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| Iraq violence 'linked to US vote' | Iraq violence 'linked to US vote' |
| (2 days later) | |
| US Vice-President Dick Cheney has said that insurgents in Iraq have increased their attacks in order to influence the upcoming US mid-term elections. | US Vice-President Dick Cheney has said that insurgents in Iraq have increased their attacks in order to influence the upcoming US mid-term elections. |
| He blamed a recent rise in violence on al-Qaeda and others trying to "break the will of the American people". | He blamed a recent rise in violence on al-Qaeda and others trying to "break the will of the American people". |
| "They're very sensitive to the fact that we've got an election scheduled," he said, claiming the militants monitor US public opinion via the internet. | "They're very sensitive to the fact that we've got an election scheduled," he said, claiming the militants monitor US public opinion via the internet. |
| In October US forces in Iraq suffered one of their worst monthly death tolls. | In October US forces in Iraq suffered one of their worst monthly death tolls. |
| The BBC's James Westhead in Washington says the Iraq war is dominating the final week of campaigning in the mid-term elections in which Republicans fear they may lose control of one or both Houses of Congress. | The BBC's James Westhead in Washington says the Iraq war is dominating the final week of campaigning in the mid-term elections in which Republicans fear they may lose control of one or both Houses of Congress. |
| Full month-by-month figures Bloggers split on Cheney | Full month-by-month figures Bloggers split on Cheney |
| Polls indicate sliding support for the Bush administration's Iraq policy and growing numbers of Americans wanting to see US troops returning home. | Polls indicate sliding support for the Bush administration's Iraq policy and growing numbers of Americans wanting to see US troops returning home. |
| However, no withdrawal timetable has been set and the Pentagon has confirmed that the number of troops on the ground has increased to 150,000 - the highest this year, although that is partly due to units overlapping as they swap around. | However, no withdrawal timetable has been set and the Pentagon has confirmed that the number of troops on the ground has increased to 150,000 - the highest this year, although that is partly due to units overlapping as they swap around. |
| Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Mr Cheney said that insurgents were using the internet to time their attacks, although he did not provide any evidence to that effect. | Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Mr Cheney said that insurgents were using the internet to time their attacks, although he did not provide any evidence to that effect. |
| "There isn't anything that's on the internet that's not accessible to them. They're on it all the time. They're very sophisticated users of it," Mr Cheney said. | "There isn't anything that's on the internet that's not accessible to them. They're on it all the time. They're very sophisticated users of it," Mr Cheney said. |
| Propaganda unit | Propaganda unit |
| Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff has echoed the vice-president, saying that the militants are trying to "increase opposition to the war and have an influence against the president". | Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff has echoed the vice-president, saying that the militants are trying to "increase opposition to the war and have an influence against the president". |
| There isn't anything that's on the internet that's not accessible to them. They're on it all the time. They're very sophisticated users of it Dick CheneyUS vice-president Special report: US mid-terms | There isn't anything that's on the internet that's not accessible to them. They're on it all the time. They're very sophisticated users of it Dick CheneyUS vice-president Special report: US mid-terms |
| Their comments come amid one of the worst months of violence since the war began, which has claimed the lives of 101 US troops and many more Iraqis. | Their comments come amid one of the worst months of violence since the war began, which has claimed the lives of 101 US troops and many more Iraqis. |
| The upturn in violence also coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which Mr Cheney said could have been a contributory factor. | The upturn in violence also coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which Mr Cheney said could have been a contributory factor. |
| Despite the violence, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says that the Bush administration does not believe the true picture of events in Iraq has been made public. | Despite the violence, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says that the Bush administration does not believe the true picture of events in Iraq has been made public. |
| The White House is particularly concerned that insurgents are using the internet to disseminate their message and give the impression they are more powerful than the US, our correspondent says. | The White House is particularly concerned that insurgents are using the internet to disseminate their message and give the impression they are more powerful than the US, our correspondent says. |
| In response the US defence department has set up a new unit to better promote its message across 24-hour rolling news outlets, and particularly on the internet. | In response the US defence department has set up a new unit to better promote its message across 24-hour rolling news outlets, and particularly on the internet. |
| The Pentagon said the move would boost its ability to counter "inaccurate" news stories and exploit new media. | The Pentagon said the move would boost its ability to counter "inaccurate" news stories and exploit new media. |
| 'Set the record straight' | 'Set the record straight' |
| Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said earlier this year the US was losing the propaganda war to its enemies. | Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said earlier this year the US was losing the propaganda war to its enemies. |
| Al-Qaeda figures like Ayman al-Zawahri issue video messages | Al-Qaeda figures like Ayman al-Zawahri issue video messages |
| The newly-established unit will use "new media" channels to push its message and "set the record straight", the Pentagon's Mr Ruff said. | The newly-established unit will use "new media" channels to push its message and "set the record straight", the Pentagon's Mr Ruff said. |
| "We're looking at being quicker to respond to breaking news, being quicker to respond, frankly, to inaccurate statements," he said. | "We're looking at being quicker to respond to breaking news, being quicker to respond, frankly, to inaccurate statements," he said. |
| A Pentagon memo seen by the Associated Press news agency said the new unit would "develop messages" for the 24-hour news cycle and aim to "correct the record". | A Pentagon memo seen by the Associated Press news agency said the new unit would "develop messages" for the 24-hour news cycle and aim to "correct the record". |
| The unit would reportedly monitor media such as web logs and would also employ "surrogates", or top politicians or lobbyists who could be interviewed on TV and radio shows. | The unit would reportedly monitor media such as web logs and would also employ "surrogates", or top politicians or lobbyists who could be interviewed on TV and radio shows. |
| Mr Ruff said the move to set up the unit had not been prompted either by the eroding public support in the US for the Iraq war or the US mid-term elections next week. | Mr Ruff said the move to set up the unit had not been prompted either by the eroding public support in the US for the Iraq war or the US mid-term elections next week. |