| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Branson Hunter" |
| Date: |
11 Jun 2005 08:37:11 AM |
| Object: |
Psychological warfare outsourced |
Richmond Times-Dispatch
BY JAMES W. CRAWLEY
Jun 10, 2005
Psychological warfare effort to be outsourced
Army command hires three firms to sway Afghans and Iraqis
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Special Operations Command has hired three
firms to produce newspaper stories, television broadcasts and Web
sites to spread American propaganda overseas.
The Tampa-based military headquarters, which oversees commandos and
psychological warfare, may spend up to $100 million for the media
campaign in the next five years.
The Pentagon backed away from a similar campaign in 2002.
The use of contractors in psyops is a new wrinkle. But psychological
warfare expert Herb Friedman said he is not surprised.
With only one active-duty and two reserve psyops units remaining,
Friedman said, "The bottom line is, they don't have the manpower."
Federal law prohibits sending propaganda to Americans, and some
experts worry that psychological warfare messages, especially
disinformation efforts, might blow back to American audiences via the
Internet and satellite news channels.
"In this age of the Internet and instant access, it's of great
concern," said Nancy Snow, a propaganda expert at California State
University-Fullerton. "If you plant false stories, how can you control
where that story goes? You can't."
Others question whether the money could be better spent.
So far, said defense analyst William Arkin, American propaganda
efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan have "produced nothing positive and
nothing negative." He suggested the $100 million might be better spent
on guns and bullets.
Winning the contracts were Science Applications International Corp.,
SYColeman Inc. and Lincoln Group Corp.
SAIC, a California-based defense contractor with a major presence in
McLean, Va., ran the U.S.-sponsored Iraqi Media Network, a print,
radio and television operation, after the fall of Baghdad in April
2003. The firm was criticized for problems and exorbitant costs and
declined to bid on the contract renewal.
SYColeman, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications based in Arlington, Va.,
advertises it created the Army's Web site honoring the only Medal of
Honor winner so far from the Iraq war.
Lincoln, based in Washington and formerly known as Iraqex, provides
various services, including public relations, in Iraq.
Spokesmen for the companies referred inquiries to the Pentagon. A
Pentagon spokesman referred them to the Tampa command, which said
special operations officials were unavailable this week because of a
symposium and trade show.
The companies will get their marching orders from a joint
psychological operations support element created last year.
Each contractor will receive a minimum of $250,000 during the first
year and $500,000 each subsequent year. The entire contract could
total $100 million by 2010, records show.
The contract calls for the firms to produce print articles, video and
audio broadcasts, Internet sites and novelty items, like T-shirts and
bumper stickers, for foreign audiences.
Video products will include newscasts, hour-long TV shows and
commercials.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031783204555
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| User: "Rincewind" |
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| Title: Re: Psychological warfare outsourced |
11 Jun 2005 11:17:21 AM |
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On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 06:37:11 -0700, Branson Hunter mumbled something like
this:
Richmond Times-Dispatch
BY JAMES W. CRAWLEY
Jun 10, 2005
Psychological warfare effort to be outsourced Army command hires three
firms to sway Afghans and Iraqis
Is there any truth to the rumour that the Bush Cassidy/Sundance *****
administration have acquired the DNA of Joseph Goebbels and are currently
growing a clone?
--
Rinso
/\
/ \
/wizz\
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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| User: "The Pervert" |
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| Title: Re: Psychological warfare outsourced |
12 Jun 2005 03:11:51 AM |
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"Rincewind" <rinso@unseen.edu> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.06.11.16.00.47.180429@unseen.edu...
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 06:37:11 -0700, Branson Hunter mumbled something like
this:
Richmond Times-Dispatch
BY JAMES W. CRAWLEY
Jun 10, 2005
Psychological warfare effort to be outsourced Army command hires three
firms to sway Afghans and Iraqis
Is there any truth to the rumour that the Bush Cassidy/Sundance *****
administration have acquired the DNA of Joseph Goebbels and are currently
growing a clone?
Is there any truth to the rumor that your mother ever had any kids that
lived?
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