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Disinformation Plan Causes Split
Wednesday, February 20, 2002
(12:00 AM PT)
The Seattle Times

WASHINGTON
Senior Defense Department officials are divided over a Pentagon plan to shape world opinion on the war against terrorism by using means that might include spreading false information.

The Pentagon established the Office of Strategic Influence shortly after the Afghanistan campaign began in October, said a senior Pentagon official. The office was set up to counter claims by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan of civilian deaths from U.S. bombings.

Now the office is considering a campaign that could range from factual news releases to secret disinformation efforts directed by the military's psychological-operations units, Pentagon officials said. The information might be spread by agents who hide their connection to the U.S. military, they said.

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz spoke yesterday of the need to influence opinion, although he did not comment specifically on the new information campaign.

"This is a battle for minds," Wolfowitz said.
(More: The Seattle Times News Source)
2002 © The Seattle Times Co.

Dan