Selling Iraq -- At Least, Parts of It -- Even As Lebanon Burns

The commercial features a 30-second blitzkrieg of images -- young Iraqi boys in nicely-pressed shirts waving American flags; vaguely attractive women, smiling in colorful robes and headscarves; a young man of military age holding out a finger dipped in purple ink.

Many wave American flags.  They all say "thank you" to their American viewers. And they all tout the country they call "the other Iraq" -- the country's northern area, Kurdistan.

And I saw this moving commercial Monday -- smack dab in the middle of Fox News' interviews with Israeli soldiers returning from a raid in Lebanon.

Organizers say it is an accident of timing that the first big commercial buy from the Kurdistan Development Corp. to sell American companies on investment in the other Iraq comes just as the outbreak of armed conflict between the Israelis and Hezbollah has some pundits tossing around comparisons to World War III.

But there they are -- smiling Iraqi faces praising the military liberation of their country in ads that started airing Friday on CNBC, MSNBC and Fox News (CNN, which has a policy against airing such ads from places in open conflict, suspended the KDC's ad buy for the mother channel and CNN Headline News).

To the bystander, it may seem like placing an airline advertisement next to newspaper coverage of a plane crash. But the KDC's irrepressible American PR representative, Sacramento-based Sal Russo, sees an opportunity where others might see a horribly misplaced commercial buy.

"It creates such a contrast, it gets people's attention," said Russo of the ads, which were test marketed to American consumers in November. "The biggest difficulty of any advertising campaign is to get people's attention. Well, the world's attention is riveted on the Middle East. And they have a terrific story to tell."

Certainly, it seemed that way last year when Russo and his partners at Sacramento-based Russo, Marsh and Rogers were developing "the Other Iraq" campaign. Announced in November, the effort includes three different TV commercials developed for American and British audiences, a slick-looking Web site, a list of contacts in America and abroad, and a cheery list of all the positive developments going on in Iraq.

But the delay in organizing the Iraqi government made KDC -- a partnership between private investors in Kurdistan and the three regional governments which control the area -- wait to roll out its campaign. Then there was the need for a private investment law, recently passed, to reduce the need for a network of informal alliances to enforce investment agreements.

And just as the KDC was about to air ads nationally and in key cities such as Washington and San Francisco, Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers and began firing rockets into the country -- attracting reporters from every major news outlets and ratcheting up tensions about the Middle East across the globe.

Now, images of Iraqi children playing in green fields and being hoisted on the shoulders of American soldiers are sandwiched in-between reports on civilians killed and wounded by severe shelling in Lebanon and Israeli fears that Hezbollah has activated sleeper cells abroad to attack their interests.

"We decided, you can't ignore the fact that it's been a violent region," said Russo, who noted there was a brief debate about delaying the commercial buys three weeks ago. "(The ads) run counter to perceptions, so they're much more attention-getting. But before someone will spend their money there, they've got to get over  the fact there's violence in the region."

Russo touts 15 years of democracy in Kurdistan and the fact that no American or coalition soldier has been killed in areas controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government. But an April UPI story noted that Kurdistan still needs to become more transparent, less corrupt and more dependable to attract foriegn investment.

"The ads are very glossy and very nice and very compelling. It's a very moving kind of campaign, but the Kurds still face some serious problems," Vance Serchuk, a research scholar with the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank, told UPI. "I don't think friends of Kurdistan do them any favors by whitewashing that fact."

  "I don't think that criticism is fair," said Russo. "You have a democracy in its infancy. It was an area that Saddam Hussein punished, so they didn't get the economic development they deserved. But they show there can be a shining city on the hill in the Middle East."

Perhaps. But they better learn to pick a better time to advertise.

Comments

[mr cynical]

attempting to perfume a turd is what advertising always tries to do, so nothing new there.still, i can see some multinationals giving the kurds at least a look. mcdonalds? mobil? nokia? a buck is a buck, never mind that this isnt a garden spot. neither is much of the former soviet union, but these firms are there or looking.parts of croatia and serbia are already tourist attractions again, as is vietnam.even so, i wont be booking my next good time anywhere near kurdistan.

[Anne Carter]

This is about Drake Hogestyn, star and actor on Days of our lives.

