Pentagon memo reveals launch of new PR war

[sabra]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4297464.html

Pentagon memo reveals launch of new PR war
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is buttressing its public relations staff and starting an operation akin to a political campaign war room as Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld faces intensifying criticism over the Iraq war.

In a memo obtained by the Associated Press, Dorrance Smith, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, said new teams of people will "develop messages" for the 24-hour news cycle and "correct the record."

The memo describes an operation modeled after a political campaign — such as that made famous by Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential race — calling for a "Rapid Response" section for quickly answering opponents' assertions.

...

Ruff said today that the reorganization, spearheaded by Smith, will help the department "set the record straight" and provide accurate, timely information.

He denied that the effort was set up to respond to the eroding public support for the war, or that it was aimed at helping in next week's elections. He also said he would not call it an "information operations" program, which generally refers to a propaganda-type campaign.

[Ian David]

1. Uhm... I am pretty sure that's illegal. n/t

[Justitia]

2. Why doesn't the f'ing Pentagon concentrate on keeping soldiers alive instead of word games?

Hellloooo Pentagon! 100 of your soldiers died this month!

But, don't let me distract you from your word smithing, you worthless jerk offs!

[Ezlivin]

5. Because PR is easier than actually doing the fucking work

A poster on DU has a sig line that says "Governing by PR" and that really sums it up.

Sure, they could spend time, money and effort to correct problems, but it is so much more fun to spend time, money and effort crafting propaganda to convince us that they've done all they could.

With every day I hate these fuckers more and more.

[saigon68]

18. The Fucking War Criminal generals are covering their asses

History is going to judge these criminals very harshly

using propaganda to "KEEP UP THE KILLING" on the amerikan people

[coalition_unwilling]

6. Laterst iteration of the 5 O'Clock Follies, cmmemorated in

David Halberstam's "The Best and the Brightest" (ironic title that, for the geniuses who brought us the war in southeast Asia).

[iconoclastic cat]

3. Holy crap! Can I repost this to Daily Kos? nt

[holboz]

49. self-delete

[Tellurian]

4. ha! n\t

[SpiralHawk]

7. Bush's Pentagon couldn't muster a pea shooter on 9/11

to defend themselves, even with an hour's unmistakeable warning.

But when it comes to pimping the propaganda, they are Johnny On The Spot.

That's what happens when you have an AWOL preppy from Connecticut as your so-called Commander-in-Chief

[kurth]

8. How much are we paying for this War Propaganda Department?

on top of all the other war propaganda departments in the Bush government.

[Supersedeas]

10. the Political Wing of the Pentagon is reving the Tax Payer Engines

[pecwae]

9. Sounds like a collaboration

between PAO and PSYOPS. In PSYOPS one develops messages for a target audience based on what research has shown to be the audiences sympathetic, psychological, emotional, or communal weakness or vulnerability. In training I was told that use of this type of persuasion against US nationals was illegal, Black PSYOPS. I guess the rules have changed in the 20 years since I served.

[ShockediSay]

22. collaberation of crooks, liars, spin doctors & lobbyists

BushCo!

[librechik]

11. answer this quickly--what did Cheney mean by "dunking?"

Quick!

some Rapid response team they are--still stumbling over that one!

[saigon68]

33. Just a little DUNKING

The woman was convicted of nagging and gossiping at the tribunal and was sentenced to be dunked on the dunking stool. This enactment of a Bermuda tradition.

[leftofthedial]

12. let's not spend the money on an actual plan for the occupation

or for body armor

[NVMojo]

13. bend me over and make me pay for more of this bullshit lying

[TexasLawyer]

16. exactly--

Your hard-earned tax dollars at work!

I'm glad we're not building schools or roads with that money!!!

[vixengrl]

14. "We will fight them on the talk shows,

we will fight them on the sound bites and slogans, we will fight them on the cable news programs..."

Doesn't have the same ring.

[frylock]

15. building a bigger propaganda catapult, no doubt

[IndianaGreen]

17. Are we going to see Pentagon pukes posting in DU, Kos, etc?

And what are we going to do about it?

[saigon68]

19. I invite those idiots here for a little troll fun

Ass-clowns

[IndianaGreen]

20. If they work for Rumsfeld...

they are probably chicken hawks!

[saigon68]

28. Probably they sure aren't "Walking the Walk"

Hiding behind a computer in the "C" Ring

[Maeve]

31. What makes you think they haven't been already?

I'm not being quite fair--the fact of psy-op posters is pretty well established, not really tin-foil stuff. And here, just hit alert and let the mods do their thing. People trying to convince us that Cheney is right aren't going to get converts on DU, anyway.

[teryang]

21. federally financed gutter of talking point lies

What's new about it? It's still illegal.

[Eugene]

23. If the Clinton admin tried this, righties would have screamed "dictatorship!"

Ten short years ago, the black helicopter crowd would have
gone absolutely berzerk (okay, even more than they did)
about the government getting into the propaganda business.
A taxpayer funded operation to promote the government's
point of view in the news media goes way over the line.

[neverforget]

24. Trying to put more lipstick on a pig.....too bad rhetoric doesn't stop

bullets,IEDs and hatred of an occupying power. Meanwhile in Iraq, more civilians and US troops die while changing course but staying the course policy.

