This being Thanksgiving week here in the US I was worrying
that I would not be inspired enough to make my more or less weekly Blog
posting, but thanks to USA Today – I was wrong.
Today’s (20 Nov 12) USA Today published the article “Pentagon
overseas propaganda plan stirs controversy”. (see http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/19/pentagon-overseas-communications-strategy-stirs-controversy/1715741/)
This article like many other USA Today articles in the past
focuses on US “propaganda” and the contractors that provide services to the
government. This time the center of attention is the Boston based Rendon Group
and its founder, John Rendon. According to the article, “Since 2000, the
military has paid the Rendon Group more than $100 million to help shape its
communications strategy, analyze media coverage, run its propaganda programs
and develop counter-narcotics efforts around the world”.
I’ve heard John Rendon speak and he is indeed someone who
knows marketing and his company has provided the government with a lot of
services over the years, chiefly in Latin America as I understand it.
What’s interesting about the article?
1.
How is the article positioned to attract readers?
The article screams “propaganda” which is always a red flag
and a universally negative word. It leads with the fact that allegedly Rendon’s
company once “weeded out reporters who wrote negative stories in Afghanistan
and helped the military deceive the enemy in Iraq”. As to deceiving the enemy –
are you kidding me? That’s the right thing to do, as for weeding out reporters,
apparently the reporter has never worked in Commercial companies where public
relations people do this all the time.
Is there something inherently wrong in outsourcing tasks?
Inherently any organization should be free to work with
vendors who it feels can help the organization. As the war in Afghanistan winds
down anyone who thinks that ‘green suiters’ aren’t going to be replaced by
contractors to some extent should look for a really cheap bridge in Brooklyn.
3
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen’s
quote from a year old interview was injected into the article “"I really
do not like the term at all. It confuses people," Mullen said. "It
means all things to all people. It's way overused and way overrated. I
literally try never to use the term. We communicate as much if not more by our
actions. I have become particularly concerned at a time that resources are so
precious. It has become a thing unto itself. It is taking resources from the
fight, I don't have time for it." I think he was right and that USA Today
was trying to imply that these contracts are a waste of time and money.
In short – PSYOP work is put under yet another grey cloud.
Members of Congress who are scurrying about looking for ways to save money who
read the article are apt to go on a PSYOP/MISO cost cutting witch hunt – yet again.
The need for systematic and aggressive education for the
public and Members of Congress seems to escalate any day. Hopefully, the
nascent Regimental Association will consider this challenge as a part of their
charter. However, serving military need to tread with care if they intend to
work with Congress as there are legal and career implications.
Let us all take a moment and give thanks for what we have
and our ability to enjoy it in peace. Peace that has often come at a high price
to those who serve. To those of you serving today – my thanks and I salute YOU!
Photo Source: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4954,
a 2006 article about John Rendon, “John Rendon’s Long, Strange Trip in the
Terror Wars
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