I am writing in response to the fact that there won’t be much Drake/John on and possibly, he will not be on at all after his contract runs out. I can’t believe the powers that be, would do that. It seems that I wrote this before in defense of Drake/John being on. John is such and integral part of the show. He is a man for all people and can work with anyone on the show and make them look better and come up with a great scene.

When I first started watching the show in 1986. John was by himself, taking care of the kids...Carrie and the twins, Eric and Sami, and was always the wonderful Dad, and he had time for his friends and stood by them. He is the best friend ever. I loved him with whoever he was with. I can remember he even reformed a prostitute. I forget her name, who I think worked for Victor. She fell in love with him. That doesn't surprise us. He, Victor was bad and out to get RoJohn then. Of course, there was Orpheus' sister, she too, fell in love with RoJohn, even though she was sent to do him in. Orpheus blamed Roman for his wife's death. They both were ISA and worked together. So it seems everyone who comes under his influence, is mesmerized by him, and women seem to fall in love with him. Then there was Diana, who I loved, then Isabella and then Marlena/Deidre decided to come back on the show. It was Deidre's choice to leave. I still was a RoJohn Marlena fan, thinking that they were soulmates. RoJohn was always there for Marlena, even though he was married to Isabella and true to her, loving her to the end. Then when free to be with Marlena, who Isabella felt was the thing for them to do. She talked to Marlena and told her, he was right for her. I thought the same thing. There were so many issues then, too. The real Roman/Wayne decided to return then, too. I think it was his choice to leave. I am not sure. His real life wife was on for a while, too. That was when Carly and her hubby and son were on, during that time Carly married Bo in Mexico all, RoJohn/WayneRoman/Marlena, Carly and Bo went to Mexico. Carly and Bo had a Mexican ceremony and John was looking for his past, but he did not leave Marlena, but she decided to be with Wayne/Roman. I think I can safely say, we are still looking to find out more of John's past. Then during that time John fell in love with Kristen/not sure if that was sp. right. I really loved their chemistry, if she hadn't turned out to be bad, and too, she wanted to leave the show, I believe. John was true to Kristen, too, and that started Tony hating him. He had fallen in love with her, even though she was his step sister. He had a vendetta against John. Of course, you could say that he had done in Roman and his first wife, for she left him, I think for Tony. I wasn't watching then, but it seems like I read that. You may set me straight, if not true. So then came the comedy, which we haven't had since Craig and his wife Nancy,they were Chloe's parents, left. Susan and John were hilarious. I loved the wedding, even though that was her undoing/Susan and Kristen 's. Again, John worked so well with all of them, and saving Marlena AGAIN from the clutches of Stephano, at that time. When they could, they were back together. I really loved John too, as Fr. John. He played that part so well, I thought. Even though he wasn't called to be one, he was respectful of the image, I felt, of being a priest. Again saving Marlena when she was possessed. I really liked that, even though many didn't. I believe people can become possessed, when they are so empty, they have no feeling of worth, leaving them to be possessed, by whomever or whatever that gets to them. Marlena I felt, was that way. When that was taken care of by John, then they were back together.

Whatever part Drake is given, he gives it 150% and makes it ring true. As I have said before, he seems to be able to fit in with whoever he is put with, be it man, woman or child. John and Kate, I really like together, when they felt they knew that their spouses were dead. They were there for each other naturally because Kate worked for him and she really grieved for and love Roman. John, would never have been with her if he had not thought that Mar was dead. Of course, Tony planned it all, the wanting to break John and Marlena up, knowing that was where he could hurt John the most. Then when Roman and Marlena came home, this last horrible story with Alex, Marlena was so terrible to John. I like John and Kate on the screen, now because I think they both know each other so well, and accepted the good with the bad, and think they do have wonderful chemistry together, but at one time, I thought the same about Roman and Kate. I thought they brought out the best in each other. Kate, on the other hand is beautiful, passionate, a loving mother. Lauren is a wonderful actress. I love seeing her on the screen even when I don’t like her. I really felt she will hurt John. To me, he has been hurt so many times, I guess I might have liked him stay by himself for a while and get his own place. He surely has the money. Since Marlena has found herself again, I would like to think that she would be strong for John and that they would have stood beside one another and fight whatever comes their way...any adventure, which I think he, John, can handle any story. I was hopeful that this would be HIS story, when he was shot, with others being brought into it, but showing what he does best, fight to survive and to take care of and love his family and his friends, even though they aren't always there for him. I don't think they appreciate him, only when they want something form him.. Another way Drake/John is one of the best, is that whoever he is with on screen, Jennifer, Hope, Maggie, Abe, Alice and even Bo, as above, he brings out the best in them. I think John would be a great one to do the children's story at Christmas. He is so wonderful with children. His children and his friends, he is always there for them. Where are those storylines? Bring them on Powers That Be. You know Drake can do it. Put them out there for him. Drake/John is one of the sexiest men anywhere. Drake's character John is very passionate, loves deeply...his women, his family and his friends, always standing by them. He is smart, funny, handsome and can take on any role that has been handed to him mercenary, adventurer, you name it. Whatever you have given him, Drake takes it and gives it all he has and make John into someone, everyone loves and can turn to.

