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August 29, 2006

Poor Rumsfeld Can't Sleep Because of Terrorist Propaganda

Donald Rumsfeld, whose Secret Pentagon "roadmap" on war propaganda was publicly revealed in January, said yesterday he is kept awake at night by terrorist groups' successes at "manipulating the media" to influence Westerners.

"What bothers me the most is how clever the enemy is," he continued, launching an extensive broadside at Islamic extremist groups which he said are trying to undermine Western support for the war on terror.

"They are actively manipulating the media in this country" by, for example, falsely blaming U.S. troops for civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.

"They can lie with impunity," he said, while U.S. troops are held to a high standard of conduct.

Well, isn't that interesting. Because, of course, Rumsfeld has never lied with impunity.

The pot didn't call the kettle black just once yesterday. He gave the same sorry excuse for a speech again later to another group, and this time the whining was downright embarrassing.

"The enemy is so much better at communicating," he added. "I wish we were better at countering that because the constant drumbeat of things they say - all of which are not true - is harmful. It's cumulative. And it does weaken people's will and lessen their determination, and raise questions in their minds as to whether the cost is worth it," he said alluding to Americans and other Westerners.

You see, the biggest problem Rumsfeld and the rest of the Bush Administration are facing right now is that even though the media has been uncommonly good to them, the truth still seems to get out to the American people and we are increasingly angry at our leaders over what has gone on. Instead of changing course in service to this country's desires and interests, the Bush Administration has responded to criticism by engaging in a war on the media and doing everything possible to undermine people's faith in what they read about the war.

And there is just one reason for it: the media is the last hope for freedom in this country. If they do their job and keep the people informed, the people will respond appropriately and the government will be held accountable. That is an intolerable state of affairs for an authoritarian like Donald Rumsfeld.

Posted by Becky at August 29, 2006 06:33 AM