Losing Arab Hearts and Minds

In 2002-3 Steve Tatham worked alongside the American military in the Gulf coordinating the huge media offensive that preceded and accompanied the invasion of Iraq. He witnessed how, in advance of the invasion, US armed forces devoted enormous effort to winning over public opinion in the Arab world through a concerted hearts and minds campaign. However, as fighting intensified, Tatham, the Royal Navys spokesman on the Coalition operation, gradually became aware of how badly the Arab media were treated, in particular the personnel of Al-Jazeera satellite TV, whose Baghdad offices were attacked by tank fire. In this gripping and disturbing narrative, Tatham relentlessly exposes the doubts and divisions that plagued the Coalitions media war.