Rumsfeld: Terrorists Plan Attacks to Manipulate U.S. Media

American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2006 -- Terrorists operating in Iraq are staging attacks that garner negative press coverage so that the American people become soured on the war, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told two radio talk show hosts yesterday.

“You know, they're very good at manipulating the American press and managing the news in a way that advantages them and tries to break the will of the American people,” Rumsfeld told Bill LuMaye during a telephone interview on WPTF in Raleigh, N.C. “And they're good at it. They know what they're doing. They consciously plan their attacks to achieve that end.”

Rumsfeld said the terrorists’ efforts to affect American will have shifted what he called the war on terror’s “center of gravity” away from the battlefield.

“The military always talks about the center of gravity of a conflict, and logically one would think it would be in Afghanistan or Iraq or in the struggle against the violent extremists,” he said. “But in fact, because they are so calculating in attempting to break the will and to terrorize people and to alter our behavior, the center of gravity of this conflict very much is back in the United States. And they're very good at attempting to alter our behavior.”

The struggle in Iraq won’t be solved solely on the battlefield, the secretary said, but will require progress on the political, economic and governance fronts as well.

Citing “good progress” in Iraq, Rumsfeld noted that Iraq’s political leaders are shouldering difficult challenges. “You've got to give them a lot of respect for having the courage to take those positions and to put their lives at risk, these Iraqi political leaders,” he said. “And we wish them well.”

Rumsfeld told Cincinnati-based radio host Bill Cunningham during an interview on WLW that the troops he’s spoken to in Iraq display high morale, but are aware of the debate taking place at home.

“They know that the enemy is trying to influence the American people and to try to weaken their will to prevail and to persist and to show perseverance in this conflict,” he said. “So I suppose the only thing I'd say is God bless them for their courage and their intelligence and their contribution that they’re making to our country.”

Rumsfeld said it would be a tragedy if violent extremists were to take over Iraq. The terrorists would turn Iraq into a haven and base of operations, the secretary told Cunningham, from which to destabilize the Middle East and launch new attacks against America and its allies.

“So I think that most people who look at the situation understand how important prevailing in that conflict is,” he said, “and how tragic it would be were people to decide that it wasn't worth the cost or it wasn't worth the time.”

The terrorsists, he told Cunninghamn, won’t give up. “These people are determined, and they're going to keep after us,” he said. “And our only task is to see that they don't prevail.”

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

[A CA Guy]

[CWOJackson]

A lot of folks want Secretary Rumsfeld to resign...including our known enemies.

[Sister_T]

Now, it's up to the media not to be used.

Hmm. I'd better not hold my breath on that one or I'll assume room temperature!

[unkus]

As in the Tet offensive? You don't say!

[JustDoItAlways]

Hahaha, Rumsfield just said the media is so dumb, they are being manipulated by the terrorists.

That should get them going.

[ladyinred]

I think they have been for quite some time, or else the media is just doing it on their own. They have turned this nation against the WOT and the administration.

[TheDoctorNoh]

It's more accurate to say that the MSM is actively colluding with these terrorists than that they are being manipulated by them? An outrageous comment; over the top? Perhaps, but the MSM hasn't done anything recently to refute this either. It's crystal clear to me that they are openly rooting for bad things to happen to our side. That's collusion.

[TheCrusader]

"“You know, they're very good at manipulating the American press and managing the news in a way that advantages them and tries to break the will of the American people,” Rumsfeld told Bill LuMaye"

I don't buy this "manipulating" stuff for one moment. Only a media that detests Bush and the conservative values he stands for can be 'manipulated' by the terrorists; but it is more complicity than it is 'manipulation'. Communism as a way of life fell in Russia and rose in the American media.

[RightWhale]

Feeding the MSM their preferred diet seems to be remarkably easy. The agenda are completely obvious now. Select from the menu and push the button.

[JustDoItAlways]

It's more accurate to say that the MSM is actively colluding with these terrorists than that they are being manipulated by them?

But that is just the point about how brilliant Rumsfield's move was. You are either dumb or actively colluding with the terrorists. Which is it?

They are obviously not going to admit to being in cahoots so the answer must be ...

[TheDoctorNoh]

Crazy like a fox! Rumsfeld, you magnificient bastard, I read your article!

[capydick]

“They know that the enemy is trying to influence the American people and to try to weaken their will to prevail and to persist and to show perseverance in this conflict,” he said. “So I suppose the only thing I'd say is God bless them for their courage and their intelligence and their contribution that they’re making to our country.”

Nice little slam to F'in there.

[rawcatslyentist]

>"Feeding the MSM their preferred diet seems to be remarkably easy. The agenda are completely obvious now. Select from the menu and push the button."

I prefer to starve them out! Tv sucks, most movies suck, music died with the Ramones. The msm have no entertainment value left, except to transmit marching orders to the left!

[SandRat]

You mean someone other than the DemonRATS?????

[CWOJackson]

We have more then a few armchair generals here on FR that hate Secretary Rumsfeld...but they are usually the one's who also hate the President as well.

[SandRat]

and soon enough earn Troll Status and unwanted Admin Mod attention.

[GOPJ]

“You know, they're very good at manipulating the American press and managing the news in a way that advantages them and tries to break the will of the American people,” Rumsfeld told Bill LuMaye

I don't usually disagree with Rumsfeld - but I'm going to this time... The terrorist are not good at manipulating the American press - the press wants to be manipulated by them.

The terrorists don't have to go to the lengths they're going to -- no need to kill so many innocents - all they need to do is send their talking points to the New York Times. Or any member of the MSM. Terrorists aren't great with the press anymore than dems are great with the press - they're just "teacher's pets" - "favorite kid in the family" "chief suck-up" etc. In other words, they could cut off someone's head and still get good press...

[wodinoneeye]

"they're very good at manipulating the American press "

Unfortunately that is because the "American press" is so willing to be manipulated that way for their own agenda.

The lies and propaganda wouldnt be propagated if the liberal media didnt see it to their agenda's advantage.