25 tactics used by disinformation agents & 7 ways to spot them

[MB_722]

Built upon Thirteen Techniques for Truth Suppression by David Martin, the following may be useful to the initiate in the world of dealing with veiled and half-truth, lies, and suppression of truth when serious crimes are studied in public forums. This, sadly, includes every day news media, one of the worst offenders with respect to being a source of disinformation. Where the crime involves a conspiracy, or a conspiracy to cover up the crime, there will invariably be a disinformation campaign launched against those seeking to uncover and expose the truth and/or the conspiracy. There are specific tactics which disinfo artists tend to apply, as revealed here. Also included with this material are seven common traits of the disinfo artist which may also prove useful in identifying players and motives. The more a particular party fits the traits and is guilty of following the rules, the more likely they are a professional disinfo artist with a vested motive. People can be bought, threatened, or blackmailed into providing disinformation, so even "good guys" can be suspect in many cases.

A rational person participating as one interested in the truth will evaluate that chain of evidence and conclude either that the links are solid and conclusive, that one or more links are weak and need further development before conclusion can be arrived at, or that one or more links can be broken, usually invalidating (but not necessarily so, if parallel links already exist or can be found, or if a particular link was merely supportive, but not in itself key) the argument. The game is played by raising issues which either strengthen or weaken (preferably to the point of breaking) these links. It is the job of a disinfo artist to interfere with these evaluation... to at least make people think the links are weak or broken when, in truth, they are not... or to propose alternative solutions leading away from the truth. Often, by simply impeding and slowing down the process through disinformation tactics, a level of victory is assured because apathy increases with time and rhetoric.

It would seem true in almost every instance, that if one cannot break the chain of evidence for a given solution, revelation of truth has won out. If the chain is broken either a new link must be forged, or a whole new chain developed, or the solution is invalid an a new one must be found... but truth still wins out. There is no shame in being the creator or supporter of a failed solution, chain, or link, if done with honesty in search of the truth. This is the rational approach. While it is understandable that a person can become emotionally involved with a particular side of a given issue, it is really unimportant who wins, as long as truth wins. But the disinfo artist will seek to emotionalize and chastise any failure (real or false claims thereof), and will seek by means of intimidation to prevent discussion in general.

It is the disinfo artist and those who may pull their strings (those who stand to suffer should the crime be solved) MUST seek to prevent rational and complete examination of any chain of evidence which would hang them. Since fact and truth seldom fall on their own, they must be overcome with lies and deceit. Those who are professional in the art of lies and deceit, such as the intelligence community and the professional criminal (often the same people or at least working together), tend to apply fairly well defined and observable tools in this process. However, the public at large is not well armed against such weapons, and is often easily led astray by these time-proven tactics. Remarkably, not even media and law enforcement have NOT BEEN TRAINED to deal with these issues. For the most part, only the players themselves understand the rules of the game.

This why concepts from the film, Wag-The-Dog, actually work. If you saw that movie, know that there is at least one real-world counterpart to Al Pacino's character. For CIA, it is Mark Richards, who was called in to orchestrate the media response to Waco on behalf of Janet Reno. Mark Richards is the acknowledged High Priest of Disinformation. His appointment was extremely appropriate, since the CIA was VERY present at Waco from the very beginning of the cult to the very end of their days - just as it was at the People's Temple in Jonestown. Richards purpose in life is damage control.

For such disinformationalists, the overall aim is to avoid discussing links in the chain of evidence which cannot be broken by truth, but at all times, to use clever deceptions or lies to make select links seem weaker than they are, create the illusion of a break, or better still, cause any who are considering the chain to be distracted in any number of ways, including the method of questioning the credentials of the presenter. Please understand that fact is fact, regardless of the source. Likewise, truth is truth, regardless of the source. This is why criminals are allowed to testify against other criminals. Where a motive to lie may truly exist, only actual evidence that the testimony itself IS a lie renders it completely invalid. Were a known 'liar's' testimony to stand on its own without supporting fact, it might certainly be of questionable value, but if the testimony (argument) is based on verifiable or otherwise demonstrable facts, it matters not who does the presenting or what their motives are, or if they have lied in the past or even if motivated to lie in this instance -- the facts or links would and should stand or fall on their own merit and their part in the matter will merely be supportive.

Moreover, particularly with respects to public forums such as newspaper letters to the editor, and Internet chat and news groups, the disinfo type has a very important role. In these forums, the principle topics of discussion are generally attempts by individuals to cause other persons to become interested in their own particular position, idea, or solution -- very much in development at the time. People often use such mediums as a sounding board and in hopes of pollination to better form their ideas. Where such ideas are critical of government or powerful, vested groups (especially if their criminality is the topic), the disinfo artist has yet another role -- the role of nipping it in the bud. They also seek to stage the concept, the presenter, and any supporters as less than credible should any possible future confrontation in more public forums result due to their early successes. You can often spot the disinfo types at work here by the unique application of "higher standards" of discussion than necessarily warranted. They will demand that those presenting arguments or concepts back everything up with the same level of expertise as a professor, researcher, or investigative writer. Anything less renders any discussion meaningless and unworthy in their opinion, and anyone who disagrees is obviously stupid -- and they generally put it in exactly those terms.

