Tucked away in Section 1904(a)(1) of the House Emergency Supplemental, among the bench marks of Iraqi government action, is the propaganda clause. 

The Supplemental would require the President to report certain "determinations" to Congress.

One of the bench mark "determinations" in Section 1904 is whether the Iraqi government has been effective in "establishing political, media, economic, and service committees in support of the Baghdad Security Plan, and eradicating safe havens."

The problem is that some of the leading opponents "of the Baghdad Security Plan, and eradicating safe havens" are in the U.S. and include a few members of Congress.

The drafters of this legislative language are obviously calling on the Iraqi government to engage in a concerted public information campaign.

But members of Congress have opposed such campaigns in the past.

And some backers of the effort to block the surge have also opposed coordinated public relations campaigns in the past.

But now those that oppose the surge and the Baghdad security plan and eradicating terrorist safe havens are attempting to issue a defacto requirement that a concerted PR offensive be waged.

This is one section of the supplemental I am in favor of. 

The Iraqi government and the coalition should take up the direction of Congress and hire a powerhouse D.C. lobbying and PR firm to coordinate political, media, economic and service committees in the U.S. to support the Baghdad Security Plan and the eradication of terrorist safe havens.

When the surrender caucus complains, just hand them Section 1904.

 

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