Terrorism

September 11 and the Internet

by Sheldon Rampton — September 11, 2002 - 11:37am

The Pew Internet Project has published a report examining how September 11 affected public attitudes and use of the Internet. Perhaps the most disturbing change has been that more Americans support greater government secrecy, along with monitoring of people's email and online activities.

Main Source: 
http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=69

Al-Qaeda Stronger Than Ever

by Sheldon Rampton — September 4, 2002 - 11:00pm

A year has passed since the U.S. launched its war on terrorism. "Unfortunately, the evidence suggests that most of the initial 'war aims' have not been achieved," reports Jane's Intelligence Digest, a leading publisher of military and security analyses. "In fact, in the view of many within the Western intelligence community, Al-Qaeda is probably stronger now than it was before 11 September. The reasons for this are complex, but key factors include the enormous growth in grassroots support for the group throughout much of the Islamic world. ...

Main Source: 
Jane's Intelligence Digest, September 5, 2002

Smearing Teachers as Terrorists

by Sheldon Rampton — August 31, 2002 - 11:00pm

Did America's largest teachers union construct a subversive web site concerning September 11? This nasty slander against the National Education Association has been spreading across the Internet, sparked by a series of articles in the Washington Times.

Main Source: 
http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh082802.shtml

What's Good for Exxon Is Bad for Terrorism?

by Sheldon Rampton — August 7, 2002 - 11:00pm

The U.S. State Department is seeking dismissal of a human rights lawsuit against Exxon Mobil's activities in Indonesia, where villagers say that they were victims of murder, torture, kidnapping and rape by the military unit guarding the company's gas field. "In response to a request by the corporation for an opinion, the department declared that pursuit of the case would harm Washington's campaign against terrorism," reports the New York Times.

Main Source: 
New York Times, August 8, 2002

Doctor Spin and Mr. Hyde

by Sheldon Rampton — July 22, 2002 - 11:00pm

Ever since September 11, politicians like Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde have been wondering why "the popular press overseas, often including the government-owned media, daily depict the United States as a force for evil." Hyde thinks that "public diplomacy" (the government's term for "public relations") can turn the tide.

Main Source: 
Council on Foreign Relations; Government Printing Office, July 23, 2002

Myanmar Hires PR Help

by Laura Miller — June 20, 2002 - 11:00pm

"The Union of Myanmar, which is ruled by a ruthless military junta, has retained Washington, D.C.-based DCI Assocs. to improve its relationship with the U.S.," trade publication O'Dwyer's PR writes. "DCI is to brief members of the Bush Administration and Congress that the former Burma is now committed to democracy and human rights. It also wants to be considered a foot soldier in President Bush's so-called 'war on terror.' DCI received a $100,000 retainer from Myanmar in early April, which will cover work through July 15. It will then bill Myanmar $35K a month. ...

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR, June 21, 2002

The Treasonous Press

by Sheldon Rampton — June 13, 2002 - 11:00pm

"I accuse the media in the United States of treason," says a State Department official in a Washington Post opinion piece. Dennis Pluchinsky, a senior intelligence analyst with the Diplomatic Security Service in the U.S. Department of State, goes on to propose that the American press be censored in its coverage of the war on terrorism. "If there were an 'Osama bin Laden' award given out by al Qaeda, I believe that it would be awarded to the U.S news media for their investigative reporting," he says. "This type of reporting -- carrying specifics about U.S.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, June 14, 2002

News Blackout Aids & Abets FBI Frame-Up of Judi Bari

by John Stauber — June 12, 2002 - 11:00pm

The news media is generally failing to report the historic verdict against the FBI in the 1990 bombing of non-violent environmental activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney. That would not surprise Judi, were she alive today. In her book Timber Wars she described how the news media eagerly parroted the FBI's lies and deception, casting Bari and fellow bomb victim Cherney as terrorists. "The news quickly went national, with newspapers across the country screaming about Earth First!ers carrying bombs. It was the only time we ever made the front page of the New York Times.

Main Source: 
http://www.judibari.org/

The FBI As Real Eco-Terrorists: Judi Bari Wins in Court

by John Stauber — June 11, 2002 - 10:48pm

A federal jury has awarded $4.4 million to Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney, two Earth First! activists who accused the FBI and the Oakland, CA, police of framing them for a 1990 bomb blast that severely injured them. Who really blew up their car? What was Hill and Knowlton PR's role in smearing Earth First! as eco-terrorists?

Main Source: 
Associated Press, June 11, 2002

Did Microsoft Pay for Open-Source Scare?

by Sheldon Rampton — June 4, 2002 - 11:00pm

The Alexis de Tocqueville Institution (ADTI), a libertarian think tank that gets part of its funding from Microsoft, has issued a new white paper that seems calculated to tell computer buyers, "If you are not with Microsoft, you are with the terrorists." Some government agencies, including the U.S.

Main Source: 
Wired, June 5, 2002
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