I Just LOVE The Smell Of Bi-Partisanship In The Morning...

[WillyT]

Congressmen Seek To Lift Propaganda Ban
Propaganda that was supposed to target foreigners could now be aimed at Americans, reversing a longstanding policy. “Disconcerting and dangerous,” says Shank.
Michael Hastings - BuzzFeed Staff
Posted May 18, 2012 4:27pm EDT

<snip>

An amendment that would legalize the use of propaganda on American audiences is being inserted into the latest defense authorization bill, BuzzFeed has learned. The amendment would “strike the current ban on domestic dissemination” of propaganda material produced by the State Department and the Pentagon, according to the summary of the law at the House Rules Committee's official website.

The tweak to the bill would essentially neutralize two previous acts—the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 and Foreign Relations Authorization Act in 1987—that had been passed to protect U.S. audiences from our own government’s misinformation campaigns.

The bi-partisan amendment is sponsored by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R) from Texas and Rep. Adam Smith (D) from Washington State.

<And...>

The new law would give sweeping powers to the State Department and Pentagon to push television, radio, newspaper, and social media onto the U.S. public. “It removes the protection for Americans,” says a Pentagon official who is concerned about the law. “It removes oversight from the people who want to put out this information. There are no checks and balances. No one knows if the information is accurate, partially accurate, or entirely false.”

According to this official, “senior public affairs” officers within the Department of Defense want to “get rid” of Smith-Mundt and other restrictions because it prevents information activities designed to prop up unpopular policies—like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

<snip>

More: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mhastings/congressmen-seek-to-lift-propaganda-ban

[RC]

1. Wouldn't that just legalize what they are already doing?

[WillyT]

2. Another Chipping Away At Our Rights And Civil Liberties...

Co-Sponsored by a Democrat... so yes... yes it does.