WASHINGTON, 17 December 2002 — The Pentagon is considering a secret plan to establish covert propaganda operations in countries it considers its allies in order to improve the image of America and to discredit hostile factions, it was revealed yesterday.
The plan involves efforts to discredit and undermine the influence of mosques and religious schools, perhaps by establishing moderate Islamic schools with American funding. Other suggestions being considered include paying journalists to write stories that are favorable to the US and hiring contractors without obvious ties to the Pentagon to organize rallies and demonstrations in support of US policies.
The proposal has triggered sharp debate across the Bush administration because of its plan to run such operations in countries considered not only neutral but friendly to the US. Germany — where many of the Sept. 11 hijackers lived for several years — was one of the countries mentioned. It was unclear as to whether there were proposals to establish such operations in Britain. A spokesman for the British Embassy declined to comment on what he said were “speculative stories”.
The plans, revealed by the New York Times, immediately sparked controversy and raised questions about their likely efficiency. Adm. Dennis Blair, a retired commander of US forces in the Pacific, said: “Running operations against your allies doesn’t work very well. I’ve seen it tried a few times and it generally is not very effective.” Official sources in Washington said the plans — contained within a classified policy document entitled 3600.1: Information Operations — were being pushed by the more hawkish elements of the Pentagon and that they did not have the support of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Last February Rumsfeld was forced to dismantle the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Influence (OSI) after it was revealed there were plans to provide false stories and “black propaganda” to foreign journalists. (The Independent)
