[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [SRRTAC-L:9585] Can you believe it? They're at it again

[Alfred Kagan]

>Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 16:31:34 -0500
>From: Dawn Grattino <dawn.grattino at cpl.org>
>Subject: [SRRTAC-L:9585] Can you believe it? They're at it again
>To: SRRT Action Council <srrtac-l at ala.org>
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>Pentagon Debates Propaganda for Allies
>Dec 16, 10:52 AM (ET)
>By PAULINE JELINEK
>
>WASHINGTON (AP) - Pentagon officials are debating whether to use the
>military to conduct covert propaganda operations in allied nations, 10
>months after disbanding a controversial office that had the same goal.
>
>Tasks could include such things as paying journalists in European
>nations to write favorable stories about American policies or secretly
>financing books or schools to counter radical Islam taught at some of
>Pakistan's madrassas, or religious schools, defense officials said
>Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
>
>The proposal to use the military to influence public opinion in
>friendly nations has simmered for a year, with both uniformed and
>civilian officials split on the idea, the officials said.
>
>There is agreement that it is appropriate for the military to do so-
>called "psychological operations" in adversary nations or in a nation
>when a military operation is under way. But critics say the Defense
>Department risks its credibility by doing such covert operations in
>allied or neutral nations.
>
>At issue is the proposed revision of a classified department directive
>covering information operations.
>
>Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld is said to oppose using the
>military for a new array of such responsibilities, though he believes
>the U.S. government has not done a good job of educating the world
>about American goals and policies.
>
>Other officials believe efforts to shape public opinion should remain
>with the State Department.
>
>The debate over the directive was first reported in Monday editions of
>The New York Times.
>
>There has been world disapproval of a number of positions taken by the
>United States, including Arab opposition to aspects of the war on
>terror and other opposition to a possible war against Iraq.
>
>In a broad international survey released early this month, the Pew
>Global Attitudes Project found that the United States is falling out of
>favor in 19 of 27 countries where a trend could be identified.
>
>The dislike was especially striking in Muslim countries. Seventy-five
>percent of those surveyed in Jordan had an unfavorable opinion of
>America, as did 69 percent of Egyptians and Pakistanis, for instance.
>But ill will toward the United States was also found in supposedly
>friendly nations like Canada, Britain and Germany.
>
>The most common criticisms are that the United States acts by itself,
>pushes policies that widen the gap between rich and poor nations, and
>it doesn't do enough to solve the world's problems.
>
>A previous Pentagon program aimed at winning hearts and minds overseas
>died quickly last February when Rumsfeld ordered the shutting of the
>short-lived Office of Strategic Influence. It was created after the
>Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America to centralize information
>operations, such as spreading messages on a battlefield by leaflet or
>through airborne broadcasts, officials said.
>
>But an uproar followed reports in February that the office had proposed
>giving false information to foreign journalists as a means of
>furthering the U.S. war against terrorism.
>
>
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-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu