Pre-Katrina Psyops plans for hurricanes

[HamdenRice]

I posted something about this just a few days ago, before hurricane Katrina developed into the disaster it is -- just as a curio I had found while researching another topic.

Now that there is so much controversy about exactly what the true conditions were in New Orleans -- thugs sniping at helicopters or people firing guns to attract rescuers; chaos and dog eat dog survivalism or people helping each other -- as well as FEMA's weirdness concerning allowing independent communications and access to NO, this seems relevant again.

It is an article by a retired Psyops military person about standing procedures to use Psyops during hurricanes, but to disguise them under "humanitarian assistance" because Americans are generally fearful of the deployment of Psyops against domestic, civilian populations.

I think this makes clear that whatever else you think, you can assume that most of the information we received from and about NO was at least mediated by Psyops units.

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.

[OKNancy]

1. Looks pretty innocuous to me

in the advertising world it's called P.R. or communication.
If DUers want to read the actual article linked it's not some spooky-do stuff. It's harmless, and perhaps even helpful.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Do you think that the bad looter bullshit that was clearly disseminated in

the MSM was 'pretty innocuous'? Do you think that they glommed onto this meme all on their lonesome?

[Karenina]

9. It was a blatant exploitation of the

"Nigras runnin wild and loose in the streets" meme, An oldie that NEVER FAILS to push the "fear of the other" button in Amurikkkans.

[HamdenRice]

4. It could go either way ...

yes the article seems to be saying that Psyops basically facilitates communications with the public because of its expertise in PR.

On the other hand, the author writes from the persective of the Bush I admin and hurrican Andrew.

The Bush II admin is much more obsessed with controlling information and using disinformation.

Assuming, as the author states, Psyops takes over communications with the public, then any disinformation and misinformation we heard regarding hurricane Katrina was likely mediated by Psyops as well.

I'm just putting it out there for debate, because there are ongoing threads about how accurate the information we heard about NO was.

[BQueen]

11. As we know, this admin often stands things on their heads

like the training of our soldiers to withstand torture being used to come up with the most effective torture methods; like psychological publications on the psyche of Muslim males being used to hone those methods to come up with the most effective torture for those from a particular culture.

the tool may be innocuous; the user is not.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. There clearly was/is a major disinformation campaign

that was let loose almost as soon as the levees let loose.

How many snipers have been captured?
How many 'shooting at relief crew' incidents were corroborated?

It would be very interesting indeed to track down as much information as possible about each and every incident of 'bad looters' reported in the MSM.

Know yout enemy.

[Karenina]

8. We know the meme...

WILD AND LOOSE!

[Desertrose]

5. Intersting...the disparity between things the media told us and what some

who were there or listening to scanners reported.


Thanks for this.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

6. Actually, after reading it twice ... there is a hidden gem --> Bush Loses!

One way or another this looks very positive. With hat in hand, I can tell you that the article in question is talking about actually doing smart things to help the relief of a disaster! I read it twice even!

What this article really says is priceless history repeating itself! And no matter which way you cut this cheese, it seems to come up roses!

Partisan politics may have been involved, since the Democratic Governor of Florida apparently hesitated before asking for federal aid. Three days passed between Andrew's assault and the arrival of federal help. Kate Hale, the Dade County emergency director, went on live national television on 27 August with tears in her eyes and castigated the federal government. Some of her comments were:

Now before you read the quotes which could have been from last week, take a look at the fallout and retardation, er, retortation from, ahem, George Bush (like padre like hijo...)

President George Bush contended that Florida Governor Lawton Chiles hadn't formally asked for help. Chiles countered that the need for a formal request seemed silly with the world watching images of 250,000 flattened homes.
<snip>

Nightly television news showed American citizens living among the rubble for days. The television anchors implied that the Federal Government did very little to ease their suffering.
<snip>

I have always believed that Hurricane Andrew was one of the major reasons that President George Bush failed to be reelected. "

History repeat thyself!

Incompetence is out of the bag for the people of this country...

Now read the quote from Nagin, er, Nagin'93(tm) ;)

Enough is enough. Quit playing like a bunch of kids. Where in the Hell is the cavalry? For God's sakes, where are they? We are going to have more casualties, because we are going to have more people dehydrated. People without water. People without food. Babies without formula. If we do not get more food into the south end of Dade County in a very short period of time, we are going to have more casualties!

We have a catastrophic disaster. We are essentially the walking wounded. We have appealed through the State to the Federal Government. We've had a lot of people down here for press conferences, but Dade County is on its own. Dade County is being caught in the middle of something and we are being victimized. Quit playing like a bunch of kids and get us aid! Sort out your political games afterward!

We are all about ready to drop, and the reinforcements are not getting in fast enough. We need better National Guard down here...President Bush was down here. I'd like him to follow up on the commitments he made.

This is the best thing I've EVER read about PSYOPS ... wow!

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

7. Seeing people in rubble for days led to Bush 1's defeat in '93 -- History

Repeats...

Maybe this gem needs to be de-foiled a bit for general consumption?

{B^) FMH

[newswolf56]

10. Something I posted last night is especially relevant to this discussion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4638519&mesg_id=4640190