Item 1 - US PR BLITZ

This is from Times Online, September 17, 2002. By Tim Reid, Washington:

"The Bush administration is to launch a multimillion-dollar PR blitz against Saddam Hussein, using advertising techniques to persuade crucial target groups that the Iraqi leader must be ousted.

The campaign will consist of dossiers of evidence detailing Saddam's breaches of UN resolutions, and will be launched this week at American and foreign audiences, particularly in Arab nations sceptical of US policy in the region.

The White House is aware that it lacks substantial new intelligence on Saddam's nuclear programme or evidence linking Baghdad to the September 11 attacks. But it will build on the contents of President Bush's speech made to the UN General Assembly last week, in which he listed Saddam's violations of UN resolutions.

The campaign, which will initially receive over US$200 million (£130 million), will be overseen by the <http://www.state.gov/r/adcompd/>Office of Global Communication, whose existence will not be formally announced until next month."


Item 2 - HERMAN GOERING

These are the thoughts of Hermann Goering uttered during the post World War II Nuremburg war crimes trials set up by the victorious Allies:

"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.

Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."


Dear Reader, this is what we must think seriously about now:

1. Relate the two statements to each other and ask yourself who promotes Goering's philosophy these days and weeks?

2. Recognise that you wake up every morning to a Mount Everest of war propaganda, lies and deception and that the Goerings of today are working day and night to scare you into accepting their illegal wars, bombings and killings.

3. Ask journalists and editors of your local radio station, national newspaper, radio or television whether they have developed methods to filter out the murderous propaganda pieces promoted by PR firms from genuine news coverage and honest public debate.


Yours truly

Jan Oberg


Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research
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