[US Soldiers stationed in Iraq] Identical letter scam

[Rokenn]

This really doesn't surprise me. The GOP has long used "astroturf" letters to the editor to try and show a grassroots support for it's policies. Here is an example from earlier this year:
BACK BUSH'S JOBS PLAN
(scroll down to find letter)

This letter appeared word for word in many newspapers all over the country around May of this year.

Also back when I used to work in local elections we used to see letters like this as well.

[norompanlasolas]

strange... i received this letter and not even for a moment i thought it would be false!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Mom, I have been serving in Iraq for over five months now as a soldier in the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, otherwise known as the "Hard Rock."

Things have changed tremendously for our battalion since those first cold, wet weeks spent in the mountain city of Bashur. Now the sun is up all the time and the temperature a cool 25ºC. Furthermore, it only rains about an hour a week and there are rainbows to be seen everywhere.

Kirkuk is a hot and dusty city of just over a million people. Or should I say was, because now its cool (those 25ºC I mentioned) and we have swept the dust to neverland and the floor is like a nice green grassy moll. The majority of the city has welcomed our presence with open arms. In fact, our main objective during the day is avoiding the kids and women trying to embrace and kiss us, so desperate they are to show their love to us, their noble saviours (as they themselves call us, mind you). Children smile and run up to shake hands and in their broken English shouting, "Thank you, Mister" "God Bless America" and "Bush for reelection".

Also so far, we have spent $500,000 from the former Iraqi regime to repair each of the station's electricity and plumbing, to paint each station and to make it a functional place for the police to work. Now there are happy faces behind every counter and the good ole star and stripes welcomes everybody into the buildings, along with a beautiful double size colour painting of our great leader, George W.

The battalion has also assisted in re-establishing Kirkuk's fire department, which is now even more effective than before the war, since they used to put out 5 fires a month, and now they are putting out an amazing 10 fires a day, due to suici... problems with the usual commie malcontents.

New water treatment and sewage plants are being constructed and the distribution of oil and gas are steadily improving, so our tanks and fighting vehicles no longer have to suffer long supply lines and we can go anywhere on the cheapest gas you have ever seen! We are working to put this service to the disposition of all hard working Americans as we speak.

Laws are being rewritten to reflect democratic principles and a functioning judicial system was recently established to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the rule of law. So soon the laws will be as effective and just as in, for example, the state of Texas or even Florida.

I am proud of the work we are doing here in Iraq and I hope all of your readers are as well. Because as we all know, it is not easy buildind another country, but we are Americans and even more, American soldiers, so our work is achieving the impossible. And with the help of almighty God, who loves us more than any other people, we will do it. So I say, God Bless America!

[ 10-13-2003, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: norompanlasolas ]

[Rokenn]

Here is a handy goggle link if you want to check how many papers (with online presences) that have published this 'letter':

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...22&sa=N&tab=nw

[ 10-13-2003, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: Rokenn ]

[Timber Loftis]

Look, the letter was distributed and the men were asked to sign it if they agreed and give the names of their hometown newspapers. Nothing wrong with that. When I change jobs or have life events, I write my college so they can publish it in their mag. When we do press releases for citizen's groups, we send them to more than one newspaper.

This is called "clerical error" and while it is a gaff the people publishing it should be embarrassed for, it certainly does not amount to a vast propoganda conspiracy.

Lt. Col. Bill MacDonald, a spokesman for the 4th infantry Division that is heading operations in north-central Iraq, said he had not heard about the letter-writing campaign. Neither had Lt. Cmdr. Nick Balice, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla.

This is more likely a project initiated by some lower ranking officer, wouldn't you think? Perhaps some Captain who distributed it among his platoons, just trying to help out in his own way.

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis:This is called "clerical error" and while it is a gaff the people publishing it should be embarrassed for, it certainly does not amount to a vast propoganda conspiracy. quote: Lt. Col. Bill MacDonald, a spokesman for the 4th infantry Division that is heading operations in north-central Iraq, said he had not heard about the letter-writing campaign. Neither had Lt. Cmdr. Nick Balice, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla.

This is more likely a project initiated by some lower ranking officer, wouldn't you think? Perhaps some Captain who distributed it among his platoons, just trying to help out in his own way. [/QB][/QUOTE]Isn't it against the law to forage a signature on a letter?

[John D Harris]

The BIG WOOPTY DOO is NOT one person can show there was a single lie told IF anyopne even bothered to read the artical NOT ONE OF THE SOLDIERS disagreed with the letter. Face it folks you're just looking for something to piss'n moun' about. So what they had a propaganda campiagn, Nobody can show there is a single lie told. Propaganda is not bad if it is the truth.

I CHALLENGE YOU folks show a lie, come on it can't be to hard since people have sure as "Hale" gone out of their way to say a lie exists. Show me the lie in what was writen, Naaa don't bother I understand it would be to much WORK to read the artical look at the FACTS and remove any opinion, so just give me my GD yellow card.
John D. Harris

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by John D Harris: The BIG WOOPTY DOO is NOT one person can show there was a single lie told IF anyopne even bothered to read the artical NOT ONE OF THE SOLDIERS disagreed with the letter. Face it folks you're just looking for something to piss'n moun' about. So what they had a propaganda campiagn, Nobody can show there is a single lie told. Propaganda is not bad if it is the truth. I CHALLENGE YOU folks show a lie, come on it can't be to hard since people have sure as "Hale" gone out of their way to say a lie exists. Show me the lie in what was writen, Naaa don't bother I understand it would be to much WORK to read the artical look at the FACTS and remove any opinion, so just give me my GD yellow card. John D. Harris

So John, I guess you would not mind me signing your name on a Letter to the Editor that you did not write, even if it agreed with your views?

Also if you are going to say hell stop hiding it behind a euphemism. It's tired and annoying.

[Chewbacca]

This obvious attempt to balance out the near daily news of killings, bombings, shootings, riots and civil discontent would have been alot more sincere and meaningful if individual soldiers would have written individual letters.

[Donut]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: I write my college

That's the difference between you and the soldiers. Why mislead the American people by not indicating the true author? What was the motive?

[Donut]

Originally posted by John D Harris: The BIG WOOPTY DOO is NOT one person can show there was a single lie told IF anyopne even bothered to read the artical NOT ONE OF THE SOLDIERS disagreed with the letter. Face it folks you're just looking for something to piss'n moun' about. So what they had a propaganda campiagn, Nobody can show there is a single lie told. Propaganda is not bad if it is the truth. I CHALLENGE YOU folks show a lie, come on it can't be to hard since people have sure as "Hale" gone out of their way to say a lie exists. Show me the lie in what was writen, Naaa don't bother I understand it would be to much WORK to read the artical look at the FACTS and remove any opinion, so just give me my GD yellow card. John D. Harris

It's called lying by omission. A letter from a hometown boy carries more weight. So they deliberately misled people. Simple as that.