US CENTCOM social media propaganda
Submitted | Nov. 12, 2010 |
Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Jason Smathers
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Tampa Bay Online reported that US CENTCOM has responded to enemy propaganda using social media. I hereby request all records that direct CENTCOM on the use of social media for gaining support of their actions (aka propaganda).
Below is an excerpt from the mentioned news report:
On Sept. 2, Chowrangi, an English-language online journal of culture and news in Pakistan, published a story about three explosions in Lahore that killed more than 30 and wounded more than 200, including women and children. Like a lot of online stories, this one sparked vociferous comments.
One man, calling himself "Jaffakush," blamed "Obama and War-Hawks like Zbigniew Brzezinski" for the problem. Another, calling himself "Abu Hamza," wrote that "Pakistan has been dragged into a war which is not our own," and that Blackwater/Xe was running deadly covert operations on behalf of the U.S. government.
While hardly shocking, the comments on the English-language site didn't go unnoticed 8.000 miles away at U.S. Central Command, headquartered in Tampa at MacDill Air Force Base. Members of the command's public affairs office not only read them, they posted their own responses.
"Abu Hamza, let me first address your 'not our war Scenario:', wrote Lt. Commander William Speaks on Sept. 9. "It is ironic to hear accusations about the US 'dragging' another country into a conflict we ourselves had no choice in. Without stating the obvious, if your civilians cannot leave their houses due to fears of suicide bombings and it is your countrymen that are conducting these attacks, it is homegrown insurgency and your own war."
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jason Smathers
From: Jason Smathers
This request was sent in November of 2010, however, I have no record of any acknowledgement. Can you please provide the status of this request?
From: United States Central Command
From: United States Central Command
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