[IP] Evidence of Pentagon PsyOps Operations In U.S. Surfaces in Want A ds

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Justin Rood <jrood@cq.com>
Date: July 31, 2004 9:56:53 AM EDT
To: "'dave@farber.net'" <dave@farber.net>
Subject: Evidence of Pentagon PsyOps Operations In U.S. Surfaces in 
Want A ds

For IP, if you wish - Justin

Evidence of Pentagon Psychological Warfare Operations Against U.S. 
Citizens
Surfaces in Want Ads

By Justin Rood, Congressional Quarterly Staff

The U.S. military's domestic operations command says it is not planning 
or
conducting a secret psychological warfare campaign to manipulate the
opinions of American citizens, despite a U.S. Air Force document 
suggesting
such activities might be taking place.

"We do not do information operations against the American public," said 
Lt.
Cmdr. Sean Kelly, a spokesman for the Pentagon's Northern Command, 
known as
NORTHCOM, based in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Kelly confirmed that there is a "psyops," or psychological warfare
operations, unit at NORTHCOM but said its work is "designed to 
influence and
deter foreign enemies from attacking the United States."

NORTHCOM was created after the 9/11 attacks to direct military 
operations,
including intelligence analysis, air defense and support for civilian 
first
responders, inside the United States. It shares the military's
counterterrorism mission with the Pentagon's Pacific Command, Central
Command and Strategic Command.

The possibility of a propaganda program run out of the military's 
domestic
headquarters surfaced with a phrase in an online employment ad.

An advertisement for an "influence operations specialist" with a Top 
Secret
security clearance for the U.S. Air Force appeared on the Web sites of
military contractors several weeks ago.

The position would "coordinate [Air Force] inputs to NORAD-NORTHCOM
influence operations," according to the ad. It defined those operations 
to
include "PSYOPS themes and messages for use in foreign countries, public
affairs themes and messages," as well as "deception plans."

The same position and job description is included in Air Force 
contracting
documents.

<snip>

For full story, see:

http://page15.com/2004/07/evidence-of-pentagon-psychological.html

Source: CQ Homeland Security
© 2004 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All Rights Reserved

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