Anything but the Truth: The Art of Managing Perceptions
In The Secret Man, Bob Woodward's new book about his Watergate source Deep Throat, he notes, "
Articles by Greg Guma
Fear and the Nuclear Option
Twenty years ago, when people concerned about nuclear weapons warned about a "war without winners," they were accused of spreading fear and negativity. The counter-argument was that the U.S. nuclear arsenal was a shield protecting the west from a Soviet Union bent on world domination.
Addicted to War: The New American Militarism
George Washington could hardly be called naïve about the use of military power. Yet, in his presidential farewell address, the general-turned-political leader issued a warning that would be wise to reconsider as the
Outsourcing Defense 6/04
The Quiet Rise of National Security, Inc.
Four years ago, candidate George W. Bush promised to make government more efficient, lean, and responsive by looking at whether some federal agencies should be privatized or abolished. On the record, the plan was to start with almost one million federal positions, those said to be “commercially replaceable,” and open them up for private bidding. Shortly after taking office, he took the idea a step further, stating his preference for privatized peacekeeping operations.
The evolution of perception management tactics (06/04)
In the Reagan Era, it was known as “public diplomacy.” The current Bush regime calls it “strategic influence.” What both terms describe is the US government’s desire and capacity to manage mass perceptions around the world and, when necessary, at home. If you don’t think it’s been going on for years and continues to this very moment, well, then, it’s working.
As the Iraq war began, we did get a brief peak behind the curtain. Word leaked out that a new Pentagon Office of Strategic Influence was gearing up to sway leaders and public sentiment by disseminating false stories. Horrors! Facing public censure, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld publicly denounced and supposedly disbanded it. But, a few months later, he quietly funded a private consultant to develop another version. The apparent goal was to go beyond traditional information warfare with a new “perception management” campaign designed to “win the war of ideas” – in this case, against those classified as a terrorists.
Manufacturing Reality (3/01)
Fifty years ago, on the spurious grounds that extreme sacrifices were required in the battle to prevent a Communist takeover of the world, the US government decided to use the citizens of Nevada as nuclear guinea pigs. Atomic testing continued there until 1955, but since notification would have alarmed people, they weren’t even advised to go indoors. According to declassified documents, however, some scientists studying the genetic effects of radiation were already concerned about the health risks of fallout.