(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to United States (US) Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, RSF expressed its concern about the Pentagon’s consideration of a plan to use disinformation and propaganda in its efforts to improve the perception of American military operations overseas. “Such a decision can only ruin the image of the United States […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to United States (US) Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, RSF expressed its concern about the Pentagon’s consideration of a plan to use disinformation and propaganda in its efforts to improve the perception of American military operations overseas. “Such a decision can only ruin the image of the United States and discredit information provided by the Secretary of Defense,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “How can the United States explain its use of propaganda and disinformation after they strongly denounced the ‘propaganda’ of Osama bin Laden and the media that broadcast it?” asked Ménard.
On 20 February 2002, Rumsfeld rejected the prospect that the Pentagon would use disinformation, but did not rule out the use of “tactical manipulation” in the war against terrorism. RSF urged Rumsfeld to take a clear stance by categorically rejecting the use of propaganda of any kind.
According to information obtained by RSF, in an interview published on 19 February by “The New York Times” newspaper, high-level Pentagon officials stated that the Office of Strategic Influence (OSI, a Defense Department office) suggested that foreign media be provided with false information. According to “The New York Times”, these projects were “part of a new effort to influence public sentiment and policy makers in both friendly and unfriendly countries”. The article noted that the OSI had proposed “a broad mission ranging from ‘black’ campaigns that use disinformation to ‘white’ public affairs that rely on truthful news releases.” The OSI was created after 11 September in efforts to launch a media campaign to influence international public opinion. According to Bryan Whitman, the OSI’s mission was based on a thorough Pentagon study. In late September, Rumsfeld promised that neither he nor his aides would lie to the press. In late November he called for a free flow of military information, without censorship or propaganda. The administration was worried that the war on terrorism might be perceived overseas, and especially in the Middle East, as a war against Islam.
