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Help Save 1.800.SUICIDE

U.S. News Networks Conducting Information Warfare

by Jeff Huber rcs1
Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 02:53:42 PM EST

Wittingly or unwittingly, at least two major U.S. news networks are conducting a major information operation in support of the Israel-Lebanon War.  

All morning, MSNBC and CNN have been broadcasting footage of Israeli tanks and troops forming up on Lebanon's southern border.  (I haven't been watching Fox, for all I know they're doing the same thing.)  On scene reporters and analysts are describing how engineering units are moving up, ostensibly to clear away any mine fields or other obstructions prior to the launch of an assault, raid or full scale invasion.

Under the fold: who's side are they on?


commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!
A number of things could be going on here, none of which bode well for the post conflict analysis of the news networks' ethical behavior.  

It may be that the network is broadcasting these images and information without Israel's knowledge or permission.  If that's the case, they are providing real time tactical intelligence on Israel's movements and intentions to Hezbollah.  But I think it highly unlikely that Israel hasn't given the networks to make footage of its troop movements, or that the networks would know anything about deployment of engineers and other details that the Israeli's haven't told them.

I find it even less likely that the Israelis are dumb enough not to realize that their enemy is seeing and hearing everything broadcast on U.S. network television.

A more probable scenario is that the Israelis are using the networks as part of an overall psychological and/or deception operation.  In that case, the networks have in effect made themselves a part of the Israeli Defense Force.  And make no mistake, there's a huge difference between reporting on operations that have already taken place and operations that are about to.  The former is journalism.  The latter is an essential element of modern war fighting.  

It could be that the cable news giants are simply trying to report news, and don't realize what they're doing.  But I find that a little hard to accept as well.  I'm not familiar with CNN's stable of military experts, but it is inconceivable to me that MSNBC's Jack Jacobs, Rick Francona and the rest of them don't understand the implications of what's going on.  Is anybody going to the senior producers and network executives and asking, "Hey, what are we doing here?"

I hope so, because at the end of the day, a whole lot of people will look back on this and notice that major U.S. media outlets picked a side in a war that America, in theory, is not a party to.

#

Commander Jeff Huber, U.S. Navy (Retired) writes from Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Read his commentaries at ePluribus Media and Pen and Sword.

Display:
U.S. News Networks Conducting Information Warfare | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 hidden)
Hmmmm (5.00 / 1) (#3)
There hasn't been anything in MSNBC's coverage that would make me think that there was any subtle pro-Palestine, pro-Lebanon sentiments in the producer/editorial stance.

With the exception of one heated exchange on Hardball that allowed in the end for all parties landed sovereignty, the "hosts" on MSNBC have been freaking giddy over the whole thing and from my perspective, highly supportive of Israel in both motive and deed.

Having said that, I don't discount that there may be some collusion between our administration and the networks or even the regurgitation of materials provided by Israel for that purpose.  But, it also may very well be irrational, ill-thought dollar/audience chasing with no regard to the potential harms.

It's a show, Jeff, you know.  It's not a war...it's certainly not our war.  

It is not journalism.  It is not newsgathering, but who is going to judge whether it is disinformation or misinformation and from what side?  I've had a sick soundtrack running through my head all day...early 70's smacking me today.  It speaks to all of our ignorance and hubris...


Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends

Karn Evil 9 - 1st Impression, Part 1

Cold and misty morning, I heard a warning borne in the air
About an age of power where no one had an hour to spare,
Where the seeds have withered, silent children shivered, in the cold
Now their faces captured in the lenses of the jackals for gold.
I'll be there
I'll be there
I will be there.

Suffering in silence, they've all been betrayed.
They hurt them and they beat them, in a terrible way,
Praying for survival at the end of the day.
There is no compassion for those who stay.
I'll be there
I'll be there
I will be there.

There must be someone who can set them free:
To take their sorrow from this odyssey
To help the helpless and the refugee
To protect what's left of humanity.
Can't you see
Can't you see
Can't you see.

I'll be there
I'll be there
I will be there;
To heal their sorrow
To beg and borrow
Fight tommorow.

Step inside! Hello! We've the most amazing show
You'll enjoy it all we know
Step inside! Step Inside!

We've got thrills and shocks, supersonic fighting cocks.
Leave your hammers at the box
Come Inside! Come Inside!
Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
See the show!

Left behind the bars, rows of Bishops' heads in jars
and a bomb inside a car
Spectacular! Spectacular!

If you follow me there's a speciality
some tears for you to see
Misery, misery,
Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
See the show!

Karn Evil 9 - 1st Impression, Part 2

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends
We're so glad you could attend
Come inside! Come inside!
There behind a glass is a real blade of grass
be careful as you pass.
Move along! Move along!

Come inside, the show's about to start
guaranteed to blow your head apart
Rest assured you'll get your money's worth
The greatest show in Heaven, Hell or Earth.
You've got to see the show, it's a dynamo.
You've got to see the show, it's rock and roll ....

Right before your eyes we pull laughter from the skies
And he laughs until he cries then he dies then he dies
Come inside the shows about to start
Guaranteed to blow your head apart

Karn Evil 9 - 3rd Impression

Man alone; born of stone;
Will stamp the dust of time
His hands strike the flame of his soul;
Ties a rope to a tree and hangs the Universe
Until the winds of laughter blows cold.

Fear that rattles in men's ears
And rears it's hideous head
Dread .... Death .... in the wind ....

