More recently, a 2003 Pentagon document called
Information Operations Roadmap
detailed the US military's approach to exploiting information in order
to "keep pace with warfighter needs and support defense
transformation." Personally approved by former Defense Secretary
Rumsfeld, the document was declassified in 2006 and covers everything
from the Pentagon's plans for Computer Network Attack ("We Must Fight
the Net") to beefing up the use of Psychological Operations ("We Must
Improve PSYOP") to manipulating information through means including:
"Radio/ TV/Print/ Web media designed to directly modify behavior and
distributed in theater supporting military endeavors in semi or
non-permissive environment."
While The Smith-Mundt Act of 1948
forbids US propaganda intended for foreign audiences from being used
domestically, Information Operations Roadmap acknowledges that
"information intended for foreign audiences, including public diplomacy
and PSYOP, increasingly is consumed by our domestic audience and
vice-versa."
The 2003 Pentagon document adds, "the distinction between foreign and
domestic audiences becomes more a question of USG [U.S. government]
intent rather than information dissemination practices."
Perhaps that's why a top US general ordered
public affairs to be joined with combat PSYOP into one "strategic communications office" in Iraq in the summer of 2004.
Domestically, it doesn't help that SWS and other developments in
military Psychological Operations are accompanied by rollbacks in the
right to dissent and bipartisan support of government surveillance of
American citizens.
Makes you wish our cyberspace clones could tell us how best to fight the Matrix.
At the very least, we must become more vigilant about the ongoing use
of military PSYOP and misinformation - the Pat Tillman case is a
perfect example. Holding the Defense Department and media accountable
for every mislead regarding the Bush administration's military
adventurism is more important than ever.
Action ideas:
1. For a great database on the Bush Administration's misleads about Iraq, see Rep. Henry A. Waxman's, "
Iraq on the Record."
2. One Defense Department group particularly especially interested in
these topics is The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The site of its
Information Exploitation Office,
for example, is focused on "shaping the battlespace before conflict"
and filled with snappy computer graphics reminiscent of militaristic
video games. Taxpayer dollars hard at work.
3. For media watchdog groups, check out
Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting and
Media Matters for America.
4. Had enough? E-mail, call or write the White House, Congress or state and local government
here.
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