Raw Story: CENTCOM contacts blogger critical of War on Terror

[lala_rawraw]

I have no words for this:
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Raw_obtains_CENTCOM_e...
..

"An email sent by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) to bloggers about the "global war on terror" (GWOT) has been obtained by RAW STORY.

CENTCOM announced earlier this year that a team of employees would be " bloggers who are posting inaccurate or untrue information, as well as bloggers who are posting incomplete information."

The email was not addressed to RAW STORY.

"The main interest is to drive their readers to our site," Maj. Richard J. McNorton, chief of CENTCOM "engagement operations" said in a March release.

In the same announcement, McNorton said that the emails have a "viral effect," as many bloggers then link to the CENTCOM website, driving Internet news consumers to CENTCOM's Web site."

Read the email (mods, I have permission to post this email in full):
Subject: CENTCOM.mil: Just visited your site Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:36:07 -0400 From: "Erickson, Christopher J. SPC USA" To:

Greetings!

My name is SPC Chris Erickson with U.S. Central Command Public Affairs. I came across your blog today and noticed your interest in different topics, particularly on the GWOT.

As a member of the US military, I like seeing open discussions on the happenings of the world, although many times I’m not able to get involved (especially if it gets political). I would like to invite you to check out our web site, www.centcom.mil . It’s one more resource for information and you’re free to use any of it (video, audio, photos and articles) in conversations on your blog.

Also, if you would like, you can be added to our mailing list. We send out news stories and press releases about US military and coalition forces operations, humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. This information is also available via RSS on our site. Most of the time we can get CENTCOM information out to bloggers before it appears in the main stream media.

I appreciate your time today and I do look forward to hearing back from you.

V/R

Spc. Chris Erickson Electronic Media Engagement Team U.S. Central Command Public Affairs [e-mail] http://www.centcom.mil

[warrens]

1. Fair enough

It ain't the military that's our enemy.

[originalpckelly]

4. I know, it is such a scary e-mail...

They want them to check out their website!

Oh my GOD, what next? This nation is really becoming a dictatorship, what with the friendly e-mails and such. We might just have to have a revolution if this stuff keeps up.

[SPKrazy]

9. No, It Is Those In Charge Of The Military

the ones who are using soldiers to infiltrate our online media for the purposes of propaganda.

[babylonsister]

2. I surely wouldn't expect news from CENTCOM to be honest.

So that would have no affect in my online viewing habits.

[Ian David]

3. Gwot? Me worry? n/t

[htuttle]

5. They should put GWAR in charge of GWOT

It would be gweat!

[wtmusic]

6. LOL with GWAR on our side

we could GWIN the GWOT!

[DireStrike]

7. Business as usual

though good to be reminded of it every now and then.

Many, many lazy voices in the media will gladly lean on sources who willingly provide them with "inside" "information".

I think most bloggers are intrepid and critical enough to evade that trap, but some will fall in.

[SPKrazy]

8. I Don't Think Of It As "Friendly E-Mail" (as others seem to imply)

it's blatant propaganda for the lazy minded types.

linking from blogs to Centcom will drive google hits

Centcom is making good use of the internets, eh?

It is fascism

it isn't harmless

[EFerrari]

10. Media Engagement Team, what happened to fighting them

OVER THERE?

Have Tori buy you guys a MAP.