More reason to doubt any good news from Iraq (is there any?)

A gaggle of Republican political appointees staff the Office of Strategic Communications (in Baghdad. Apparently they view their job as making sure President Bush is re-elected. Recent press releases from the propagandists include:

Bremer, Barzani Regret Badran's Resignation; Thank Him for Excellent Service

Scrap Metal Export Licensing Procedure

Iraqi Olympic Hopefuls Arrive in Colorado to Begin Training

Optimists Club Organizes Baghdad Chapter

Beautification Plan for Baghdad Ready to Begin

The Reality is Nothing Like What You See on Television

Here's a piece of the AP story:

The U.S. team stands in deep contrast to the British team that works alongside it, almost all of whom are civil or foreign service employees, not political appointees. Many of the British in Iraq display regional knowledge or language skills that most of the Americans lack.

The drive to re-elect Bush is a sensitive topic. Several coalition officials angered by what they see as CPA politicking -- with U.S. accomplishments in Iraq being trumpeted to help Bush -- grumbled privately, but would not go on record with complaints.

But Gordon Robison, a former CPA contractor who helped build the Pentagon-funded Al-Iraqiya television station in Baghdad, said Republicans in the press room intensely followed the Democratic presidential primaries as John Kerry emerged as the presumed nominee.

"Iraq is in danger of costing George W. Bush his presidency and the CPA's media staff are determined to see that does not happen," Robison said. "I had the impression in dealing with the civilians in the Green Room that they viewed their job as essentially political, promoting what the Coalition Provisional Authority is doing in Iraq as a political arm of the Bush administration," he added.

Our taxes at work. Lovely.

Their job would be so much easier if criticizing the President were a felony or at the very least a high misdemeanor:

There needs to be a law passed where any person who disrespects the "Office of the Presidency" by making false accusations and spreading deliberate rumors about the president, should be charged with a felony or at the very least a high misdemeanor.

You can read more at the link. (This web-page must be a parody--the weird photo of the author in front of the American flag, the mixed metaphors and otherwise poor writing--this can't be a real conservative, can it?) I guess Republicans no longer believe in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (when Republicans are in the White House.)