U.S. offers $20 million to monitor Iraq stories

I think public relations and public opinion have become very important to our military fighting ability. Starting in the 60s with Vietnam.

In WW2 and prior wars we had sedition laws to control public relations and opinion. Now that we dont use our sedition laws we have decided to hire public relations managers.

I dont know if it will work but if it does it will be worth the money. 20 million while sounding like alot of money will not buy much military weapons. But if it helps change public perception of the wars we fight it may help more then any bomb or gun we can buy.

We knew we were right in WW2 but still cared what Tokio Rose and her German counter part (forgot her name) said. We still enforced sedition and the goverment approved what went out to the public concerning the war.

 

:thumbs: with you there, bro.

 

I would say that PR being what it is - we need a lot more of it.

And we need better public interest stories showing what the coalition is doing right.

IMHO.

Wayne

 

The alien and sedition laws were extremely unpopular, leading to the defeat of the Federalists. They no longer exist.

They were, of course, unconstitutional. The courts have ruled that criticism of our leaders, even in war, is a right. It is also our duty as Americans, when we see our leaders harming the nation.

Ironically, it was a crime in Iraq to criticise the government. Ironically, many of those who support the war to remove Saddam, are advocating that we adopt his policies in this country.

Professional jealousy, I suppose.

 

We prosicuted people under sedition laws during WW2. Long after the federalists were gone.

Sedition laws can be abused but an extremly restrictive sedition law that is used during a time of war is what we need.

We are not talking about simple critizisem of leaders. We are talking about comforting our enemys.

 

Those laws wouldn't do what you want. They only prosecuted people seeking to unlawfully overturn constitutional authority. The Alien and Sedition Laws, which made it illegal to criticize government officials, is what you need to protect Bush.

And there's zero chance even the current court would permit that to happen.

They are almost always drafted with abuse in mind.

Too bad, when we took out Iraq, yet another country lost the kind of laws you admire so much. How's that for irony?

No, that is treason, not sedition. But providing aid and comfort to our enemies does not include criticizing the war against them. It would be something like Ollie North delivering weapons to our sworn enemies.

North was never convicted of treason, because the legal requirements for proving it are quite restrictive. Which is the way it should be.

 

I'ts hard work. He's workin' hard!

 

I thank God that this President is working hard . . .

Just because you disagree with his politics is no reason to gossip and slander.

 

Keep in mind, the operation of the government (contrary to Bush's opinion) is not personal and private.

It's supposed to be open to all of us, and it is certainly open for discussion and criticism when they mess up. It is neither gossip nor slander to comment on his bungling of the Iraq war and other issues.

Many Americans gave their lives so that we could be free to do just that. If you don't like it, you would probably be happier in a country where it's not legal.

It was PR stories that got Bush in the fix he's in now. More of the same probably isn't going to help.

What would help? He could be a man. And start governing with America's best interests in mind, regardless of what his contributors want. He could make some hard decisions. And he should junk his PR tour of speeches trying to regain our confidence, and concentrate on something that would earn renewed confidence in him.

But if history is any indicator, that's not going to happen.

 

Gossip is legal in America whether it is about the President or Joe Shmoe. But regardless of who it is about the definition always stays the same.

Hate speech is also legal in America. It doesnt matter if it is about the President or Joe Shmoe. But the definition always stays the same.

Go ahead and worship your god of dissent.

PS. I did not get that from Rush Limbaugh