[LynnTheDem]

25. 101 dead Americans, October 2006.

"correct" that "message".

[Heidi]

26. Kick.

[CornField]

27. Pentagon boosts 'media war' unit (BBC)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6100906.stm

The US defence department has set up a new unit to better promote its message across 24-hour rolling news outlets, and particularly on the internet.

The Pentagon said the move would boost its ability to counter "inaccurate" news stories and exploit new media.
...
The unit would reportedly monitor media such as weblogs and would also employ "surrogates", or top politicians or lobbyists who could be interviewed on TV and radio shows.
...
On Monday, US Vice President Dick Cheney also made reference to the use of media, suggesting insurgents had increased their attacks and were checking the internet to keep track of American public opinion.

(more at link)

[moodforaday]

29. K&R for the new Ministry of

Truth.

[Vinca]

30. Can the faux commercials be far behind? nt

[sendero]

32. Just like the Republicans..

... they can't win a real war they might as well go for a PR war.

It's not going to work but you can't be surprised they will try.

[holboz]

34. BBC: Rumsfeld starts new Propoganda Unit to show "true picture of events in Iraq"

Despite the violence, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says that the Bush administration does not believe the true picture of events in Iraq has been made public.

<snip>

In response the US defence department has set up a new unit to better promote its message across 24-hour rolling news outlets, and particularly on the internet.

The Pentagon said the move would boost its ability to counter "inaccurate" news stories and exploit new media.

<snip>

A Pentagon memo seen by the Associated Press news agency said the new unit would "develop messages" for the 24-hour news cycle and aim to "correct the record".


>>>>>>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6101178.stm

This is part of a larger news story that starts off talking about Cheney's belief that Iraqis are trying to influence US elections. They claim in the article that this unit was NOT set up in response to eroding public support for the war. YEAH, RIGHT.

[n2doc]

35. And just like previous efforts this one will fail

They can't even do propaganda right. No one will believe/care about the crap they put out. Even Fox will find it laughable....

[Atman]

36. Uh...if it's the TRUE PICTURE he wouldn't need PROPAGANDA

But the fauxcons and the freeps will eat it up, I'm sure. I can't believe ANYBODY falls for this shit!

.

[gratuitous]

37. No indication how much this is going to cost

I wonder if anyone's going to go without body armor or other essentials so Rumsfeld can show his "true picture"? And will the "true picture of events in Iraq" include that little tidbit?

[chat_noir]

38. You Tube video: Pentagon Launches Pre-Emptive Strike on Media

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-S70ewn1Ds

[Binka]

39. Shit-Fire Further Down The Rabbit Hole

More Zuu Zuus & Wham Whams. What absolute nonsense. Hey Rummy YOU ARE A TOTAL UNMITIGATED FAILURE! Dumb ass boob.

[Breeze54]

40. Get ready for a troll invasion!!

Snip--> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6100906.stm

"The US defence department has set up a new unit to better promote its message
across 24-hour rolling news outlets, and particularly on the internet.

"The unit would reportedly monitor media such as weblogs and would also employ "surrogates"

AKA Trolls!!!

[montieg]

41. CNN: Pentagon developing public relations response team

Is this 'stinky' or is that just my upper lip?


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon has begun a new "rapid response" operation to quickly respond to news media stories critical of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the war in Iraq, as well as other stories the Defense Department leadership doesn't like.

The operation is similar to those used in political campaigns, but officials say the new organization was not started specifically because of rising criticism of the war.

Defense Department Press Secretary Eric Ruff could not immediately provide statistics regarding the cost of the new operation or the number of people involved. He confirmed, however, that it is expected some of the new staff members will be political appointees or contractors.

-- CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Star

[Rick Myers]

42. The Ministry of Disinformation

Right outta BRAZIL!!! (the movie)

[tblue]

43. Oh great. Don't fix the policy or address the failures, manipulate the PR

[aquart]

48. That's the BushCo approach to EVERYTHING.

Don't stop whatever crime you're committing, rephrase it.

[Hugin]

44. Sorry Donny, if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen...

Protecting the Secretary of Defense is not in the charter of the US Military.

[Atman]

45. Yes, it's called "CNN"

If you've been watching today, you know what I mean. It's been one long pro-GOP, Yay Iraq! infomercial.

.

[rumpel]

46. Agree

[Historic NY]

47. Hey what did they do hire Bagdad Bob.......

Least we can get some sense........
"That bastard the American Minister of Defense Rumsfeld, and I won't say shamelessly, because they don't know what shame means. These are criminals. The whole word can hear the warning sirens. This criminal sitting in the White House is a pathetic criminal and his Defense Minister deserves to be beaten. These criminals lie to the world because they are criminals by nature and conditioning. They consider this a military site! Shame on you! You will forever be shamed! You have ruined the reputation of the American people in the most terrible way! Shame on you! And we will destroy you!"

http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com /

[shanti]

50. "correct the record"???

ohhhhhh, they mean SCRUB the record!

[IA_Seth]

51. How much of the budget is for paper-shredders?! n/t