Edward Erickson

Foreign Correspondent

Violence in Baghdad is moving up the scale again. There have been a recent surge of car bombs and vest bombers in crowded markets as well as a renewal of improvised explosive devices against American troops. American casualty numbers are moving back upward.

Nevertheless, there is some small good news coming out of Iraq today. It deals with public relations and publicity as an indicator of personal and local security.

The Coalition and the Iraqi Ministry of Defense both produce color glossy news magazines that tout their accomplishments and achievements. Until recently, these were packed full of newsworthy stories about Iraqi policemen, soldiers, airman, and politicians, who are all doing great things like feeding children, patrolling neighborhoods, and providing health and dental care for the people. But what you would immediately have noticed about these magazines (which are very professionally done by the way) is that the photographs of Iraqi people had all been intentionally retouched to blur their faces. The names in print are sometimes pseudonymic as well. This was done in order to protect those Iraqis, who are working for the government, from direct retribution by their "friends and neighbors.”