In the course of running a worldwide mailing list dealing with occasionally controversial intelligence/law enforcement issues, I've picked up a number of readers who work for the government. I've got subscribers who are policemen in my home town, deputy sheriffs, state patrolmen, former and current members of the CIA, NSA, NASA, FDA and a host of other dot.govs. I also have a contingent of military subscribers. When I post I always keep this fact in mind.With some family and friends, I've encountered what I've come to call "Intellectual schizophrenia". On the one hand they tell me that my ideas of personal freedom and of a government out of control are silly. Then during the same conversation they ask something like "Aren't you afraid they might do something to you? And "You're probably at the top of their list." I always reply to their blank stares "Who's crazy?"
Recently I've been posting information on UKUSA's Echelon, the global spy network. In particular I posted some info from John Young's <jya@pipeline.com> excellent site:
and this quote from http://cryptome.org/madsen-hmhd.htm
"They constantly broadcast disinformation to television and radio audiences in Haiti, Serbia, Colombia, Mexico and elsewhere."
Lo and behold, I got contacted by a member of the US Army Reserve' 246th Psychological Operations Company from Columbus, Ohio who took exception with that comment. His title is All-Source Intelligence Analyst and Psychological Operations Specialist.
He claims to have contacted me as a private citizen and he mentioned that he didn't tell me anything that wasn't open information. I engaged with him over several emails then I switched into an IRC channel for a couple of hours and I quizzed him on several issues that some of you may find noteworthy. I'll refer to him as Agent X out respect for his privacy.
Agent X wrote: I find it interesting how people with very little information about what information the U.S. Actually does put out are so quick to judge. The USIA/USIS and Army Psyop do try to earn people's support for U.S. policy. This "disinformation" that is put out is Mine awareness so that children don't end up dead or maimed, they try to get civilians to clear military convoy routes so that relief aid can be transported to the needy, like the orphanage in Haiti that had run out of food because a tropical storm had knocked out the bridge on the only road to them. The U.S. did not engage in the use of the Internet as an information tool in Bosnia as the legality of the issue was still under debate. Under U.S. law and Army Policy no Psyop may be conducted on U.S. citizens. The internet being an open medium would have allowed U.S. citizens to be subjected to the information. As such the internet was not used.
An article written about my Psychological Operations Unit in Haiti:
http://www.dtic.mil/soldiers/may95/p40.html
Matthew Gaylor's response: I opinioned that sending troops down to Haiti to perform community service seems like a total waste of money as the service could have been done by a well equipped Boy Scout troop.
Agent X continued: The goal of psyop is to win the hearts and minds...the nuns were greatful...do you think they supported our mission there after that? My units mission is tactical meaning we coordinate radio bradcasts, distribute fliers and do loudspeaker broadcasts. I know the internet was not used for psyop in bosnia for a fact. The army was still developing its policy on that medium. There is a terrific after action report online that discussing the failure of the US to seize this medium.
http://www.dodccrp.org/bosend.htm
This is the end notes that discusses the internet failure. I warn you its quite dry and the psyop bit is towards the end. At the base of the page is URLs to the rest of the site for the full article.
Matthew Gaylor responded: I can fully believe that the Internet wasn't used in Haiti, after all it isn't used in Cuba either, because hardly anybody has a decent supply of toilet paper let alone Internet access.
Agent X responds: As to the internet and haiti... the comment had to do more with our supposed "disinformation" then on the use of the internet but your right in Haiti that would be a poor medium.
The US is just now bringing its Psyop units up for capability to use the internet. All information distributed must be approved by the National Command during peace time. SO everything we get is drawn up by others. That way the entire campaign is coordinated effectively and no messages that would offend are put out.
What I'm saying is that up to 1997 the US had not been involved in psyacts on the internet. That was Bosnia...now as to Kosovo in 1999 the situation hasn't changed much...but we will use any means to cripple an enemies communication systems...suchas denial of service and such in serbia.
###
The following interchanges occurred between myself (Wagthedogy) and Agent X using an instant message service. Some of the comments started out specific to Ohio, but then branched out.
Wagthedogy: What does Sen. Mike Dewine (R) Ohio have? Agent X: Influence in Washington Wagthedogy I mean, what issues? Agent X He's pretty standard party line republican Wagthedogy: You mean gun control, larger government etc.? Agent X: well theoretically...republicans want smaller government Wagthedogy: Don't listen to what they say watch what they do. In psyopps you should know that. Agent X: yes but I'm not a total libertarian either Agent X: is why I pick and choose Wagthedogy: It doesn't matter how libertarian you are. What matters is if you believe in freedom and the constitution. Agent X: I believe in strong national defense Wagthedogy: Me too Wagthedogy: But we have troops in Columbia fighting the drug war as an example. Agent X: we provide MI support Agent X: and occasionally we send units to train with the columbians Wagthedogy: Delta is on the ground in Columbia running missions Agent X: Yes and usarso has done it too and one of my good friends was there.
Wagthedogy: What major issue to you differ with the Libertarians? Agent X: yes but I don't think we should have no government either Wagthedogy: Me either Agent X: I believe in some foreign aid and intervention Wagthedogy: How much and to who? Agent X: To any ally strategically of interest to us. Georgia is a huge one at the moment. It is important we keep russia from redominating half the world Wagthedogy: Like Chile? Kissinger once remarked it was a giant dagger pointed towards antarctica <grin> Wagthedogy: 3 billion to Israel? Agent X: Georgia is at the center of a sphere of influence that surrounds the majority of the worlds oil.
Wagthedogy: Here's a question for you. What is your world view? What do you believe? Agent X: world view? meaning? Wagthedogy: Ideology, culture, religion, you're relationship to others, etc. Agent X: As an american I was brought up in one of the most ethnocentric cultures in the world as to religion I'm atheist as to a christian god...agnostic as to a God. I was raised lower income protestant Am now middle income. Is that what you wanted to know or? Wagthedogy: What about your political ideology. What thinkers/writers have influenced you? Agent X: well not really political but I like Nietzsche...as to politics I haven't read much I've read Machevellis "The Prince", Thomas More's "Utopia", I've read Brave New World, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm...all those sorts of things. Wagthedogy: That's a good start. Wagthedogy: Do you plan to enter the Army full time? Agent X: no...having dual job specialties in the army...with psyop and mi always short handed I can be on active duty as much as I want
Agent X: SWIC is the Special Warfare Instruction Center...well the John Fitzgerald Kenenedy SWIC...its at Ft. Bragg anyway their website will probably tell you more Wagthedogy: What schools in the Army have you been to? Agent X: basic training ft leonard wood, ait ft huachuca - all source intel analyst course,basic airborne ft benning,jrtc ft polk, ft knox psychological operations specialist. Wagthedogy: I sure hope you didn't help set up the loudspeakers at WACO Agent X: No Wagthedogy: That's an example of psyopps. Agent X: if any psyop was there at all it was the 321s or 5th I forget out of dallas. But I'm pretty sure that was FBI stuff not Army. National guard was there but they have no psyop assets. For psyop to have been there they would have had to be called up by presidential order. Wagthedogy: FBI with Delta advisors.
[End note from Matthew Gaylor: I edited the above text for clarity and I sniped some irrelevant commentary.]
Regards, Matt-
Subscribe to Freematt's Alerts: Pro-Individual Rights Issues Send a blank message to: freematt@coil.com with the words subscribe FA on the subject line. List s private and moderated (7-30 messages per month) Matthew Gaylor,1933 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., PMB 176, Columbus, OH 43229 Archived at http://www.egroups.com/list/fa/