Mr. T Posted June 15, 2009 Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 How the spooks took over the news In his controversial new book, Nick Davies argues that shadowy intelligence agencies are pumping out black propaganda to manipulate public opinion – and that the media simply swallow it wholesale On the morning of 9 February 2004, The New York Times carried an exclusive and alarming story. The paper's Baghdad correspondent, Dexter Filkins, reported that US officials had obtained a 17-page letter, believed to have been written by the notorious terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi to the "inner circle" of al-Qa'ida's leadership, urging them to accept that the best way to beat US forces in Iraq was effectively to start a civil war. The letter argued that al-Qa'ida, which is a Sunni network, should attack the Shia population of Iraq: "It is the only way to prolong the duration of the fight between the infidels and us. If we succeed in dragging them into a sectarian war, this will awaken the sleepy Sunnis." Later that day, at a regular US press briefing in Baghdad, US General Mark Kimmitt dealt with a string of questions about The New York Times report: "We believe the report and the document is credible, and we take the report seriously... It is clearly a plan on the part of outsiders to come in to this country and spark civil war, create sectarian violence, try to expose fissures in this society." The story went on to news agency wires and, within 24 hours, it was running around the world. There is very good reason to believe that that letter was a fake – and a significant one because there is equally good reason to believe that it was one product among many from a new machinery of propaganda which has been created by the United States and its allies since the terrorist attacks of September 2001. For the first time in human history, there is a concerted strategy to manipulate global perception. And the mass media are operating as its compliant assistants, failing both to resist it and to expose it. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/ho...ews-780672.html For the first time in human history, there is a concerted strategy to manipulate global perception. And the mass media are operating as its compliant assistants, failing both to resist it and to expose it. - JONATHAN GRUN, EDITOR,PRESS ASSOCIATION I wouldn't say this is the first time propaganda has been used to sway public opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicopee John Posted June 15, 2009 Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 For the first time in human history, there is a concerted strategy to manipulate global perception. And the mass media are operating as its compliant assistants, failing both to resist it and to expose it. - JONATHAN GRUN, EDITOR,PRESS ASSOCIATION I wouldn't say this is the first time propaganda has been used to sway public opinion. My God, go read G. Gordon Liddy's fantastic book, "Will" that details, among other things, how the Nixon Administration paid 'supporter/prosters' in an attempt to sway public opinion. This is probably the second oldest profession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted June 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 My God, go read G. Gordon Liddy's fantastic book, "Will" that details, among other things, how the Nixon Administration paid 'supporter/prosters' in an attempt to sway public opinion. This is probably the second oldest profession. I am in the middle of his book at the present. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicopee John Posted June 15, 2009 Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 I am in the middle of his book at the present.Thanks! Excellent read, T. Intriguing. Super smart. Super scary. Not many are cut from his cloth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE Tue Jun 16 2009 08:45:10 ET On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted June 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 So much for transparency from Obama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy Fan Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 How spooks took over the news ??? I only know of one connotation for the word "spook." I hope someone can offer a better explanation if they'd like the thread to remain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mz. Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 I hoped he meant "ghosts." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted June 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 How spooks took over the news ??? I only know of one connotation for the word "spook." I hope someone can offer a better explanation if they'd like the thread to remain. Black ops - CIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 So...there are 3 connotations for the work spook. Just depends which one you want to infer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.