Information Warfare

dueler88

We at MySandmen have a keen interest in the news media, especially as it relates to information warfare, and most especially in regards to our friends at the New York times. StrategyPage recently posted the following story, which I will shamelessly reprint here.

--------------------------------------------------------------

What If Today's Media Had Covered World War II?

December 1, 2006: Today's mass media is far more mean spirited, cynical, partisan and manipulative than was the case back in 1941-45. Actually, anyone unfamiliar with World War II history would believe that the following headlines are actually from American newspapers of the period. But those of you who do know your history, will catch the differences in attitude, and greater use of spin, between then and now.


NAVY, WHITE HOUSE LIED ABOUT BATTLESHIPS
5, Not 2, Sunk at Pearl Harbor


HUNDREDS OF SAILORS STILL TRAPPED UNDERWATER
Victims' Families: Pearl Rescue Efforts "Disgraceful"


FDR DUMPS MACARTHUR FOR CHURCHILL
"Writing Off" Philippines, Sources Say


SECRET PAYMENT TO MACARTHUR
$500,000 from Manila Bigwigs


MIDWAY VICTORY DUE TO BROKEN JAP CODES

*The Chicago Tribune did actually print this story. Fortunately, the Japanese didn't see it. Tribune owner Robert McCormick was sternly told never to let this happen again, and it never did.


FDR PLANS NORTH AFRICA INVASION
Critics Charge "Stunt" To Help Dems in '42 Elections


NORMANDY "IDEAL" INVASION SITE
Military Experts Agree This Is Where We'll Land


NEVER HAD A CHANCE
German Tank Superiority Causes GI Morale Crisis


WHISTLEBLOWER REVEALS SUPERBOMB PLANS
Catholic Bishops Condemn Secret "Manhattan Project"


IKE ENRAGED
Monty to Be Fired in SHAEF Meltdown

British papers which did report, inaccurately, tensions between Ike and Monty, were stepped on hard by the British government.


"NO DEFENSE" AGAINST KAMIKAZES
Experts: Suicide Tactics May Be War-Winner – Fleet Demoralized


FDR WITH MISTRESS IN DEATH ROOM
Warm Springs Scandal – Old Flame Watches President Die
First Lady Outed As Lesbian


HITLER IN PARAGUAY
Soviets Have Proof Dictator Escaped Berlin


IWO JIMA FLAG RAISING "STAGED"
Bond Drive Collapses After Controversy


BURN BABY BURN
B-29 Crews Laugh, Take Photos as Thousands of Children Die


ATOM BOMB DROPPED TO COW SOVIETS
Sources Say Hiroshima Strike Had No Military Purpose


MACARTHUR-NIMITZ SURRENDER SHOWDOWN
Who Hosts Ceremony?
Whose Flag Flies Higher on Battleship's Mast?


*The full and interesting story of the Chicago Tribune blowing the codebreakers is at http://www.newseum.org/warstories/essay/secrecy.htm. The actual headline was "NAVY HAD WORD OF JAP PLAN TO STRIKE AT SEA." Monty's near-firing by Ike, and its contemporary media misrepresentation, are discussed at length in General Omar Bradley's book "A General's Life."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, how I long for the days when the news media both understood what was at stake in warfare and had the self-confidence in - yes, I'll say it - American superiority to do what was necessary to protect the Nation. And by Nation, I mean a group of individuals united by the idea that "they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights . . ."

We must balance the need for truth and honesty with the need for survival.