Iraqi democracy: the sales pitch

By Clayton Collins | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

On the television screen, an elderly Iraqi man sits at a desk, carefully folding pieces of paper that suggest ballots. "I choose to live in peace," says a voice-over, in Arabic. "I choose justice and stability." With a fountain pen, he checks a box that takes the shape of Iraq. "I, an Iraqi, choose one Iraq."

The 30-second spot, which began airing in Iraq May 8, ends with the blue oval insignia of the Transitional Administrative Law and the same mellifluous audio kicker - "an Iraq of hope and peace" - that has capped similar ads in recent weeks.


The TAL is the work of the Coalition Provisional Authority, which will run Iraq until the planned June 30 handover. The ad, versions of which appear on radio and in print, was produced by a Western public-relations firm hired this spring by the CPA to reach Iraqis clustered around a rising number of satellite TVs.

Its job: to sell democracy.

Few would debate that the US-led coalition needs some potent PR in Iraq right now, with new evidence of the humiliating treatment of Iraqi prisoners emerging almost daily. Bell Pottinger Communications, a London agency, beat out four other bidders this spring for the chance to provide it.

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more:http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0513/p11s02-woiq.html

MODS - hadn't seen or heard about this before, but if it's not LBN please move. Thanks :)

In a Time Magazine article about Paul Bremer, it said we've spent nearly half a billion dollars so far to educate Iraq about democracy.

Remember when Bush said Iraq is "yearning for democracy"? I guess they're playing hard-to-get so we have to give them the hard sales pitch.

"The key in Iraq today: Play up the benefits of democracy - freedom, security, prosperity - rather than the word itself.... Democracy is confusing."

Gee, freedom, security, and prosperity -- where can I buy some?


"Though in terms of shaping public opinion,...events will always beat out ads."

Does that make sense to you Mr. Rove and Ms. Hughes?