Friday, June 27, 2008
Collateral Damage
As the US prepares for its next war, we revisit a report on perception management. Released in October 2003 by Sam Gardiner, Colonel USAF (Retired), Truth From These Podia used open source data to identify intent, methods of operations, and organizational dynamics deployed by the US and British governments to strategically influence and distort public perceptions before, during, and after Gulf War II.
Regarding this coordinated information warfare mobilized against their respective citizenries, Colonel Gardiner observes, "We allowed strategic psychological operations to become part of public affairs." Reflecting on this observation, Gardiner goes on to say, "When truth is a casualty, democracy receives collateral damage."
As the perpetrators of these operations throw up flak to distract public attention and derail investigation of high crimes, the perception management continues. As both presidential contenders beat the drum for war against Iran, it remains to be seen whether the American public has learned anything about information warfare since the televised Iran-Contra hearings twenty years ago, or if what's left of democracy in the US will also become collateral damage.
Regarding this coordinated information warfare mobilized against their respective citizenries, Colonel Gardiner observes, "We allowed strategic psychological operations to become part of public affairs." Reflecting on this observation, Gardiner goes on to say, "When truth is a casualty, democracy receives collateral damage."
As the perpetrators of these operations throw up flak to distract public attention and derail investigation of high crimes, the perception management continues. As both presidential contenders beat the drum for war against Iran, it remains to be seen whether the American public has learned anything about information warfare since the televised Iran-Contra hearings twenty years ago, or if what's left of democracy in the US will also become collateral damage.
