There's a Reason Democracy Rhymes With Hypocrisy

That whole free and independent press thingy is so passe. Particularly when you're in the midst of trying to build a "free and independent" Iraq that will lovingly provide us with oil, cushy construction contracts, political clout in the Mid East, oral services and pony rides for years to come.

As part of an information offensive in Iraq, the U.S. military is secretly
paying Iraqi newspapers to publish stories written by American troops
in an effort to burnish the image of the U.S. mission in Iraq.

[...]

"“Here we are trying to create the principles of democracy in Iraq.
Every speech we give in that country is about democracy. And we're
breaking all the first principles of democracy when we'’re doing it,"
said a senior Pentagon official who opposes the practice of planting
stories in the Iraqi media.

Move over Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher, and Michael McManus. Your fifteen minutes of fame are over with.