Revealed: Britain's secret propaganda war against al-Qaida

[Newsjock]

Source: The Guardian

A Whitehall counter-terrorism unit is targeting the BBC and other media organisations as part of a new global propaganda push designed to "taint the al-Qaida brand", according to a secret Home Office paper seen by the Guardian.

The document also shows that Whitehall counter-terrorism experts intend to exploit new media websites and outlets with a proposal to "channel messages through volunteers in internet forums" as part of their campaign.

... The report, headed, Challenging violent extremist ideology through communications, says: "We are pushing this material to UK media channels, eg a BBC radio programme exposing tensions between AQ leadership and supporters. And a restricted working group will communicate niche messages through media and non-media."

The disclosure that a Whitehall counter-terrorism propaganda operation is promoting material to the BBC and other media will raise fresh concerns about official news management in a highly sensitive area.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/26/alqaida.uksecurity

[AlphaCentauri]

1. The best propaganda is to tell the truth

[arcadian]

2. That's called "white propaganda"

black propaganda is lie and gray propaganda is in between.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Propaganda

Propaganda has sometimes been classified as "white," "black" or "gray." White propaganda generally comes from an openly identified source and is not intentionally deceptive. Black propaganda pretends to be from a friendly source, but is actually from an adversary and is intended to deceive its audience. Gray propaganda falls somewhere between white and black.

[AlphaCentauri]

3. well that should be like Magic, White Magic, Red Magic, Black Magic... you know

[ronnie624]

4. Bah! Hogwash!

No evidence has ever been offered by the Bush Administration that "al-Qaida in Iraq" even exists. Corporate owned media simply repeat the mantra incessantly until everyone nods in agreement.

In my opinion, anyone who accepts the existence of "al-Qaida" as an organized terrorist "network", is lapping up neocon propaganda with relish.

I don't understand the motive of the author of this drivel, but the entire premise of this article is utter nonsense, and anyone with a serious interest in world events knows it.

[judasdisney]

5. What about Britain/U.S.'s secret mission to FUND Al Qaeda through the ISI?

[LynnTheDem]

6. All your news are ours. Huge job openings for stenos available!

Reporters & journalists need not apply.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. It's not as if Al Qaida has a positive brand identity in the West...

:shrug:

Maybe what they really mean is convince the public of the existence of Al Qaida.