McClellan: Our Minister of Misinformation

Scott McClellan reminds me of Saddam Hussein's Minister of Information, Muhammad Sai'd Al Sahhaf... kind of.

For those who have forgotten or are too young to remember, Al Sahhaf was the most visible and colorful Iraqi official during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, until a day before the fall of Baghdad on April 9 of that year, when he vanished. Much of the information given by Al Sahhaf during the war was clearly inaccurate. However, for several weeks, Al Sahhaf enthralled world media with statements such as, "the Iraqi army is sending back the 'Oulouj' (the mercenaries) in body bags ... back to where they had crawled from," and "there are no American infidels in Baghdad," at a time when American tanks were pouring into the Iraqi capital.

A couple of months later, after having been interrogated by the US forces and released, Al Sahhaf re-surfaced in the United Arab Emirates where he reportedly received more than a quarter million dollars for interviews about the last days of the war and the old Iraqi regime he recorded on Abu Dhabi and Al Arabiya channels.

This week we have learned that the Bush Administration used similar tactics to mislead the public during the Iraqi War according to former White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan.

In his book, What Happened, he accuses President Bush of "self-deception" saying his administration relied on an aggressive "political propaganda campaign" instead of truth to sell the Iraq war. Scott McClellan is also cashing in but his take will be far greater than Al Sahhaf's.

Meanwhile, Arab media has been abuzz with "I told you so" editorials and television talk show debates. Many analysts felt vindicated about having questioned how the Bush Administration justified its invasion of Iraq: the WMD's program that Saddam Hussein was allegedly conducting in movable train carts. Some also claimed that the U.S. has been exaggerating the success of the surge in Iraq. If you recall, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had accused Al Jazeera TV of spreading "vicious lies" in the aftermath of the war.

Last night, an Arab commentator boasted, "you see, the Americans also have a Minister of Misinformation, just like we do here in many countries in the Middle East. There are two differences though: First, they call him White House Press Secretary. Second, unlike here in the Middle East the American public does not know that he is lying."

Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report on Link TV

Follow Jamal Dajani on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamaldajani

Comments

[heal57]

11:48 AM on 06/01/2008

Well, I just have to say this: Bob Dole in his holier-than-thou remarks condeming Scott McClellan of being in 'it' for prestige and for the money!!??
Excuse me, Mr. Dole but you can bet Scott McClellan won't be advertising on tv for erectile dyfunction medication like YOU did FOR THE MONEY!!!


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[justice2008]

02:58 PM on 05/30/2008

I think that the book itself is an indictment of McClellan and company because he after all admits that he lied to the American people. No wonder that the Bush's mouthpieces like Ari Fleicher are on the attack denouncing him.

[newsjunkie5]

02:19 PM on 05/30/2008

I agree with both of your comments. On the other hand, however, the reality is that this IS their job. Both Al Sahhaf and McClellan were hired and paid to spin stories and disseminate propaganda, regardless of how many lies they had to tell in the process. This is not only the case in Iraq and the U.S., but around the world. The reality is that this will never change, regardless of who holds this position. I think the important issue here is not that they lie, because that's a given, but rather having an educated public that thinks for themselves and can differentiate between the truth and propaganda. Also, a public that demands the truth from its government and media outlets. When this begins happening, especially in the U.S., then maybe then and only then will we have less propaganda and more truthful reporting.

[leonardox1]

09:26 PM on 05/30/2008

Do you mean that if you are paid to lie and to mislead then it's OK? This is what some of the Nazi officers said after WWII that they were following orders to commit murder. This might not sound as bad but by lying to millions of Americans more than four thousand US troops lost their lives for lies...this murder!

[jad114]

11:41 AM on 05/31/2008

I agree. I think that Liar Scottie and all those in the Bush Administration engaged in lies and deception should go to jail!

[newsjunkie5]

01:54 PM on 06/03/2008

No, that is not what I'm saying. I don't think its ever right to lie whether you are being paid or not. However, what I am saying is that unfortuantely within the framework of our government we do have a position titled "Press Secretary," among the President's staff, and that staff members job, in particular, is to disseminate information based on what is given to him/her by the President and key advisors. Whether the information is true and accurate or lies and propaganda, it is not for that individual to question (otherwise they would not hold that position). The White House strategically places individuals in that position that they know will take information given them and spin it in a way to best serve the administration's interests. Believe it or not, most of the time it is in the adminstration's best interest to keep the public stupid. This is why I believe it is "our" duty to seek out the truth rather than just swallowing was is fed to us by the administration. Especially this adminstration!

[leonardox1]

12:27 PM on 05/30/2008

Very funny! but sadly true. God only knows what this administration has been concoting for the past seven and half years!

[jad114]

11:15 AM on 05/30/2008

Al Sahhaf lied ... but did he cause the death of close to a million Iraqis and more than four thousand Americans and waisted a trillion dollars?