Pentagon to deploy PSYOPS in wreckage of Katrina?

[HamdenRice]

I was googling Hurricane Andrew and bush sr, to recall how shrub's father responded to that terrible storm in the run up to the 1992 election, and I came across this incredibly creepy website.

It is apparently run by a proud veteran of PSYOPs and provides lots of useful information on this part of military practice.

But the webmaster claims that while it is normally illegal to deploy PSYOPs within the US, during hurrican disaster relief, the Pentagon deploys PSYOPs to the affected region, under some kind of waiver or exception.

Given that this administration is even creepier than bush sr's administration, will the bushistas deploy PSYOPs in New Orleans? The webmaster mentions that because Americans are terrified of the idea of PSYOPs, when they are deployed within the US after hurricanes, "the psychological operations task force (POTF) was called the Humanitarian Assistance Information Element and the PSYOP troops were referred to as humanitarian information support teams."

You've been warned.

http://www.psywarrior.com/PSYOPHurricaneAndrew.html

PSYOP IN SUPPORT OF
HURRICANE ANDREW
RECOVERY OPERATIONS

By SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret.)

...

Psychological Operations (PSYOP) are seldom practiced within the Continental United States. The military rightfully knows that some citizens see connotations of brain washing and control in the term "PSYOP." As a result, active duty troops from Ft. Bragg and reservists from the various PSYOP and Civil Affairs units will deploy only in the case of a great disaster or emergency. Such was the case when Hurricane Andrew slammed into the east coast of Florida in August 1992.

A United States Army Southern Command document dated 1 July 1998 justifies the use of psychological operations in cases like Hurricane Andrew. "Psychological Operations (PSYOP) are prohibited by law from targeting U.S. audiences. The National Command Authority has granted exceptions for specific disaster situations, such as Hurricane Andrew. PSYOP is used for the preparation and dissemination of Command Information essential to each phase of the operation. The PSYOP product approval chain may include one or more Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials. PSYOP commanders and personnel must remind civilian agencies and populations continuously that they are only in a supporting role and solely for purposes of communication and information dissemination. At the same time, PSYOP personnel and the US Southern Command staff need to convey the special capabilities PSYOP offers FEMA and other agencies in support of disaster relief." However, we note that because of the worry about the term PSYOP, the psychological operations task force (POTF) was called the Humanitarian Assistance Information Element and the PSYOP troops were referred to as humanitarian information support teams.

[wli]

1. their responsibilities include distributing leaflets with instructions

For instance, where the shelters are and information they would receive via television if it were still available.

[EVDebs]

2. But it is o.k. to deploy PsyOps domestically in elections at CNN ?

Alexander Cockburn's article CNN and PsyOps
http://www.counterpunch.org/cnnpsyops.html

details military use during the 2000 election. No word on the 2004 shenanigans, but you can put money on it...

Also, FEMA is mentioned. FEMA is the basis of eventual suspension of the Constitution
www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/27/1027497418339.html

[silverweb]

3. I don't have a problem with this.

If used only as described. People in a disaster like this are terrified, disoriented, desperate, and sometimes uncooperative (or worse). If PSYOP is used to inform, calm, and help restore order as a support to disaster relief agencies, that can only be a good thing.

[HamdenRice]

4. Under this admin, will that be the only way they use PSYOPs? nt

[jmowreader]

5. PSYOPS troops are good things to have in a disaster area

PSYOPS troops come in with their bullhorn trucks, radio transmitters and printing presses, and get some sort of communications infrastructure going.