From November 2002 to May 2003, the author worked alongside American military planners in the Gulf, coordinating the media campaign that foreshadowed and accompanied the eventual invasion of Iraq. He witnessed how, in advance of the outbreak of hostilities, the US planned to win over skeptical Arab hearts and minds.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-233) and index.

1. Introduction -- 2. Attitudes to conflict -- 3. Towards free Arab media -- 4. The 1991 Gulf War : who learned the lessons? -- 5. War in Iraq : managing the media battle space -- 6. Arab media, bias and the coalition -- 7. Crossing the Rubicon : the other face of the information campaign -- 8. The view from Baghdad -- 9. The reckoning.