Globalisation:Information Operations Task Force
Introduction
The Information Operations Task Force is a division of the Department of Defence which has taken on many of the functions of the Office of Strategic Influence which was shut down in 2002. [1] The Information Operations Task Force is structured to seek information dominance in arenas of conflict. This comes as part of the United States strategy of seeking full spectrum dominance in theatres of war. David Miller observes that the new age of Information dominance sees a divergance from the traditional military propaganda model to an era where there is no distinction between propaganda and journalism and both are seen as “weaponized Information”. [2]
The Information Operations Task Force is a military organisation based in Baghdad and is part of the multinational corps headquarters commanded by Army Lt. Gen. John R. Vines.[3] The Information Operations Task Force was an organisation which provided news stories to the US Department of Defence which subsequently paid Iraqi newspapers to disseminate news stories written by American military sources which presented a favourable image of the American action in the country. Although the news stories were largely truthful they presented a one sided view of the news and the editors of the newspapers in question were not always aware that what they were printing was essentially propaganda from the US Government. [4]
According to the Pentagon documents, the Rendon Group played a major role in the IOTF. The company was charged with creating an "Information War Room" to monitor worldwide news reports at lightning speed and respond almost instantly with counterpropaganda.[5]
Lincoln Group also played a significant role in the IOTF in which their role was to ensure that American material was translated and published in Iraqi newspapers. In this it was intended that the editors of the publications would not be aware of the source of the content and would often be led to believe it was the work of the Lincoln group employee who would pose as a journalist.[6]
Notes
- ↑ The Man Who Sold The War, by James Bamford, Rolling Stone, November 17, 2005
- ↑ The Domination Effect, by David Miller, The Guardian, Janaury 8, 2004
- ↑ Mark Mazzetti and Borzou Daragahi, U.S. Military Covertly Pays to Run Stories in Iraqi Press, Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2005, Accessed on 15-Feb-2010
- ↑ Mark Mazzetti and Borzou Daragahi, U.S. Military Covertly Pays to Run Stories in Iraqi Press, Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2005, Accessed on 15-Feb-2010
- ↑ The Man Who Sold The War, by James Bamford, Rolling Stone, November 17, 2005
- ↑ U.S. Military Covertly Pays to Run Stories in Iraqi Press, Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2005, Accessed on 15-Feb-2010