So, as you read any such discussions, particularly so in Internet news groups (NG), decide for yourself when a rational argument is being applied and when disinformation, psyops (psychological warfare operations) or trickery is the tool. Accuse those guilty of the later freely. They (both those deliberately seeking to lead you astray, and those who are simply foolish or misguided thinkers) generally run for cover when thus illuminated, or -- put in other terms, they put up or shut up (a perfectly acceptable outcome either way, since truth is the goal.) Here are the twenty-five methods and seven traits, some of which don't apply directly to NG application. Each contains a simple example in the form of actual (some paraphrased for simplicity) from NG comments on commonly known historical events, and a proper response. Accusations should not be overused -- reserve for repeat offenders and those who use multiple tactics. Responses should avoid falling into emotional traps or informational sidetracks, unless it is feared that some observers will be easily dissuaded by the trickery. Consider quoting the complete rule rather than simply citing it, as others will not have reference. Offer to provide a complete copy of the rule set upon request (see permissions statement at end):

Link:http://www.benfrank.net/disinfo

[MB_722]

25 Rules of the Rightwing in General, as seen below:

Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation

1. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

Rumsfeld's Abu Ghraib woes: "People are running around with digital cameras and taking these unbelievable photographs and passing them off, against the law, to the media, to our surprise, when they had not even arrived in the Pentagon."

2. Become incredulous and indignant

How can you say that? America doesn't fund death squads in Latin America. Where did you read that??!! ~ A quote from too many idiots to name.

3. Create rumor mongers

Anyone got a gay agenda quote to toss in here? Agenda!

4. Use a straw man

How dare you leftists say America has never done a single good thing ever! (Um...we didn't?)

5. Sidetrack opponents with name calling, ridicule

Well, you're just a leftist commie terrorist bleeding heart sympathizer!

6. Hit and Run

I don't have time for this right now. You're just wrong, okay? Noooooo! I do NOT want to see your four hundred pages of FOIA documents! No, not even just one! Bye bye!

7. Question motives

You just hate America!

8. Invoke authority

Have respect for the President, no matter how much of a bozo terrorist loser he is.

9. Play Dumb

Just because we trained, armed, and equipped them, and then they formed death squads and murdered whole villages, doesn't mean we WANTED them to or KNEW they would...

10. Associate opponent charges with old news

WWII! WWII! The great war! Saved the concentration camp victims! Saved Europe! WWII!

11. Establish and rely upon fall-back positions

Well, that was during the cold war. And um, it was okay then. Cause we were at war. Like the war on drugs. The war on terror. Yeah...

12. Enigmas have no solution

Bush quote, anyone?

13. Alice in Wonderland Logic

The absence of evidence isn't the evidence of absence...

14. Demand complete solutions

If we do not defeat them there, they will come here! We must kill all the terrorists in the world in Iraq they're all right there!

15. Fit the facts to alternate conclusions

Freedom=police state to keep you 'free'.

16. Vanish evidence and witnesses

Or kill them and make it look like suicide...a perennial favorite.

17. Change the subject
Oh (insert your name here) I don't want to talk about it anymore! Let's go watch that new movie of the week on TV!

18. Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad

*Gasp* How can you call the FBI a bunch of fascist jackbooted terrorist thugs? You're crazy! You don't know what you're talking about. (Revert to playing dumb: COINTELPRO, what's that? Move on to: That was a long time ago! Fall back on: Cold war! Move into: WWII! WWII!)

19. Ignore facts, demand impossible proofs
I will believe covert operations have gone on and do go on in America when it's in writing, in blood, delivered, in person, by the head of the FBI and the head of the CIA, holding hands, on a Sunday, in broad daylight, confessing both their undying man-love for each other, and their loooong list of crimes against humanity, human rights, civil rights, and the Constitution. Oh yeah, and wearing bedroom slippers with bunny ears.

20. False evidence
Gulf of Tonkin, anyone?

21. Call a Grand Jury, Special Prosecutor
Every day, against whoever annoys them that week.

22. Manufacture a new truth
War on terror! War on terror! Terror has whatever definition we give it, and has nothing to do with our past and present actions. That was shock and awe! War on terror! War on terror!

23. Create bigger distractions
Brittney Spears. But then, that just shows how pathetically stupid Americans really are.

24. Silence critics
Click. Click. Boom. Or just pay to have their websites Google scrubbed by some skeeze company.

25. Vanish
See: Click. Click. Boom...Google.