Terrorism

Trust Me, I Trust the Experts

by Sheldon Rampton — April 22, 2008 - 2:41pm

Main Source: 
New York Times, April 23, 2008

Adios, Online Privacy

by Sheldon Rampton — March 15, 2008 - 11:49pm

The National Security Agency, once known for its skill in eavesdropping on the world's telephone calls, is adapting to the times by "focusing on widespread monitoring of e-mail messages and text messages, recording of Web browsing, and other forms of electronic data-mining, all done without court supervision," reports Declan McCullagh.

Main Source: 
The Iconoclast, March 11, 2008

A Comical Attempt to Win Young Hearts and Minds

by Diane Farsetta — February 20, 2008 - 5:30pm

Want to earn up to $2.4 million to produce and distribute across Iraq 12 issues of a comic book designed to "highlight the professionalism of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) and to enhance the public perception of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) as a capable, well-trained, and professional fighting force"? Well, you'll have to compete with the Lincoln Group, the PR firm that previously placed U.S.

Main Source: 
Wired blog "Danger Room," February 19, 2008

Rather than Surrender to Terror, Romney Quits

by Anne Landman — February 7, 2008 - 4:35pm

Mitt Romney has suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, saying that if he continued it would "be making it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win" and that he cannot let

Main Source: 
New York Times, February 7, 2008

Think Tank Talks Up Telecom Immunity

by Diane Farsetta — February 1, 2008 - 4:57pm

The Democratic think tank / advocacy group Third Way has been working with Senate Democrats to help sell a controversial measure granting retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies, reports Matt Renner.

Main Source: 
Truthout, January 31, 2008

James Glassman: The Journalist Turned Journo-lobbyist's Bid to Be PR Czar

by Diane Farsetta — January 31, 2008 - 5:23pm
  • Topics: Internet, Iraq, Front Groups, Terrorism, Public Diplomacy, U.S. Congress, International, Politics, Propaganda, U.S. Government

    • James Glassman, the nominee for Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, probably won't have much of an impact on how the United States presents itself to the rest of the world.

    For one thing, he'll only have 11 months in the post. For another -- as his predecessor Karen Hughes proved -- putting shinier lipstick on the pig of U.S. foreign policy doesn't do much to assuage widespread anti-American sentiment. Still, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's January 30 hearing on Glassman's nomination provided some insight into Washington's evolving view of public diplomacy.

    Rumsfeld Calls for Propaganda 2.0

    by Diane Farsetta — January 24, 2008 - 5:00pm

    Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is concerned that the United States "is losing the war of ideas in the Muslim world, and the answer to that, in part, is through the creation of [a] new government agency," writes Sharon Weinberger.

    Main Source: 
    Wired.com's Danger Room blog, January 23, 2008

    Whither the Weather?

    by Diane Farsetta — January 23, 2008 - 5:28pm

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security "is paying a Pennsylvania ad firm to pitch 'pre-written' winter-weather-preparedness articles" to national and local media.

    Main Source: 
    Seven Days (Vermont), January 16, 2008

    The Taming of Al Jazeera

    by John Stauber — January 4, 2008 - 9:29am

    The New York Times reports, "When a Saudi court sentenced a young woman to 200 lashes in November after she pressed charges against seven men who had raped her, the case provoked outrage and headlines around the world, including in the Middle East. But not at Al Jazeera, the Arab world's leading satellite television channel, seen by 40 million people. ...

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, January 4, 2008
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