Propaganda

U.S. Firms Paid to Pack Iraqi Media with Propaganda

by John Stauber — October 7, 2008 - 9:16pm

The Washington Post provides more information on the previously reported $300 million paid to private firms to propagandize Iraq over the next three years. The contractors will "produce news stories, entertainment programs and public service advertisements for the Iraqi media in an effort to 'engage and inspire' the local population to support U.S. objectives and the Iraqi government. ...

Main Source: 
Washington Post, October 3, 2008

Conflicted Pentagon Pundits Asked to 'Fess Up

by Diane Farsetta — October 7, 2008 - 8:36am

"The Federal Communications Commission has begun notifying several TV military analysts that it is probing congressional complaints that the pundits did not properly disclose their ties to the Pentagon when reviewing the war in Iraq on air," reports Paul Bedard.

Main Source: 
U.S. News & World Report blog "Washington Whispers," October 6, 2008

Will New Propaganda Ban Have an Impact?

by Diane Farsetta — October 7, 2008 - 8:22am

In April 2008, the New York Times exposed the Pentagon pundit scandal, where the Defense Department cultivated retired military officials who are frequent media commentators, to serve as "message force multipliers" for Bush administration policies on <

Main Source: 
Press release, Senator John Kerry's office, September 30, 2008

Branding al-Qaida as Losers Through the British Media

by Diane Farsetta — August 27, 2008 - 4:55pm

In an attempt to "taint the al-Qaida brand," a British counter-terrorism unit has targeted the BBC and other domestic media outlets.

Main Source: 
The Guardian (UK), August 26, 2008

Documents Reveal Intelligence "Fixing" Before Iraq War

by Diane Farsetta — August 25, 2008 - 12:18pm

Prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Bush administration officials exaggerated what U.S. intelligence agencies were reporting about Iraqi weapons, according to Congressional investigations. But even before that exaggeration, the intelligence reports had been skewed by an administration eager for war, according to recently declassified documents.

Main Source: 
National Security Archive, August 22, 2008

Jed Babbin: The Pentagon's Most Prolific Pundit

by Daniel Haack — August 19, 2008 - 12:35pm
  • Topics: Pundits, Ethics, Propaganda, U.S. Government, War / Peace

    • The morning of June 20, 2006, an email message circulated amongst U.S. Defense Department officials.

    "Jed Babbin, one of our military analysts, is hosting the Michael Medved nationally syndicated radio show this afternoon. He would like to see if General [George W.] Casey would be available for a phone interview," the Pentagon staffer wrote. "This would be a softball interview and the show is 8th or 9th in the nation."

    Why would the Pentagon help set up a radio interview? And how did they know that the interview would be "softball"?

    From early 2002 to April 2008, the Defense Department offered talking points, organized trips to places such as Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, and gave private briefings to a legion of retired military officers working as media pundits. The Pentagon's military analyst program, a covert effort to promote a positive image of the Bush administration's wartime performance, was a multi-level campaign involving quite a few colorful characters.

    Flipping through the over 8,000 pages of documents released in connection with the program, one Pentagon pundit arguably steals the spotlight: Jed Babbin.

    China's Gold Medal Spin

    by Bob Burton — August 19, 2008 - 5:36am

    In a scathing review of the Chinese government's handling of the Olympics, Jacquelin Magnay writes "there has been the fake singer, the fake fireworks, the fake minority kids (they were all Han, and not from the 55 different ethnic groups as portrayed), the fake press freedoms, fake internet access, fake promises. ...

    Main Source: 
    The Age (Australia), August 16, 2008

    Has Fake News Become the Real News?

    by Anne Landman — August 18, 2008 - 4:16pm

    An article in the New York Times asks whether Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's Daily Show has become the most trusted man in America, pointing out that his fake news

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, August 15, 2008

    The Pentagon's Pundits

    In early 2002, the Pentagon began cultivating retired military officers who frequently serve as media commentators, so that they would help make the case for invading Iraq.

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