Another Runaway General?

Just_A_Mom

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http://www.rollingstone.com/politic...army-deploys-psy-ops-on-u-s-senators-20110223


The U.S. Army illegally ordered a team of soldiers specializing in "psychological operations" to manipulate visiting American senators into providing more troops and funding for the war, Rolling Stone has learned – and when an officer tried to stop the operation, he was railroaded by military investigators.
The Rolling Stone is at it again.
So, General Caldwell "repeatedly pressures" a military psy-op unit into using their 'skills' on US Senators and other VIP's who were meeting with Caldwell. One of those "VIP's" was Adm Mike Mullen - Chair JCOS.
A clear violation of Federal Law - not to mention, unethical and amoral.
Oh, goodness.....
 
Okay...so the Army has Psy-Ops, that must mean that the civilians have The New York Times. I thought that's what humans do; effect the outcome of a situation through negotiation and directed information(propaganda). If we are to believe Rolling Stone, we're all baddies.
 
psy-ops is an activity that impresses people more when they have no idea what it is....


"My job in psy-ops is to play with people’s heads, to get the enemy to behave the way we want them to behave," says Lt. Colonel Michael Holmes, the leader of the IO unit, who received an official reprimand after bucking orders."


Ok colonel, drop some more pamphlets....

not impressed....
 
Don't read everyting you read on the Rolling Stone

Being an Army Information Operations trained officer (completed the Army Information Operations qualification course), my two cents are that

Information Operations is not a "psy-ops." IO coordinates several different functions to include "pys-ops" to inform, educate or influence the target audience.

I pretty sure LTC Holmes is misquoted or he was not doing what he was supposed to do.
 
Don't read everyting you read on the Rolling Stone

Being an Army Information Operations trained officer (completed the Army Information Operations qualification course), my two cents are that

Information Operations is not a "psy-ops." IO coordinates several different functions to include "pys-ops" to inform, educate or influence the target audience.

I pretty sure LTC Holmes is misquoted or he was not doing what he was supposed to do.

Agreed. As we all recognize, the fundamental way our system works is that legislators are SUPPOSED to receive information from all sides of the issue and, after all information has been submitted, they make their decision. I can totally relate to how frustrating it must be for our military right now to meet with MOCs and not get any action. I've been there (albeit not in the non-military context).

I agree with everyone that this appears to be simply a case of sensational journalism.
 
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Well; considering how much our congress has BS'd, coerced, lied, and have had us believe in things that simply aren't true....... I guess if the Rolling stones story is true....... I'm not that upset. :shake:
 
Of course, there are always two sides to every story. To call Michael Hastings a "crack, sensationalist reporter" is a stretch. If you recall, this description was assailed against him when he wrote about General McChrystal. All of that proved to be true. He is in fact, award winning and highly credible.

This did get the attention of General Petraeus who is launching an investigation. Time will tell how this will play out - if at all.
The MOC's who were noted in the story are in a catch-22. They have to rebuke the claims that they might have been affected. But it doesn't matter, really. What matters is if the General gave an illegal order. The truth and only the truth, please.

It does make you wonder if this explains how Al Franken (and other war naysayers) could fly over to Afghanistan, spend two days and come home preaching about how well the war is going, we need more troops, etc etc.....


Can someone explain the complex and nuanced difference to me between "Public affairs" and "Psy-Ops"?
Would it be fair to say they are one in the same - the only difference being the recipient? Public Affairs being propaganda offered back to the Government and Psy-Ops being propaganda offered to the enemy.
 
Can someone explain the complex and nuanced difference to me between "Public affairs" and "Psy-Ops"?
Would it be fair to say they are one in the same - the only difference being the recipient? Public Affairs being propaganda offered back to the Government and Psy-Ops being propaganda offered to the enemy.

Since this is an unsecure medium and you lack a clearance...yes, that's a sufficient explanation for our purposes.

I'll say it again for the edification of all: Psy-Ops is no longer an appropriate or official term. They are known as Military Information Support Operations due to the negative connotations that such ridiculous films as The General's Daughter and Men Who Stare At Goats lent to the name Psychological Operations.
 
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