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The inside story of how the
Pentagon put journalists into the front line of its war
on Saddam to shore up its case for victory. John
Kampfner traces the roots of the controversial tactic of
embedding cameras and reporters with military units to
the Hollywood blockbusters Pearl Harbour and Black Hawk
Down.
The aim was to capture
images that would swing public opinion behind the war
here and in the US and encourage Iraqis to believe
Saddam's grip had loosened before it actually had.
And while the Iraqi's
propaganda was laughably transparent the programme asks
whether the allies played straight with reporters at
Centcom, its giant truth warehouse in the desert.
Kampfner sets out exactly
who said what when to shed new light on the information
campaign that began with the case for war in the UN and
Parliament and ended with the arguments over whether
Iraq's future is secure. He sheds new light on the
bombing of Baghdad markets which the allies hinted was
carried out by the Iraqis and the "saving" of
Private Jessica Lynch.
Embedded journalists tell
their story for the first time of how they brought
dramatic images to the screen and the restraints that
were put on them. UK and US spindoctors answer criticism
that they used the media in an attempt to shorten the
war and covered up bad news.
British and American news
executives answer criticism that the demands of 24 hour
news distorted the reality of the conflict.
This important
documentary is presented to us by BBC Worldwide Limited.
War
on Iraq - SABCnews.com Feature
Watch Special Assignment
this Tuesday.
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