US Defense Department to spend $300 MILLION DOLLARS on "Pro-American" advertising in Iraq.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100204223.html?wpisrc=newsletter"The Defense Department will pay private U.S. contractors in Iraq up to $300 million over the next three years to produce news stories, entertainment programs and public service advertisements for the Iraqi media in an effort to "engage and inspire" the local population to support U.S. objectives and the Iraqi government."
bullshit
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7 commentsReplies
CocktailsMalIntent said, (51 days ago)
a three hundred million dollar ad campaign? really? if you need to spend that much, i'd tell you to can your product, change your name, and try again with something else because what you were selling wasn't going to fly off the shelves.
actually, i'd probably tell that to the defense department too...if i wanted to be honest.
MisterDarcy said, (51 days ago)
@Mizzchelle:
Money spent on infrastructure in Iraq are done either through major projects (which billions have already been spent on and wasted) or through special funds that are more grassroots (released to commanders on the ground who are working with local towns and small cities).
So before you jump all over the 300m number, there's alot more going on in Iraq.
MisterDarcy said, (50 days ago)
Here's what a quick dirty Google search revealed:
http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rpt/60857.htm
"As of February 2006, we have disbursed $10.5 of the $18.4 billion, funding projects in the security, economic, and political spheres. 83% of the $18.4 billion has been obligated to projects. We have a detailed plan for projects using the remaining funds that will be completed before the close of the 2006 fiscal year."
and
"
* Over 2,700 MW of electricity generation capacity added, rehabilitated, or maintained (at present 30% of total generation capacity).
* Built/repaired water treatment plants for 2.7 million Iraqis and sewerage for 4.9 million.
* Nationwide polio and measles vaccinations improved children’s health.
"
Unfortunately, the bigger issue in Iraq is corruption. They have ~60 billion surplus (Biden says 80b but he's wrong), but like any other third-world country, corruption bleeds lot of the funds away.
Pagne said, (50 days ago)
Fuck this government. Right in its fucking ass. I can't go to the doctor and my body is falling apart. No one can afford healthcare and basic necessitiesd but we can spend 300 MILLION DOLLARS on posters and commericlas? No. Just no. I think it's time to officially revolt.
mizzchelle said, (50 days ago)
@MD: Believe me, I am familiar with the expenses that our government has put forth in Iraq.
My point is that this $300 M expense, while probably only a drop in the bucket compared to all of the other money being spent there, is a totally wasteful and mis-guided expenditure.
I would love to have a total of the marketing dollars put forth by our government to sell this war to US and Iraqi citizens. LOVE. I know it's a much larger number. I mean, didn't Washington pay hundreds of millions to the Rendon Group ALONE over the course of the last 7 years? It's not chump change.
This is fucking ridiculous.
How about spending that money to build schools and infrastructure? How about actually DOING work in Iraq that inspires people to feel that the US has made a positive impact there, instead of wasting money on a bunch of fucking BS that people are going to ignore anyway?