How the military maximizes PR value of each death in Afghanistan

[Bragi]

I know it's impolite to say so, but I see that Canada's military has become terrifically expert at wringing maximum PR value out of every Canadian soldier killed as a result of our pointless mission in Afghanistan.

The standard PR protocol around every killed soldier seems to have evolved as follows:

- initial stories report that more unnamed troops have been killed;

- next day follow-up stories tell us who they are, and fill in a few personal details (like how many terrified children they left back home); camp commanders use the opportunity to make sure everyone knows how supportive the deceased soldier was about the mission; Harper issues a news release with the same political message;

- the ramp ceremony is then held in Kandahar, providing another opportunity to talk about how supportive the dead soldier was about the mission;

- when the plane arrives in Trenton, another photo op is held showing everyone on the tarmac, the coffin)s) being off-loaded, etc.; the Minister and GG do their best to be present for this media opportunity; when asked, they talk about how supportive the deceased soldier was about the mission;

- the next-day procession of cars along the "Highway of Heroes" (specially named by military PR people for this very purpose) is the next story, people on the overpasses, etc; interviews highlight the importance of the sacrifice; no-one is allowed to suggest that this is total waste of human life because that would be "politicizing" the issue;

- the deceased soldier's remains arrive at their local base, triggering local and regional media coverage, more statements about how important the mission is;

- the concluding story happens around the actual funeral/internment of the deceased soldier.

So the military has developed a protocol that pretty well insures them of at least 7 media hits for every dead soldier, 7 opportunities to sell the importance of the mission while, of course, telling everyone who is opposed to this war to keep politics out of it.


- B

[HeresyLives]

1. Yes, maximized PR value is evident

as well with the flag wrapped around the coffin...something I don't think we've ever done before. It's an American custom. And people along the 'highway of heroes' even put their hand over their heart....something I'm SURE we haven't done before. And of course most of them didn't do anything 'heroic', they just accidently drove over a bomb.

When our peacekeepers died in far-flung parts of the world tho...110 of them in all...no one cared.

[Bragi]

2. Canada vs US customs

If I recall correctly, Canada historically followed the British practice of burying deceased soldiers in the countries in which they fell. Bringing the remains back home was a US practice, but it has now been adopted by us and the Brits (who can see and exploit a PR opportunity as well as we can.)

[HeresyLives]

3. I don't object to bringing them home.

I object to the sudden new customs accompanying it. It militarizes us, and we don't need that.

'Peacekeepers' were ignored, 'warriors' are made much of.

[daleo]

4. Yes, we used to bury them where they fell

In WW1, bodies were often sucked under the mud, anyway. Imagine bringing 60,000 coffins home in the space of 4 years. It would be about 45 per day. Similar stats would apply for WW2.