Pace Disputes One Bedrock Tenet of Info-Op
Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, said today he has no evidence the Iranian government has been sending military equipment and personnel into neighboring Iraq.
On Monday, President Bush suggested Iran was involved in making roadside bombs, known as improvised explosive devices, that are being used in Iraq. And Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld last week accused Iran of sending members of its Revolutionary Guard to conduct operations in Iraq.
Today, Pace, the top U.S. military official, was asked at a Pentagon news conference if he has proof that Iran's government is sponsoring these activities.
"I do not, sir," Pace said...
Rumsfeld, standing beside Pace, said today it is difficult to ascertain whether the Iranian government is directly involved in sending military equipment and personnel to Iraq.
"As to equipment, unless you physically see it coming in in a government-sponsored vehicle, or with government-sponsored troops, you can't know it" comes from Iran's government, Rumsfeld said. "All you know is that you find equipment -- weapons, explosives, whatever -- in a country that came from the neighboring country.
If it's so fucking difficult to tell if there is direct Iranian involvement then perhaps the President and the Defense Secretary shouldn't be declaring that Iran is directly involved.
But the truth is not the primary driver for psy-ops.
There is a battle for the minds of the American people over the upcoming conflict with Iran, with special attention being directed to appeals to the unconscious.
The exponents on both sides know how large the stakes are for the future of the USA, and will accept nothing less than victory in their respective information operations.
posted by Effwit at 11:57 AM
4 Comments:
What you're talking about is frightening indeed.
My thinking is that there could well be Iranian involvement -- in fact, how could there not be? But if the American military thinks that such involvement justifies nuclear (or any other kind of attack) on Iran -- they are digging themselves into an even bigger pit than they are now in.
In the eyes of the world America no longer holds the moral high ground. The *only* card they hold is superior military power -- and that has proved impotent - even against mangy, feeble Iraq insurgents...
...I, sadly, don't think the American people are any smarter than the German people were in the 30's - and the "psy - ops" that the American govt has at its disposal is more powerful, more subtle, more nuanced than what the Nazi's had... All this doesn't bode well for America - but above all the Gods dislike hubris...
Dena
Dena:
When Rumsfeld stated that Iranian Revolutionary Guards were active in Iraq, my first thought was--when will the Pentagon produce even one single Iranian military EPW or KIA.
If there had even been one Iranian prisoner of war or dead body, the U.S. would have worked it into their anti-Iran propaganda campaign.
If no Iranian captured or dead--they cannot be very actively involved.
You are certainly right, however, that Iran has some involvement in Iraq, and that it should not be a Casus Belli.
Your analysis of the respective merits of the 1930's Germans and the 2000's Americans is spot on. What's even more disgusting is that the supposed opposition party--The Democrats--will, if push come to shove, fully support a war with Iran to prove that they can compete with the certifiable Republicans on the "security" issue.
The "security" issue? Oh yes. It continues to amaze me that the American govt. aided and abetted by their lap-dog media can conflate 9/11 with the War On Terror/Iraq... And Americans buy into it completely. And now, perhaps, Iran will be thrown into the mix....
If Iraq was ever a breeding ground for "terrorists" it sure as hell is now. And, I don't know, but if my family was blown up by bombs I might decide to become a terrorist too.
Dena
Dena:
Believe it or not, a recent poll showed that 85% of American troops in Iraq think that they are over there because Iraq had a hand in 9-11.
The American media have indeed conflated 9-11 and Iraq. Intentionally. In order to have a ready supply of grunts with more brawn than brains to conduct the work of the imperialists who send them into battle for corporate interests.
I have seen a study (from Europe, I believe) that says that for each Iraqi civilian killed, there are 10 friends or relatives radicalized.
I can understand their reaction.
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