I had hoped that when head writer Sheffer came back, he would see all this and know what stories were there for writing.

I agree it is all in fun. I love most of the older characters on the show and like the new Belle and Shawn, too. He, Shawn, really looks like he could be Hope and Bo 's son. As she looks like she could be Marlena and John 's daughter. I haven't always like Sami, but I cannot imagine the show without her. I have been really loving seeing her as of late. I looked forwardto the time when their relationship and love she had with John, would have been worked on and she would remember how he has always been there for her, when she let him. .

Stephano did come back and and I thought John would be there for everyone, for he is the only worthy adversary that Stephano has. But NOT TO BE. For sure EJ can never take his place. Maybe you can find another one worthy of John.

Wow, I didn't mean to go on for so long. I just wanted to affirm that without Drake, there is NO DAYS for me. When I started this, I had many fond memories, and still do of Days gone by. I loved the Greece story with Victor and Diana and Roman/John. That was the wedding of Justin and Adrian. I have it on tape and then, there was the Cruise of Deception. Really exciting. Victor and Julie were paired, wonderfully, He has really been a great bad guy earlier, but don't like that he is trying to take John's Grandchild away from Shawn, et. Now John can not help.

Sorry if I bored you. Not all this is about Drake/John, but he is such and integral part of everyones life on this show. I don't know how it could go on without him.

I meant to mail this earlier to you, but thought I would give Sheffner and TPTB a chance to show their loyalty to Drake's fans, but no, so here goes.

Keep Drake Hogestyn on the Front Burner, Days of our Lives

I want more John Black TV Powers That Be.

I don't know where to start. I have so many emotions and also am angry about this. This man Drake Hogestyn has been a loyal and hard working employee to the Producers and writers of Days of our Lives.. He has taken every role they have given and and done it with dignity and believability. He took the role of Roman Brady, given to him and made it his own. I started watching Days in 1986 and Drake played Roman, a father raising his children alone. Then Wayne Northrup, decided, or the powers that be, decided they wanted Wayne back on the show, so another role was written. I never heard Drake complain, ever. He jumped right in and took the name and role of John Black, creating it from nothing. He work ethic is such that he can play any role. He throws himself into it, by taking the mantle of whatever it is and making it work. . . . . .priest, mercenary, adventurer, hero, very passionate lover, a wonderful Dad, caring husband, loyal friend those he knows, and giving his all for all of them. John Black has touched their lives in the best way a man could. He is a defender of all he cares for. In real life this man to me, is one of the best men their is. He is a again, a wonderful, decent, family man, putting his family first and his fans love him. He always acts in a way that none is ashamed of him and I know of no one that do not love him for the way he is, in real life, or reel life.

Drake Hogestyn has given 100 % to his role on Days, and I cannot imagine that there could be a Days without him. I like other characters on Days of our Lives,, but he is a part of all their lives and what a hole there will be without him, if they let him go, and his contract run out. I do not and cannot see myself watching Days of our Lives without John Black. As for me, that will be the END of Days of our Lives, in the Days of my Life.

Drakefans4ever

Annie Carter and Paco Miniature Schnauzer, who is also a Drake fan in Largo, FL