US lags in propaganda war: Rumsfeld

[AGENDA21]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States lags dangerously behind al Qaeda and other enemies in getting out information in the digital media age and must update its old-fashioned methods, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Friday.

Modernization is crucial to winning the hearts and minds of Muslims worldwide who are bombarded with negative images of the West, Rumsfeld told the Council on Foreign Relations.

The Pentagon chief said today's weapons of war included e-mail, Blackberries, instant messaging, digital cameras and Web logs, or blogs.

"Our enemies have skillfully adapted to fighting wars in today's media age, but ... our country has not adapted," Rumsfeld said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060217/pl_nm/security_rumsfeld_dc

[wake.up.america]

1. Try telling the truth, knuckle-head

[realisticphish]

2. I thought this was an onion piece

when i read the subject

:(

[Spike from MN]

16. It's really hard to tell these days, isn't it?

I think the same thing when I read the titles of a lot of the posts, only to open them up and discover that no, BushCo really is that whacked out. Of course, then I read an article in The Onion and find myself thinking that it's a lot closer to truth than satire. Yeah, it seems things are a bit upside-down these days.

[tanyev]

3. Guess you need a bigger catapult, Rummy.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. "BOMBARDED with negative images.." Interesting choice of words.

"Hearts and minds". Seems like I heard that phrase before.

[Roland99]

5. Isn't propganda what got us into trouble in the first place?!?!?

HELLO!!!!!!!


:banghead:

[MadMaddie]

6. Can I ask this question...

Why does it matter if we win the hearts and minds of Muslims? (This is not a dig at Muslims)


Why is it the US business to change how they or anyone else feels about the US?

He says the Muslims are bombarded with negative images of the West....the negative images unfortunately are hard facts....the US is torturing Muslims and anyone else caught up in their net....

Has Rumsfelds disaster in Iraq proven that the more the US interferes in these countries.....the more damage is inflicted upon the citizens of these countries....

<snip>
Modernization is crucial to winning the hearts and minds of Muslims worldwide who are bombarded with negative images of the West, Rumsfeld told the Council on Foreign Relations.
<snip>

[file83]

7. So, Osama bin Hidin' in a cave has better technology than us?

Ree-hee-hee-healy?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. we spend 1.5 billion on illegal domestic propaganda, and this idiot

claims that we can't get the message out?

Hey, fool. Ever consider that the message is the problem? that content and truth tend to do better than that spin and arrogant crap that you spew so often? You used to be entertaining - for the first minute, but your act has worn thin, and now wears on us. Do the country a favor and resign before we need to file criminal charges and war crime acts against you.

[Just Me]

12. Yep. The neocons can't face the fact that their ideas are rejected.

The reason why their ideas are rejected is because they freakin' S-U-C-K!!!

I can't stand that asshole. :grr: War of ideas, my butt!!! More like forcing ideas on unwilling recipients (or just plain lying).

[malaise]

9. No Rummy

You couldn't hide your lies that's all. Bushco is naked.

[GeorgeGist]

10. Note to Dumsfeld: NO SH*T!

You've just discovered that your good, old-fashioned MSM lags dangerously behind al Qaeda and just about everyone else in the world?

[harpo]

11. This is his attack on Rice...there is some arm-wrestling going on between

between state and defense

[Ksec]

13. Its not about right or wrong

Its about who throws the best bullshit out there.

[ninkasi]

14. Rummy is nuts

This is not an ad campaign between two brands of soft drinks, where one company's ad is better than the others. Winning hearts and minds is a little hard to do when we kill Muslims and their hearts stop beating, and we torture them until they literally lose their minds.

We have invaded two Muslim countries, killed innocent people, destroyed their infrastructure, and made life hell for them. What hi-tech communication campaign is going to endear America to them? We have acted like an ignorant bully, and Rummy thinks it's just a matter of using better technology to get a message out.

He says that Muslims worldwide are bombarded with negative images of the West, but the truth is that they are being bombarded with bombs, guns, and other weapons. Does he really think that using e-mail, or paying for propaganda to be printed will change people's minds, when they can see for themselves what's happening?I'll be willing to bet they'd have a more positive image of us if we stopped torturing and killing them.

[Roland99]

15. And Gen. Casey says the US will keep paying Iraqi media (w/our money)

Military to continue to pay Iraqi media: Casey
http://www.newsone.ca/piercelandherald/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=152231

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military will continue to pay Iraqi media to publish reports favorable to American forces following an investigation into the controversial practice, the top U.S. general in Iraq said on Friday.

Army Gen. George Casey, commander of U.S. forces there, told reporters in a teleconference from Iraq that the investigation by a Navy admiral ordered by Casey "found that we were operating within our authorities and responsibilities."

Some members of the U.S. Congress raised questions about the payments when it was revealed in December that Iraqi journalists and newspapers were being paid to use articles produced by the military.

"And, right now, based on the results of the investigation, I do not intend to in the near term," he said.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

17. give 'em some more 'shock and awe' rummy

it worked so well the first time!