Sunnis paid by U.S. for propaganda work

New York Times Jan. 2, 2006 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON - A Pentagon contractor that paid Iraqi newspapers to run positive articles written by U.S. soldiers also has been compensating Sunni religious scholars in Iraq for assistance with its propaganda work, according to employees.

Lincoln Group, a Washington-based firm, was told by the Pentagon to identify religious leaders who could create messages that would persuade some Sunnis to participate in national elections and reject the insurgency, according to a former employee.

Since then, the company has retained Sunni scholars to write reports for the military on the content of propaganda campaigns, the former employee said. But documents say the firm's ties to religious leaders is aimed at enabling it to influence Iraqi communities on behalf of clients.