Marine Col. Robert Knapp, commander of the 1st Marine
Division at Camp Pendleton, Calif., thanks Spirit of America founder Jim Hake
for the group's donation of television equipment to support U.S. military
efforts in Iraq. Photo courtesy of Spirit of America
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Members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq's Anbar province
expressed concerned that extremely negative news coverage by the local media
was stoking resentment toward the U.S. military and encouraging conflict.
They turned to Spirit of America, a nonprofit group committed to helping
Americans serving abroad improve people's lives, to request television
equipment to be used to offer more balanced news.
On April 29 — just three weeks after Spirit of America received the Marines'
request — Spirit of America founder Jim Hake delivered $82,687 in television
studio equipment to Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Marines packed the donated
equipment and prepared it for shipment, and on May 1, the U.S. military flew it
from March Air Force Base, Calif., to Iraq.
"This rapid turnaround makes a difference in Iraq," said Hake, who explained
that the equipment, all donated by the American public, will be owned and
operated by local Iraqi citizens.
Hake said the equipment will be donated to seven television stations serving
local communities within Anbar province. The province includes the cities of
Fallujah and Ramadi.
Recipients of the donated equipment will be free to create their own news and
choose their own programming, Hake explained. However, they must agree to
prohibit "airing of anti-coalition messages that incite the local population,"
he said. The stations must also agree to sell airtime at a fair market price so
the Marines can communicate their information efficiently and quickly when
needed, Hake said.
Hake said the stations will provide "the full picture" of events in the region.
For example, he said, recent broadcasts in the province showed images of a
mosque in Fallujah damaged during fighting. Using the new equipment donated by
Spirit of America, Hake said the stations also would have aired video provided
by the Marines that shows insurgents firing on the Marines from the mosque
grounds.
The stations also will broadcast news of reconstruction projects and
humanitarian assistance that balances the news of conflict, Hake said.
Hake said the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force requested the television equipment
to help dispel suspicion and mistrust generated by "negative, highly biased
accounts of the U.S. presence" in Iraq.
"The lack of accurate news reports during this rebuilding phase undercuts the
good work being performed throughout the majority of Iraq," the Marines wrote
Hake when requesting the television equipment. "Instead, news is being passed
by word of mouth and becomes more and more distorted as the tales are retold."
The Marines told Hake it is "essential to the success of the Marine Corps'
mission in Iraq that the Iraqi people understand our sincerest desires to help
them rebuild their country and lay the foundation for a viable and free
democratic society."
Hake said the goal of the donation is "to improve understanding between
Americans and Iraqis, build trust and reduce tensions."
The television equipment donation is just one of many Spirit of America
projects to support initiatives by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. For
more information about Spirit of America or to make a donation, visit the
organization's Web site.
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