I work in military public affairs. It’s my job to tell the public the truth about military operations. I am late blogging this, but it was recently revealed that the military has been paying Iraqi media to write positive stories about coalition operations in Iraq. I’m left feeling uncomfortable.
Information operations are intended to “influence foreign adversary audiences using psychological operations capabilities,” according to a Sept. 27, 2004, memo sent to top American commanders by the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers.
Myers warned that putting public affairs and information operations in the same office had “the potential to compromise the commander’s credibility with the media and the public.”
I am a noncommissioned officer of the lowest level. It isn’t my job to make policy. But I still have opinions, whether my commanders want to hear them or not. And in the Army of a free nation, I should be able to express them. So I am. Paying for positive coverage doesn’t encourage freedom of the press. Being dishonest may well be necessary from time to time, but I am not going to do it. My word is my bond, as the old saying goes.
Information Operations is a gray area that should never be mixed with Public Affairs. It is our duty to tell the public and the world the truth about what we do. It is not our job to make up people’s minds for them. We serve America, not the other way around.
We have been fighting a “War Against Drugs” for 40 years at home. We’re losing that war and I believe that much of the reason is because we use dishonest tactics. Officially endorsed bribes and on the payroll snitches are bad policy. Honestly winning hearts and minds is good policy. If I were in charge, I would direct that the policy of paying for positive coverage stop. The core of such a policy is dishonest, and I was taught that lies never lead to good things. I think I was taught well.
It’s not a perfect war, but we can work on some areas and this is one of them.