Criticism on U.S.` Manipulation of News

The Office of Strategic Influence (OSI) of the U.S. Defense Department, created in recent months to more directly influence foreign public opinion about U.S. military operations, especially the war against terrorism, faces domestic and international criticism. The International Press Institute (IPI) said on Thursday, "George W. Bush government intends to control the foreign information through the OSI. The U.S. government`s information is not any more credible."

David Dodge, a director of the IPI, criticized that, "Until now, the U.S. has been mentioned as an example that respects democratic principles, but it is not trustworthy any more." at a news conference that the IPI presented its annual report on the world press situation. He continued that, "Bush administration tried to pressure the freedom of the press during Afghanistan war. It was the most shocking event of last year."

A Russian newspaper reported on Thursday that, "The establishment of the OSI is to manipulate European countries` criticism against American military strategies and the civilian casualties of Afghanistan caused by the U.S. air strikes. The U.S. Defense Department`s domination over the information business shows that the hardliners led by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld gained power."

The New York Times said, "The government should knock down terrorists` spreading of malicious misinformation in a sensible, sophisticated, and honorable way rather than the duplicitous fashion of the Pentagon has in mind." in Thursday`s editorial, `Managing the News`. "The Pentagon`s Orwellian program would undermine rather than reinforce the government`s broader efforts to build international support."

According to the Washington Post, the OSI issue has sparked widespread concern even inside the Defense Department among officials who feel that the OSI, by seeking to manipulate information and even knowingly dispense false information, could backfire and discredit official Pentagon statements.

Mi-Kyung Jung mickey@donga.com