Return-Path: <sentto-279987-4512-1014533010-fc=all.net@returns.groups.yahoo.com> Delivered-To: fc@all.net Received: from 204.181.12.215 [204.181.12.215] by localhost with POP3 (fetchmail-5.7.4) for fc@localhost (single-drop); Sat, 23 Feb 2002 22:42:08 -0800 (PST) Received: (qmail 18386 invoked by uid 510); 24 Feb 2002 06:43:29 -0000 Received: from n9.groups.yahoo.com (216.115.96.59) by all.net with SMTP; 24 Feb 2002 06:43:29 -0000 X-eGroups-Return: sentto-279987-4512-1014533010-fc=all.net@returns.groups.yahoo.com Received: from [216.115.97.162] by n9.groups.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 24 Feb 2002 06:43:30 -0000 X-Sender: fc@red.all.net X-Apparently-To: iwar@onelist.com Received: (EGP: unknown); 24 Feb 2002 06:43:29 -0000 Received: (qmail 60137 invoked from network); 24 Feb 2002 06:43:29 -0000 Received: from unknown (216.115.97.172) by m8.grp.snv.yahoo.com with QMQP; 24 Feb 2002 06:43:29 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO red.all.net) (12.232.72.152) by mta2.grp.snv.yahoo.com with SMTP; 24 Feb 2002 06:43:29 -0000 Received: (from fc@localhost) by red.all.net (8.11.2/8.11.2) id g1O6fXX13881 for iwar@onelist.com; Sat, 23 Feb 2002 22:41:33 -0800 Message-Id: <200202240641.g1O6fXX13881@red.all.net> To: iwar@onelist.com (Information Warfare Mailing List) Organization: I'm not allowed to say X-Mailer: don't even ask X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.5 PL3] From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net> X-Yahoo-Profile: fcallnet Mailing-List: list iwar@yahoogroups.com; contact iwar-owner@yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list iwar@yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:iwar-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com> Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 22:41:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: [iwar] [fc:Pentagon.Might.Use.Deceit.In.War.On.Terror] Reply-To: iwar@yahoogroups.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit USA Today February 20, 2002 Pentagon Might Use Deceit In War On Terror By Jonathan Weisman, USA Today WASHINGTON - Senior Defense Department officials are divided over a Pentagon plan to shape world opinion on the war against terrorism by using means that might include spreading false information. The Pentagon established the Office of Strategic Influence shortly after the Afghanistan campaign began in October, "when we had our butts handed to us every day in the propaganda war," a senior Pentagon official, who did not want his name used, said Tuesday. The office was set up to counter claims by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan of civilian deaths from U.S. bombings. But it might broaden its mandate, Pentagon officials said. The New York Times disclosed the office's existence on Tuesday. The office, run by Air Force Gen. Simon Worden, is considering aiming its message at audiences in Europe and Asia as well as the Middle East. The campaign could range from factual press releases to secret disinformation efforts directed by the military's psychological operations units, Pentagon officials said. The information might be spread by agents who hide their connection to the U.S. military, the officials said. The office already has hired a Washington consulting company, the Rendon Group, which has run media campaigns for the CIA and Middle Eastern governments. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz spoke Tuesday of the need to influence opinion, although he did not comment specifically on the new information campaign. "This is a battle for minds," Wolfowitz said in a speech to defense contractors. "Our victory on the ground in Afghanistan has already changed substantially how this conflict is perceived, even in the Muslim world." Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke said Tuesday that the office's plans have not yet been approved by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Some Pentagon officials who favor using disinformation at times expressed frustration over the U.S. government's difficulties in getting its side out about the war in Afghanistan. They emphasized that the Office of Strategic Influence would mainly coordinate responses to disinformation put out by U.S. enemies, such as Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. But other Pentagon officials said that a campaign that spreads false or misleading information will taint the Pentagon's credibility at home and abroad. One official said the new outfit should be renamed the "Office of Propaganda" so it is clearly delineated from information released by the Pentagon's traditional press office. There is also confusion about whether the new Pentagon office will clash with foreign press operations now run by the State Department and the White House. The Pentagon office is overseen by Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, a leading Bush administration hawk. Some Pentagon officials said Feith believes the State Department's information campaign is ineffective. Feith declined to comment. ------------------------ Yahoo! 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