‘Disconcerting & Dangerous’: House Passes Amendment That Allows Gov’t-Backed Propaganda
- Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:45am by
Liz Klimas
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(Image: Wikimedia)
The recent passage of a $642 billion defense bill by the U.S. House of Representatives, even under the threat of a White House veto, carries weighty provisions such as a ban of same-sex marriage on military bases and continued allowance of indefinite detention of terrorist suspects. But a little reported-on amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act is beginning to get more attention. It is a measure that some are calling “creeping fascism” and others “a bit unsettling.”
The amendment has bipartisan sponsorship by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash) and would essentially legalize propaganda by the government within the United States. Buzzfeed reports it is an amendment that would “strike the current ban on domestic dissemination,” meaning both the the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 and Foreign Relations Authorization Act in 1987 would be overturned.
A Tuesday press release announced the “The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012“ explaining that it would ”[modify] a Cold War-era law that hampers diplomatic, defense, and other agencies’ ability to communicate in the 21st century.”
“We continue to face a multitude of threats and we need to be able to counter them in a multitude of ways. Communication is among the most important,” Rep. Thornberry said in a statement. “This outdated law ties the hands of America’s diplomatic officials, military, and others by inhibiting our ability to effectively communicate in a credible and transparent way. Congress has a responsibility to fix the situation.”
“While the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 was developed to counter communism during the Cold War, it is outdated for the conflicts of today,” said Congressman Adam Smith. “Effective strategic communication and public diplomacy should be front-and-center as we work to roll back al-Qaeda’s and other violent extremists’ influence among disaffected populations. An essential part of our efforts must be a coordinated, comprehensive, adequately resourced plan to counter their radical messages and undermine their recruitment abilities. To do this, Smith-Mundt must be updated to bolster our strategic communications and public diplomacy capacity on all fronts and mediums – especially online.”

(Image: Wikimedia)
Buzzfeed goes on to state critics of the bill see it as an overreach to give the State Department and the Pentagon this ability:
“Clearly there are ways to modernize for the information age without wiping out the distinction between domestic and foreign audiences,” says Michael Shank, Vice President at the Institute for Economics and Peace in Washington D.C. “That Reps Adam Smith and Mac Thornberry want to roll back protections put in place by previously-serving Senators – who, in their wisdom, ensured limits to taxpayer–funded propaganda promulgated by the US government – is disconcerting and dangerous.”
“I just don’t want to see something this significant – whatever the pros and cons – go through without anyone noticing,” says one source on the Hill, who is disturbed by the law. According to this source, the law would allow “U.S. propaganda intended to influence foreign audiences to be used on the domestic population.”
[...]
“It removes the protection for Americans,” says a Pentagon official who is concerned about the law. “It removes oversight from the people who want to put out this information. There are no checks and balances. No one knows if the information is accurate, partially accurate, or entirely false.”
Juan Cole, a history professor at the University of Michigan, wrote on his blog Informed Comment (via Reader Supported News) that “nothing speaks more urgently to the creeping fascism of American politics” than this act:
I love our guys and gals in uniform, but they can be extremely obnoxious in any discussion about US government policy that ‘gets off point’ or ‘doesn’t serve the mission.’ At Washington think tank events, I’ve seen them repeatedly close down discussions among e.g. State Department foreign service officers. You don’t want most of the DoD types providing information to us, because it won’t be in any way balanced.
Buzzfeed notes that it sees this amendment as part of a larger plan by the government to control a certain message. It cites the government’s increased use of social media monitoring technology as part of plan.
(Related: Which keywords on Twitter get the government’s attention?)
The Associated Press reports that although the bill passed in the Republican-controlled House, the Democratic-controlled Senate is “likely to scrap many of them and stick to the spending level in the deficit-cutting agreement.”
What are your thoughts on the proposed act? Let us know in the comments.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.





















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Comments (139)
shogun459
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:42pm“legalize propaganda by the government within the United States.”
So does that mean THE OBAMA Administration is breaking the law when they lie to us and now they want to make it legal?
I smell a RHINO socialist, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), COME ON DOWN!
Report Post »NutterButter79
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 1:17pmDuring WWII the US released propaganda films for US citizens as well as those abroad. Fox News ran a terror alert color coded graphic for much of the Bush administration, post 9/11. It was always raised in time for an election. Propaganda isn’t just a liberal thing, conservatives know how to use it as well.
Report Post »We can’t tolerate this type of stuff ever. It’s not okay for one party to use it and then condemn another for doing the same thing.
Even those old atomic bomb drill videos were propaganda designed to strike fear in those who viewed it(namely children). The idea of propaganda is gain control over citizens and make the government look good. Plain and simple.
hidden_lion
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 1:28pm“U.S. propaganda intended to influence foreign audiences to be used on the domestic population.””
Well, i guess it applies, since America has been infiltrated by millions of foreigners. More proof the Republican party is not for the interests of the American people and are not protecting our freedoms. Without a third party to balance things out, this country as founded will cease to exist, if it has not already been lost entirely.
