Domestic information operations

Today the New York Times reported on an effort by the US administration and Pentagon to shape domestic media coverage of the Iraq war. An informal network of military analysts was tapped and urged to send out the desired message.

Records and interviews show how the Bush administration has used its control over access and information in an effort to ... shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks.

This prompted me to recall and earlier effort from 2002 that later got officially canned, the Office of Strategic Influence.

The Pentagon has established a new Office of Strategic Influence to market America's war on terrorism outside the United States...
Under law, the Pentagon operation can only work outside the United States.

The current administration practices tight access control to information, according to this report from 2005.

As part of a tight message control, the Bush White House does have a few "designated hitters" who speak on the record with reporters. It confines that kind of access to presidential counselor Dan Bartlett and a few others. The policy is a big shift from past administrations that offered frequent background briefings with top officials who helped reporters and their readers and audiences understand the rationale for decisions and strategies.

Though the administration seems to be applying scientific management principles with regard to controlling information flow, there appears to be a glaring blind spot with regard to managing their reputation. Credibility counts, particularly when attempting to persuade a global audience that may be highly skeptical.