Yesterday, I took George Will to task for not recognizing the many talents and strengths of the Blogosphere. Today, I am addressing the need, again, for bloggers to remember that - yes, we are still at war, and - this war includes you, and personally. Because in addition to the artillery, tanks, and material elements of the fight, we are also engaged in an Infowar, which is just as critical to the future of the United States. And at the moment, we are losing the Infowar, in some part because a number of bloggers do not seem to understand their duties in this conflict.
Infowar is in some ways a complex topic, but in general it means the part of a war which involves control of information - how it is produced, what is produced, and what is suppressed. Information in wartime has always been a critical part of the strategy; the reader may recall that Washington's raid on Trenton ('Washington Crossing the Delaware', as it is famously known) began with townspeople misleading the Hessians to believe that Washington was not nearby. Propaganda and Disinformation have also been significant contributors to wars and their conduct. Again, the reader may recall that the disloyal priorities of the New York Times damaged the American effort in Vietnam during both the Johnson and Nixon Administrations. It is even more important now in the Middle East conflict.
From what I have read and heard, the greatest problem is that most Americans still do not understand why we went into Iraq in 2003. This means that people have had to either trust the President or oppose him. Since the invasion began, ironically in large measure because it was so successful, opposition to the war has grown in terms of publicity and rhetoric. The overwhelming majority of the military believes in the cause, and is astounded that so many Americans have not heard the good news from Iraq, and that so many Americans react with negative emotion, lacking in many cases even the most basic information about the major forces in the conflict, their motives, and the American objectives. That's where we come in, and that call-up was years ago.
Since 2003, the Blogosphere has often answered the challenge of providing information on the Iraq War and marshalling the forces of Reason for debate. But the Right side of the Blogosphere has largely deserted the field of late, as if there was no need for us to continue defending the ramparts of Democracy, of defending America's interests, and of explaining - ad nauseum, it must seem - why for all their faults, the Republican candidates and their party remain the only serious choice for governance of our nation. As a result, the public has fallen to a large degree for lies and errors regarding the most important issues of the day, and we find the government in the control of persons ill-equipped and perhaps even worse-minded for its health and integrity.
We are at war, and our enemies include perfidious and self-obsessed groups and persons, who would and do damage the nation for the sake of their pride and bank accounts. The military can address the threat of guns and bombs, but we must take up our arms and stand against the lies and calumnies of the Left, of the new Fascism, and of the Old Media.
To Arms!
Permalink | Send To A Friend | Linking Blogs | Digg this!
Filed under:
Commentary
Comments (12)
I have just added a link to... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Rick Gaber | December 22, 2006 5:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I have just added a link to today's "WHY IRAQ IS A SUCCESSS" column by Kevin McCullogh to my WHY IRAQ? page.
1. Posted by Rick Gaber | December 22, 2006 5:02 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 22, 2006 17:02
2. Posted by Scrapiron | December 22, 2006 7:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Maybe the dhimmi's will wake up when we lose a few hundred thousand people. Today the NYT targeted the tunnel system in NYC by telling the terrorist where and how to flood them. They also gave them instructions on how to use nuclear material to kill hundreds of thousands.
Does anyone still question which side the NYT is on? It's time to take the building out at about 10 AM so most of the workers will go with the building. I expect the terrorists will take care of that task for us any day. The NYT kiss a** tactic won't save their lives.
2. Posted by Scrapiron | December 22, 2006 7:35 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 22, 2006 19:35
3. Posted by ironman | December 22, 2006 9:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
perhaps the WH should have been trying to build up its base in 2005 instead of playing games with Harry Reid.....or the Congress should have looked past the next earmark.....hmmmm.....
3. Posted by ironman | December 22, 2006 9:34 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 22, 2006 21:34
4. Posted by ba | December 23, 2006 11:59 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This stands out in that article the first post supplied by the link: >Iraq will succeed. The terrorists will fail. And the longer the arm of freedom can reach, the more both statements will be proven true.
Of course Iraq will succeed. When has evil ever won? Objectively; it never does. Not ever. Enough said. I think I just might get my BIG CHRISTMAS WISH after all. A successful Iraq, an end to global terrorism, and THE LIGHT AND LOVE of GOD enlightening many to HIS WAY, TRUTH, AND LIFE.(Come Lord Come and Come all ye Faithful and stand up for His Truth...we must at times defend against evil; because hard core evil does not listen to reason, evil is not of reason-the Spirit of God is of reason)
(what a gift!) Faith says it will be. Faith and good work by our WONDERFUL TROOPS with our GOOD LEADER! Our very good leader! Thank you President George W. Bush and all who are working with you not against you. GOD BLESS
4. Posted by ba | December 23, 2006 11:59 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 23, 2006 11:59
5. Posted by marty arrowsmith | December 23, 2006 2:05 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Every once in a while I have to check out what people who have bought into the Bush-Fascist world are saying. You people are the last 20% or so of Americans who still buy into the "FEAR THIS" world of Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rummy, Wolfy, Feithy, and Perley. They rob most of you blind while Americans die in an immoral and illegal war. Haliburton, Blackwater, Exxon get rich. We don't destroy Osama when we had the chance and now he is deemed unimportant. The "administration" believes it has a direct line to God, but apparently God doesn't believe we should help our own and help the destitute in New Orleans. Perhaps George can do another fly over faking concern. "Heckuva job, Brownie!" 15 months after Katrina our rebuilding efforts in New Orleans would embarass a banana-republic dictatorship.
Ignorance is strength!
War is Peace!
Hate is Love.
Merry Christmas you deluded souls.
5. Posted by marty arrowsmith | December 23, 2006 2:05 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 23, 2006 14:05
6. Posted by ba | December 23, 2006 4:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
There you have it folks that last post by "Marty Arrowsmith" is a soul crying for you to pray for him on Christmas morning. Not to worry "Marty" we hear you.