Man of steel pray and kneel
With fever's blazing torch
Thrust in the face of the night;
Draws a blade if compassion
Kissed by countless Kings
Whose jewelled trumpet words blind his sight.

Walls that no man thought would fall
The altars of the just
Crushed .... Dust .... in the wind ....

No man yields who flies in my ship
DANGER!
Let the bridge computer speak
STRANGER!
LOAD YOUR PROGRAM. I AM YOURSELF.

No computer stands in my way
Only blood can cancel my pain
Guardians of a new clear dawn
Let the maps of war be drawn.

Rejoice! Glory is ours!
Our young men have not died in vain,
Their graves need no flowers
The tapes have recorded their names.

I am all there is
NEGATIVE! PRIMITIVE! LIMITED! I LET YOU LIVE!
But I gave you life
WHAT ELSE COULD YOU DO?
To do what was right
I'M PERFECT! ARE YOU?

Someone in the stretches of punditry asked whether it was war or not and the response was that there were already fancy "swoosh" graphics and montages of the daily fighting footage set to rock music.  If that's not a good war show, I don't know what is.

by polydactyl on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 04:32:50 PM EST

Hadn't thought about that song (5.00 / 1) (#9)
in years....odd how songs can take you back in time and similar events can take you back to those songs.  

by standingup on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 09:50:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
For those unfamiliar (5.00 / 1) (#11)
aside from what you can gleen from the lyrics, the whole tone is that of a carnival, a side-show, a macabre circus.

It was the grotesque giddiness of Tucker Carlson that spawned-off this mental soundtrack in my head...it is still there and certainly consistent with the comments downthread.

by polydactyl on Sat Jul 22, 2006 at 08:47:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Info War Update: "Tonight's the Night" (5.00 / 2) (#5)
MSNBC's Tucker Carlson, reporting from Haifa, looking and sounding like a college freshman nine beers into his first frat kegger, is babbling about the "invasion" of Lebanon that's coming "probably tonight."  

Nope, I'm not one bit impressed with the carnival sideshow the cable news networks are making of this war.

Bring on Cybil the Soothsayer!


by Jeff Huber on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 04:59:24 PM EST

That's exactly what I mean (none / 0) (#7)
They are making it a sideshow complete with barkers!

by kfred on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 07:34:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well done. (none / 0) (#1)
"Operational information" has to be controlled by the military, so if we are seeing/hearing it they want it released.  Same with the other side:

Hezbollah stands fast [Al-Jazeera]
Friday 21 July 2006, 2:15 Makka Time, 23:15 GMT  

Nasrallah said there were more surprises to come for Israel

Hezbollah's leader has told Aljazeera that its leadership remains functioning, despite Israeli claims.

Nasrallah said: "I can confirm without exaggerating or using psychological warfare that we have not been harmed."

Everybody gets to play.

by rba on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 04:03:10 PM EST

this is different... (none / 0) (#2)
That's just talk.  This is tangible proof/deception about specific military movements and intentions.  

by Jeff Huber on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 04:07:51 PM EST
Bias or no... (none / 0) (#4)
...what they're doing involves direct involvement in the outcome of pending tactical actions.  

Not good.

by Jeff Huber on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 04:34:25 PM EST

Not sure of that motivation (5.00 / 1) (#6)
I believe it's almost a voyeurism.  I can't think of another term that comes as close.  It's the viewership=$'s, certainly, but there is almost a salaciousness about the way they talk about the war that is very disturbing to me.

I have no doubt Israel is allowing access deliberately.  Hezbollah is smart enough to know it too.

by kfred on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 05:02:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Saving grace... (none / 0) (#8)
Yes, I think Hezbollah is clever enough to figure out what's going on.  

Not that I'm rooting for anybody, but I have to think that H. sees what I've seen on TV--the same footage being shown over and over all day.

by Jeff Huber on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 09:44:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Fox (none / 0) (#10)
Saw a similar thing on Fox today. Fox was on in someone's office as I stopped by.

I thought it was really odd--my first thougt was why are they playing at being little generals? They had graphics showing where everything was being mobilized to. At least, that's the impression I got.

Did anyone else see this?

by susie dow on Sat Jul 22, 2006 at 08:33:42 AM EST

Someone told me that... (none / 0) (#12)
Jack Jacobs said on MSNBC that none of that was very smart on the part of the Israelis.  Not sure what Jacobs is thinking about.  

by Jeff Huber on Sat Jul 22, 2006 at 10:10:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Separating fighters from civilians? (5.00 / 1) (#13)
This came from Bangkok Post this am via DPA

"Israel prepares wide Lebanon offensive

Beirut/Tel Aviv (dpa) - Israel massed troops at its northern border Friday and warned some 600,000 Lebanese on the other side to leave, stoking fears of a major Israeli ground assault. The United States stuck by its refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire."

Perhaps the idea is, give them enough warning to leave, then anyone left can be considered fair game. The roads out of the area bounded by the Litani have probably been bombed

by Chris White on Sat Jul 22, 2006 at 12:24:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

There's no good way to conduct this kind of war. (5.00 / 1) (#14)
Lamentably.  Half a million refugees. A wrecked Lebanese infrastructure.  Just what that part of the world needs.

by Jeff Huber on Sat Jul 22, 2006 at 01:18:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
U.S. News Networks Conducting Information Warfare | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 hidden)

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