Posted on 05/18/2012 8:24:49 PM PDT by JimWayne
An amendment that would legalize the use of propaganda on American audiences is being inserted into the latest defense authorization bill, BuzzFeed has learned...
The tweak to the bill would essentially neutralize two previous acts—the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 and Foreign Relations Authorization Act in 1987—that had been passed to protect U.S. audiences from our own government’s misinformation campaigns.
The bi-partisan amendment is sponsored by Rep. Mark Thornberry from Texas and Rep. Adam Smith from Washington State.
In a little noticed press release earlier in the week — buried beneath the other high-profile issues in the $642 billion defense bill, including indefinite detention and a prohibition on gay marriage at military installations — Thornberry warned that in the Internet age, the current law “ties the hands of America’s diplomatic officials, military, and others by inhibiting our ability to effectively communicate in a credible way.”
The bill's supporters say the informational material used overseas to influence foreign audiences is too good to not use at home, and that new techniques are needed to help fight Al-Qaeda, a borderless enemy whose own propaganda reaches Americans online.
bttt
I am running to replace Rep. Mac Thornberry from Texas!!! I would appreciate any FReeper help!!!
Bumping your request!!!!
Even as an “Army brat” child growing up outside of Fort Bliss, TX, I knew that the difference between the Free and Communist countries was that we had NEWS, and they had PROPAGANDA. Heaven help us if we allow this to change in our lifetimes!!!
This thread needs a Hulk-sized bump.
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