The TRUTH will set you free!
The Prince of Peace wants to take all your burdens from you "Marty" - don't hold so tight to your way...let HIM speak to deep within. Don't listen to Hollywood, with it's 'cheap' lust they call love, don't listen to the politicians who
cry we'll give you minimum wage but take it all back when you pass from this earth; leaving family dependent on them NOT your work on this earth bring blessings to you and your family, don't listen to those who say 'getting' Osama is THE ANSWER to ending global terrorism (revenge is left to God; the good fight evil by helping those
who are defenseLESS; to be.)There's 'a million' osama's out there...get one - another crops up, like in an amusement park shooting gallery. How does one stop terrorism? (evil) --
1 - acknowledging that evil does exist
2 - by saying NO to evil in it's early stages
3 - if one doesn't stop it early and like a cancer it spreads; it becomes harder to extricate; to be sure...but ignoring it won't stop it's spread either. When the good see they can do and be without joining terror groups...THE GOOD win; evil loses. All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.
4. the SPIRIT OF GOD ACTS against evil.
We shall pray for you "Marty" - I understand how you are confused...'the world' is confusing. Stay close TO THE SPIRIT in your daily actions, and he will enlighten and renew your mind.
God Bless you.
6. Posted by ba | December 23, 2006 4:34 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 23, 2006 16:34
7. Posted by ba | December 23, 2006 5:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
and Marty with regards the devatated New Orleans, and Missippi and Florida all wracked by either Hurricane Katrina or other Hurricanes last year...there is a saying on helping 'the poor.'
"God's spirit helps those who help themselves."
(ie: "marty" I sympathize greatly for all who lost homes in Hurricane Katrina; but your one-sided obviously bias comments; are not complete
truth.) In truth, I've heard much good is happening in New Orleans.
http://www.brook.edu/metro/pubs
/200512_katrinaindex.htm
Excerpt:
>Between September and October, the unemployment rate for the state and the New Orleans METRO area have stayed about the same, with the REGION'S unemployment rate--now at 4.6 percent--mirroring that of the nation as a whole. While the number of jobs has remained the same in the region, there are some noteworthy employment trends by sector. Between August and September, greater New Orleans lost about 2,000 leisure and hospitality jobs (GOSH, I wonder why) but gained approximately 2,500 education and health jobs, likely reflecting the surge in hiring to support the opening of NEW K-12 SCHOOLS and the start of the fall semester for area colleges and universities. Yes, "Marty" apparently the CITY of New Orleans 'proper' has an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent (which still isn't so bad given the devastatation of the hurricane that wracked that area)
>At President Bush's request, Congress has provided a total of $16.7 billion in Federal funds under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program to help rebuild damaged housing and other infrastructure. This unprecedented program represents the largest single housing recovery program in U.S. history.
>The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) repaired and restored 220 miles of floodwalls and levees since September 2005. With a few exceptions, the New Orleans hurricane protection system is in equal or better condition than it was when Katrina hit. For example, levees and flood walls have been armored to protect against erosion from possible overtopping in several areas, and pumping stations are being storm proofed. Floodgates have been added at the outfall canals to protect against storm surge and a tree cutting program on existing levees for protection is ongoing.
7. Posted by ba | December 23, 2006 5:23 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 23, 2006 17:23
8. Posted by FreeKeys | December 24, 2006 11:56 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"The response to Hurricane Katrina was by far the largest -- and fastest -- rescue effort in U.S. history, with nearly 100,000 emergency personnel arriving on the scene within three days of the storm's landfall. ... By the end of the week, 50,000 National Guard troops in the Gulf Coast region had saved 17,000 people; 4000 Coast Guard personnel saved more than 33,000." -- Popular Mechanics (And despite numerous media stories to the contrary, FEMA is NOT -- and was never supposed to be -- a first-responder agency.)
8. Posted by FreeKeys | December 24, 2006 11:56 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 24, 2006 11:56
9. Posted by FreeKeys | December 24, 2006 12:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well, if anyone wants to actually do his HOMEWORK before spouting off with prepackaged collectivist talking-points-for-robotic-myrmidons, one can visit FactCheck.org and see what they actually have to say about all the silly Halliburton conspiracy theories.
9. Posted by FreeKeys | December 24, 2006 12:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 24, 2006 12:03
10. Posted by Rick Gaber | December 24, 2006 12:13 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm sorry to have to repeat myself, but it seems no matter how often we demonstrate that collectivists who call others "fascists" are pots calling kettles black, they still keep calling everyone with whom they disagree "fascist."
10. Posted by Rick Gaber | December 24, 2006 12:13 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 24, 2006 12:13
11. Posted by Rick Gaber | December 24, 2006 12:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm sorry to have to repeat myself, but it seems no matter how often we demonstrate that collectivists who call others "fascists" are pots calling kettles black, they still keep calling everyone with whom they disagree "fascist."
11. Posted by Rick Gaber | December 24, 2006 12:14 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 24, 2006 12:14
12. Posted by eddie bear | December 26, 2006 1:35 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
One problem the rightysphere has is that it is not unified, unlike the Townhouse/Kosmerta world of the left. They have a forced system of talking points, and woe to those who wander off the reservation (namley, they will lose the ad revenue and linkage).
On the right, however, you have Malkin/Freeper types, NRO types, etc. Many of these wings are single issue oriented, and at times fight with the others. That is one of the biggest problems we need to overcome. This was no more apparent than after Katrina, The Harriet Miers deal, Dubai and immigration. And look what it cost us.
12. Posted by eddie bear | December 26, 2006 1:35 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 26, 2006 01:35