War / Peace

Empowering Secrecy

by Diane Farsetta — May 12, 2005 - 6:07pm

The conservative legal group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the Defense Department, for not responding to their March 2004 Freedom of Information Act request on what "strategic influence, perception management, strategic information warfare and/or

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub. req'd.), May 12, 2005

Avoiding Non-Combat (Not Non-Combatant) Deaths

by Diane Farsetta — May 9, 2005 - 4:30pm

Concerned at rising rates of soldiers' non-combat deaths, the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center hired two PR firms, Pario and Reingold, to "sell" safety measures.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub. req'd.), May 9, 2005

Defensive Reporting or Offensively Fake News?

by Diane Farsetta — April 25, 2005 - 5:00pm

"When the government creates a cable channel that reminds viewers of a news network, down to the live Pentagon briefings and interviews with Washington big shots, is it a form of propaganda or just a savvy way to communicate with the troops?" the Christian Science Monitor asks, about the Pentagon Channel.

Main Source: 
Christian Science Monitor, April 25, 2005

Terrorism's Up, But Who's Counting?

by Sheldon Rampton — April 24, 2005 - 4:28am

For the first time in 20 years, the U.S. government will not be publishing Patterns of Global Terrorism, a Congressionally-mandated report from the U.S. Department of State intended to provide a full and complete record of countries and groups involved in international terrorism. Last year, the Bush administration was embarrassed when the report tallied 175 significant terrorist attacks - the highest number in two decades, contradicting the administration's claim that it is winning the war on terrorism.

Main Source: 
Knight Ridder, April 15, 2005

How Green is Camouflage?

by Laura Miller — April 22, 2005 - 5:56pm
  • Topics: Environment, War / Peace

    • The U.S. Army celebrated Earth Day this year with a special campaign called "Sustaining the Environment for a Secure Future." The effort's website features links to an Army Earth Day message, an Army Earth Day video promo, computer screen wallpaper, and a commemorative poster.

    Pentagon Seeks New Information Warriors

    by Diane Farsetta — April 22, 2005 - 5:20pm

    U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) is "fostering competition" for a "lucrative contract to analyze foreign media coverage and handle strategic communications for its operations and the so-called global war on terrorism," reports O'Dwyer's. The work involves tracking "media in broadcast, print and online in Arabic, Urdu Pashtu" and other languages, as well as "building databases of key communicators and media outlets, analyzing the perception of U.S.

    Main Source: 
    O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub. req'd.), April 22, 2005

    They Want You for the New Recruit

    by Diane Farsetta — April 20, 2005 - 3:40pm

    In an "uncharacteristically aggressive recruitment effort," the U.S. Army National Guard is launching a new campaign, called "The American Soldier." The campaign includes "sending eight mobile information and recruitment centers (with another 12 in production) to sporting events and shopping malls across the country, increasing direct mailings to three times annually, and signing a sponsorship deal with NASCAR driver Greg Biffle," reports PR Week.

    Main Source: 
    PR Week (sub. req'd.), April 20, 2005

    Israel Moves to Muzzle Nuclear Whistleblower

    by Bob Burton — April 15, 2005 - 1:56am

    At a preliminary court hearing, Israeli whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu declined to enter a plea on twenty-one charges that he spoke with U.S., British, Australian and French journalists. After revealing the existence of Israel's nuclear weapons program to the U.K. newspaper the Sunday Times in 1986, Vanunu was imprisoned for eighteen years.

    Main Source: 
    Haaretz, April 12, 2005

    U.S. Army Toons for Middle Eastern Tots

    by Diane Farsetta — April 1, 2005 - 4:11pm

    "In order to achieve long-term peace and stability in the Middle East, the youth need to be reached," explained the U.S. government, in an ad seeking artists for an "original comic book series" to help Middle Eastern youth "learn lessons, develop role models and improve their education." The U.S. Army's Fourth Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg in North Carolina has done initial character and plot development and will produce the series.

    Main Source: 
    BBC News, March 31, 2005

    The U.S. Army Pitches Patriotism

    by Diane Farsetta — March 25, 2005 - 4:20pm

    "The Army expects to miss its recruiting goals this month and next, and is working on a revised sales pitch appealing to the patriotism of parents," according to Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey.

    Main Source: 
    Associated Press, March 24, 2005
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