A national group, Freedom's Watch, began running ads in 40-60 TV markets across the country in late August, ads that call for a "US Victory in Iraq." Freedom's Watch is viewed by some as a White House front group that is made up "of prominent conservatives with a pro-Israel agenda masquerading as a grassroots movement." The group, which was formed just weeks ago, is led by former White House spokesperson Ari Fleisher. Fleisher was an integral part of the White House's Iraq War propaganda campaign to convince the US public that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. Fleisher resigned in May of 2003, just weeks after the so-called "Mission Accomplished" speech that Bush delivered.

The ad campaign is designed to influence public opinion and legislators to support President Bush's request for additional funding after the report from General Patraeus is delivered in mid-September. The political file at WOOD TV 8 revealed that the Freedom Watch ads began running in West Michigan in late August and will run through the first two weeks of September, a total of 74 paid spots for a total of $36,625.00. The ads are running during the airing of "The Today Show" and the 5:30 and 6:00pm newscasts. According to the channel 8 public file, the company buying the ad time is Jamestown Associates who describes itself as a "full-service Republican political consulting firm specializing in direct mail, television and radio production, and general strategic consulting." The Center for Media & Democracy says that Jamestown Associates has represented "such groups as Americans for Job Security, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Republican Jewish Coalition, as well as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."

The television ads feature Iraq War Veterans and family members of US soldiers who have died in Iraq. The ads emphasize that the only acceptable solution is a "US Victory in Iraq," arguing that "now is not the time to cut and run" and that a "US troop withdrawal would tell the terrorists that they can do what they want." Several of the video ads reference the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001, one with a still image of the second plane crashing into the twin towers in New York. The ads are consistent with recent White House statements such as an August 28 speech to the American Legion by President Bush where he said:

"For all those who ask whether the fight in Iraq is worth it, imagine an Iraq where militia groups backed by Iran control large parts of the country. Imagine an Iraq where al Qaeda has established sanctuaries to safely plot future attacks on targets all over the world, including America. We've seen what these enemies will do when American forces are actively engaged in Iraq. And we can envision what they would do if we -- if they were emboldened by American forces in retreat."

In a recent e-mail by the group Americans Against Escalation in Iraq they state that the Freedom's Watch ads are running in the West Michigan market because of the pressure that their campaign has put on Grand Rapids area Representative Vern Ehlers. In the email Americans Against Escalation in Iraq wrote:

"Rep. Ehlers has been feeling the heat from his constituents and the Iraq Summer campaign for his support for Bush's failed war policy. Now these ads are squeezing Rep. Ehlers from the right. With these new ads, Rep. Ehlers is under fire from both sides."

It is difficult to determine if these ads are directed at Ehlers, his constituents or both. We do know that the group is spending $15 million over the next few weeks in order to impact the next vote on whether or not to give the Bush Administration the additional funding it is asking for with the US occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.