Hidden away on the MSNBC site (I clicked on Keith)...

Is a little "blog from Baghdad" with info we're not getting elsewhere!

http://baghdadblog.msnbc.com/
Richard Engel

"U.S. Military still paying for good news?

There's no bar at the Baghdad Press Club. No smoke filled rooms. In fact, there's no clubhouse at all.
Instead, the Baghdad Press Club (established in 2004 by the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division) is a group of Iraqi reporterswho specialize in covering, not surprisingly, the 3rd ID - and they're paid to do it.
A U.S. Army officer familiar with the program said Iraqi newspaper reporters are paid $35 for each story that's printed, and $10 dollars more if it runs with a picture.
Iraqi journalists say the Army takes the Iraqi reporters (Press Club Members) to events that make the 3rd ID look good, such as soldiers opening schools or giving out toys and medicine."

This little tidbit isn't on their front page, and I suspect that they will judge the bandwidth-worthiness of the blog by the number of hits and responses (there's a box for response).

Interesting. I'll be keeping my eye on this; thanks.

I don't suppose the pentagon has quit torturing either.