It's Called PsyOps For A Reason

One of the most misunderstood, and seldom talked about elements of the war on terror is PsyOps. The program is integrated into the military as well as the CIA, and its purpose is to influence, persuade, and shape opinion without violence. It has been around since recorded history with great warriors like Sun Tsu and Genghis Khan. (Hey, I didn't say they were good people, I said they were great warriors) Modern versions of PsyOp techniques would be such diverse tactics as the air dropped pamphlets in Vietnam and Iraq, to the use of media with the likes of "Tokyo Rose" and "Baghdad Bob." The pamphlets might say something along the lines of "The Americans are here to help you", or Tokyo Rose would broadcast radio tirades during WW2 and tell the GIs their girlfriends and wives were cheating on them. Simple stuff really, but it can be effective. Sun Tzu understood dealing with perceptions and weaknesses of the mind, as well as how to exploit them:

"All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him." - Sun Tzu, the Art of War Two great websites on the history and uses of PsyOp warfare can be found here and here. The idea has always been about deception and most importantly winning. As usual, the MSM sees it differently. Recently the MSM "uncovered" a story where American intelligence paid Iraqi newspapers to print planted news. And the problem here is....What? Apparently the MSM has forgotten (not that I believe they ever cared) who and what we are fighting for, or even if we win or lose. By the way, what do they think the VOA (Voice of America) does? Isn't it slanted just a tad toward being favorable to American views? The forgetfulness of the MSM, I think, is most evident on Sunday mornings. For the most part, Sunday morning talk shows are mind numbing affairs. Usually it's nothing more than talking heads (from both sides of politics) spouting off about useless matters. There was a time when shows like these were useful: That would be 1970. But thanks to cable news and the internet, I get more information now in one hour surfing (chanel and web) then when I filled up for the week on Sunday with David Brinkley, Charles Kuralt, and The McLaughlin Group. Every once and awhile you stumble across someone who makes me question the "Sunday talkies are crap" stance. In this case, it's John McCain. I cringe to think I'm quoting John McCain about the whole PsyOp thing, but he nails it on the head: Tim Russert, of Meet The Press, asked McCain: "But here we are trying to teach democracy and freedom of the press and the lack of state-sponsored censorship, if you will, and we're paying Iraqis to print articles?" McCain shot back (rather brilliantly, I might add): "If these are accurate stories then we should make every effort to get them out. We are in a propaganda war. This is a war for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people as well." Russert, apparently not getting the answer he wanted asked again: "But in principle you have no problem paying the Iraqis?" And McCain repeated for the either deaf, slightly retarded, or braindead Timmy (Timmay!) Russert, "If that's the standard procedure in Iraq - if that's what you need to do to get a story in one of these newspapers . . . . then I'm not terribly offended by it." The MSM has become a farce over the years. With alternative sources of news, it doesn't take a genius to see that. It also doesn't take much digging to come up with American news manipulation stories designed to harm instead of promote the good. Here's a few of the ones I found: The Washington Post - which won a Pulitzer Prize for its series on Little Jimmy, the 8-year-old heroin addict - which the paper had to give back once star Post reporter Janet Cooke admitted she'd faked the whole story. NBC aired video of an exploding GM truck gas tank - which was faked by their reporters. CBS has not yet discovered just who it was who forged President Bush's National Guard records - before Dan Rather committed professional suicide by putting them in the air. In a deliciously ironic twist of fate, shortly before airing a segment aimed at embarrassing the Bush administration by suggesting that it had staged a video conversation between the president and soldiers in Iraq, the Today show was caught staging . . . a video stunt. What bothers me about the story planting is not that we are doing it, but the White House reaction. They are playing this as a wrong that will be corrected. Why anyone would want to shut down something that would benefit America is beyond the grasp of my tiny conservative caveman brain. At least the plus side of the story is this: It's a non story. It means nothing to the average American. It only became a story because screeching, liberal news monkeys, decide to publish something that may or may not be true, but may also harm our troops. But, there's nothing new about that, is there? Story #2: The following cracks me up a bit. This is quite possibly the finest example of PsyOps. A poem in a school textbook has been removed by embarrassed education officials in Pakistan after it was found that the first letters of each line spelt out "President George W Bush." The 20-line anonymous poem, The Leader, lists the qualities of "a man who will do what he must" and bears a passing resemblance to Rudyard Kipling's If. Here's the poem. A little sappy, but still funny. THE LEADER by anonymous Patient and steadfast by all he must bear, Ready to accept every challenge with care. Easy in manner, yet solid as steel, Strong in his faith, refreshingly real, Isn't afraid to propose what is bold, Doesn't conform to the usual mold, Eyes that have foresight,for hindsight won't do, Never back down when he sees what is true, Tells it all straight, and means it all too, Going forward and knowing he's right, Even when doubted for why he would fight, Over and over he makes his case clear, Reaching to touch the ones who won't hear, Growing in strength, he won't be unnerved, Ever assuring he'll stand by his word, Wanting the world to join his firm stand, Bracing for war, but praying for peace, Using his power so evil will cease: So much a leader and worthy of trust, Here stands a man that will do what he must. I blame Karl Rove for this one. I can see him sitting awake at 3 in the morning, wanting to finish the poem, and thinking: "What rhymes with unnerved?" Then saying "Screw it. Word will work." and finishing off the remaining six stanzas. Pure genius!