse's elevation to American wartime warbler is not surprising: Ms. Dion has a long history of being embraced by the U.S. during its most emblematic moments of nationhood: she sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl and God Bless America in a memorial for the World Trade Center bombings.