He also proposes that the Government make secret payments to so-called "independent" credible voices to bolster the Government's messaging
The Bush Pentagon employed teams of former Generals to pose as "independent analysts" in the media while secretly coordinating their talking points and messaging about wars and detention policies with the Pentagon.
By covert propaganda, GAO means information which originates from the government but is unattributed and made to appear as though it came from a third party.
necessary to combat "false conspiracy theories" in Iraq -- the same goal Sunstein has for the U.S.
He acknowledges that some "conspiracy theories" previously dismissed as insane and fringe have turned out to be entirely true
Advocating them on the ground that "we will use them well" is every authoritarian's claim
Who is it who relentlessly spread "false conspiracy theories" of Saddam-engineered anthrax attacks and Iraq-created mushroom clouds and a Ba'athist/Al-Qaeda alliance
And who is it who demonized as "conspiracy-mongers" people who warned that the U.S. Government was illegally spying on its citizens, systematically torturing people, attempting to establish permanent bases in the Middle East, or engineering massive bailout plans to transfer extreme wealth to the industries which own the Government?
The reason conspiracy theories resonate so much is precisely that people have learned -- rationally -- to distrust government actions and statements.
That would require, at a bare minumum, a repeal of the First Amendment. Anyone who believes this should, for that reason alone, be barred from any meaningful government position.
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