Form Letters from Iraq

Via Hesiod, a military public affairs officer sent form letters to newspapers across the United States on or about 9/11/03. Each of the identical letters was signed by a member of the 2nd/503rd Airborne, which is stationed near Kirkuk. The letters say that things are difficult, but getting better every day. Each letter ends: "This is all evidence that the work we are doing as a battalion and as American soldiers is bettering the lives of Kirkuk's citizens. I am proud of the work we are doing here in Iraq and I hope all of your readers are as well." The letters were published in at least eleven newspapers in Washington, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Another paper received identical letters from two soldiers and declined to publish either, because of a policy against publishing form letters.

Six of the soldiers whose names appear on the letters could be located. They do agree with the thrust of the letters, but they confirmed that they didn't write them. One didn't sign it and was surprised to hear that it appeared over his signature.

I assume that the 11 (or, probably, more) soldiers who signed the form letter agree they're doing a good job in Kirkuk. It just seems sleazy to have officers putting words into the mouths of ordinary soldiers in order that the "good news" be trumpeted back home, just in time for the 9/11 anniversary.

(Via P6.)

Update: Of course, Professor Glenn Reynolds, the Hack of Record (I refuse to link the bastard directly), is spinning an unbelievably benign version of this story: "What seems to have happened is that somebody wrote a letter and asked his buddies to sign it; most of them did." Crap. Does anyone believe that a public affairs officer didn't write that letter? It sounds exactly like a press release, and that's what it is.

Update #2: Examine the enlargements of the letters in this link closely. The two letters are from soldiers in different companies. Kind of undercuts the idea that somebody passed out copies of a letter (with the names typewritten!) to their "buddies", doesn't it?

Updated #3 (10/14/03): ABC News confirms the letters were prepared at the direction of the Battalion CO, Lt. Col. Dominic Caraccilo.

Comments

[Derek Gilbert]

ABC is reporting that the battalion commander drafted the letter and made it available to troops. I understand why he did it--the soldiers' frustration that the real story isn't getting out is pretty high--but it was a bad idea.

[Mithras]

"The soldiers' frustration that the real story is not getting out is pretty high"

Okay, I will need sources on the frustration and the "real story" thing. Because, right-wing spin aside, I think the real story has been getting out, and if the soldiers are frustrated, it's because the Iraqis don't seem to want them there.

[vince lini]

I was in Desert Storm and wrote a letter home that was published in the local paper. It was my words, my feelings. That's the way it should be. This is propoganda. Do you think a soldier will tell his CO "no" I'm not going to allow my name used. How much guard duty do you want?

[Mithras]

Yeah, I think the battalion CO really screwed up. Things could be going great, and this kind of crap makes it look like they have to manufacture their good news.

I heard a report today that 500 letters were actually sent out - about half the troops in Kirkuk. I can't believe that anyone higher than division was involved in this - it's so clumsy and stupid.