Rumsfeld Zeros in on the Internet

[welshTerrier2]

we frequently see posts on DU, usually from DU's more moderate elements, that suggest that many on "the left" are just "armchair activists" ... the argument suggests that we lead fantasy lives removed from the realities of real political organizing and campaign work ... implicit in the argument is the idea that "online activism" is somehow worth virtually nothing ...

of course, neither premise is true ...

garnered from many, many posts on DU is the understanding that many of us participate "in the real world" in addition to what we do on DU ... and, also importantly, that DU and other online activity is, in and of itself, a significant political contribution ...

at least that's what Rumsfeld seems to believe ...

source: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_mike_whi_060224_rumsfeld_zeros_in_on.htm

As the Pentagon’s chief-coordinator, Rumsfeld enjoys a prominent place among American mandarins. He is the caretaker of their most prized possession; the high-tech, taxpayer-funded, laser-guided war machine. The US Military is the crown-jewel of the American empire; a fully-operational security apparatus for the protection of pilfered resources and the ongoing subjugation of the developing world. <skip>

“The standard US government public affairs operation was designed primarily …to be reactive rather than proactive…Government, however, is beginning to adapt” ... “Proactive news”? In other words, propaganda. <skip>

The military plans to develop the “institutional capability” to respond to critical news coverage within the same news cycle and to develop a comprehensive scheme for infiltrating the internet. The Pentagon’s strategy for taking over the internet and controlling the free flow of information has already been chronicled in a recently declassified report, “The Information Operations Roadmap”; is a window into the minds of those who see free speech as dangerous as an “enemy weapons-system”. The Pentagon is aiming for “full spectrum dominance” of the Internet. Their objective is to manipulate public perceptions, quash competing points of view, and perpetuate a narrative of American generosity and good-will. <skip>

The War Department is planning to insert itself into every area of the Internet from blogs to chat rooms, from leftist web sites to editorial commentary. Their rapid response team will be on hair-trigger alert to dispute any tidbit of information that challenges the official storyline. We can expect to encounter, as the BBC notes, “psychological operations (that) try to manipulate the thoughts and the beliefs of the enemy (as well as) computer network specialists who seek to destroy enemy networks.”

The enemy, of course, is anyone who refuses to accept their servile role in the new world order or who disrupts the smooth-operation of the Bush police-state.

[Ecumenist]

1. Well, here we go.

Let's hear from the people who've been telling those of us who have predicting this that we're nutty conspiracy theorists now..:eyes:

[CottonBear]

2. Skinner, Elad and EarlG will have their hands full keeping the DoD out.

:( Will the DoD pose as normal trolls or as undercover trolls? :(

[notadmblnd]

13. I think they already pose as normal trolls

they've been pretty effective here too IMO.

[philarq]

3. maybe just ban IP's from the pentagon

[annabanana]

4. ..just another reminder..

that we must remain vigilant.. and properly skeptical. If something is 'fishy'... It Stinks.

[LittleClarkie]

5. Alert, alert, alert

but don't point, point, point, as you could be wrong and confronting someone who just disagrees.

[Me.]

6. As None Of Them Can Ever Get Their Stories Straight

Are they really that much of a threat?

[welshTerrier2]

14. their incompetence does not necessarily reduce the danger

these madmen control the massive levers of power inside the US government ... they are incredibly dangerous ...

it would be foolish to think that their stumblings and bumblings make them any less dangerous ... it's important to understand that, in the name of national security and risks from terrorists, they could probably shut down most sites on the internet ...

they wouldn't need to "get their stories straight"; they would just direct their corps of techies to push a few buttons ...

and poof, DU and much of the "peoples' internet" would be gone ...

[woodsprite]

7. Better go back to pencil, paper and carrier pigeon. n/t

[babylonsister]

8. Damn, this is scary if they ever succeed. Rec'd. nt

[MuseRider]

9. I'm not so sure they have not

already had a presence here from time to time. We did OK, do OK and will continue to do OK but it will be a pain in the ass as always.

As far as armchair activists goes...there is nothing wrong with people who mostly post and read here. By doing so they are arming themselves with the all the information and learning how to debate it. That is a good thing.

I was an armchair activist and it gave me the tools and courage to get out and work. I have been involved up to my eyeballs since then on a few campaigns to helping to set up a statewide coalition for civil rights. If not for DU and the things I learned here I would never have done any of that.

[cdsilv]

10. If the pentagon pisses off the hacker/cracker/virus community.....

...well then let's see what will happen.

[mongo]

11. Ditto

DU is a springboard to get people out of the armchair and into the streets, phonebanks and campaign offices.

Damn, that reminds me.... I have some other work to do.

[MuseRider]

12. LOL

I am doing committee work on one tab and DU on the other. Board meeting coming up and I need to be ready to give my report. I can stay current while I do it. :)