The 3 Stooges of Baghdad

If you haven't heard of the US govt. propaganda effort in Afghanistan and Iraq, you'd be proud of how your taxpayers are used to spread the gospel of freedom and self-interest, aka "the American Way."

A mini-scandal broke out when it was revealed that American "psy-ops" units were planting pro-American articles in Irai newspapers. Some detractors saw it as contrary to the espoused American value of a free press. Others, in support of the clandestine operation, argued that the articles simply countered terrorist propaganda in the effort.

Anrecent article in the NYTimes gives an inside look at the Fayetteville, North Carolina-based Defense operations that spearheads this effort. With a budget of billions and a workforce of over 1,000, the effort is contracted out to the Lincoln Group.

These guys are not without humor. One idea they floated to the higher pay grades--shot down, unfortunately to my mind--was writing and producing a Three Stooges-style show for TV. The Stooges in this scenario would be played by terrorists:

For an expanded stealth persuasion effort into neighboring countries, Lincoln presented plans, since rejected, for an underground newspaper, television news shows and an anti-terrorist comedy based on "The Three Stooges."

I wonder who they had picked for the sttoges? Osama, Saddam, and Zarqawi? For me tastes that just doesn't sound as good as Larry, Mo, and Curly...

Still, I'd pay to see an Iraqi version of the Three Stooges, wouldn't you? Heck, with billions at their disposal, they'll probably end up doing a version of Seinfeld.