Report Post »Truthbeliever2
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 1:32pmTHANK GOD the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives!!! Oh wait, never-mind. If you are a DEMOCRAP you are a HOPELESS DUMBASS If you are a REPUBLICAN you are just a DUMBASS.
If only we could get some more Republicans to take control of the Senate as well!!! Then ALL of our problems would be over. Heck; we can vote in Mitt Romney (progressive sh*tbag) take control of the senate and let all of the PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN SH*T BAGS create a big propaganda film based on how wonderful the American Government is. All you have to do is get out and vote…. Yippy….
Report Post »Roberto G. Vasquez
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 1:35pmAny law that CAN be misused, WILL be!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 1:50pmIf it comes from the government you can bet 100% of the time that the very best you can “hope” for “IS” partial truth. The rest of the time, it’s all deception.
Report Post »NCREPUB
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:02pmhttp://youtu.be/uBnlXGvA1Wk
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:10pmTruth from the Goverment Odds are 50/50 or lower.
Report Post »Classical Liberal
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:11pmIt is very interesting at the blaze decided not to report on the representative Smith amendment to the 2013 national Defense authorization act which would have removed the indefinite detention provisions that were added to the 20 12 national Defense authorization act which past last new years eve.
Ron Paul sponsored it. Ron Paul 2012.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:00pm@HiddenLion
Yes we have been infiltrated. It really began picking up steam in 1992, the year AGENDA21 emerged.
That is because The Creditors of the Bankruptcy ( The IMF and WORLD BANK/ UNITED NATIONS )of the UNITED STATES began foreclosure that year.
Make No Mistake – America Has Been SOLD By The NWO
In 1992, George H.W. Bush signed Executive Order 12803, which gave D.C. the authority to sell America’s infrastructure. They called this authority “Infrastructure Privatization.” E.O. 12803 tells us this power cleared the way for the “disposition or transfer of an infrastructure ”asset” such as by sale or by long-term lease from a State or local government to a private party.”
http://www.rense.com/general86/nomis.htm
These explain how we lost our Country and freedom:
The USA has been bankrupt since 1933
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlCs7u1ihws
“In 1933, Corp. U.S. went bankrupt and the States agreed to support their resolution. In keeping with the bankruptcy, the Corp. U.S. Congress adjusted their Trading with the Enemies Act with their Emergency War Powers Act, which recognized the people of the United States of America are enemies of Corp. U.S.”
http://www.teamlaw.net/history.htm
“The bankruptcy definitely started when Roosevelt came into office. He was sworn in during the month of January 1933.”
Report Post »http://www.barefootsworld.net/usfraud.html
soybomb315
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:30pmRepublicans and Democrats are at it again – Surprise Surprise. How much more are you going to take before you realize that Republicans are almost as bad as Democrats.
3rd party 2012… because I have had enough of this bull****
Report Post »Twobyfour
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:54pmsoybomb315, you don’t have a third party. Chances are, if a GOP candidate is elected, that you can build it before 2016. With Obamao re-elected, I’d put those chances in negative side of the scale.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 4:12pmThere is plenty of 3rd party to keep me from staying home on election day. Libertarian and Constitution parties will be running candidates that are hands down better than Romney
Report Post »resme
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 4:45pm@soybomb, the constitution party elected virgil goode from my state virginia, Huge idiot. look into him
Report Post »Truthbeliever2
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 5:04pmOh screw it. I’ll just vote for the BIG Liar, instead of the GIGANTIC LIAR that is the way our GREAT NATION works. Isn’t that right? Get to the polls because your vote REALLY MATTERS.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 6:05pmOh great…… so the Government Helicopter flies over, drops leaflets on my yard and then the EPA drives up and tickets me for littering. : (
Report Post »KevINtampa
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 6:24pm@ NUTTERBUTTER
“Propaganda isn’t just a liberal thing, conservatives know how to use it as well.
We can’t tolerate this type of stuff ever. It’s not okay for one party to use it and then condemn another for doing the same thing.”
LMAO
#1 I agree with you, but only on a certain level.
#2 There’s NO difference between Republicans and Democrats.
When Obama was elected, I told everyone that his ACTS would be the same as Bush. His WORDS would be different, but his actual ACTIONS would be the same. I believe I was right. The federal Democrat VS. Republican paradigm struggle is a charade. If Romney is to be our next President his words will certainly be different than Obama, but his ACTIONS the same as Obama. The progressive move forward to a fascist/socialist state is the work done by both parties.
Republicans setup the corporations, the Democrats take them over. Think about it, have the policies, of either party, over the last 100 years, supported small or BIG business? It’s a lot easier to ultimately take over 10 large corporations in any given industry than 100,000 small companies in the same industry.
Have either of the parties worked to bring government closer to you? Does anyone even know what that means anymore? Let my state decide what can be built in my state. If another state has issue, we’ll discuss and come to an agreement. If we can’t, well, my state will allow it to be built anyway if the people so choose. Not some DC bureaucrat or czar.
Report Post »PRRedlin
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 7:31pmStupid Teabaggers,
Republicans control the house. This could not have passed without their support.
Sincerely,
A liberal with a brain.
Report Post »Classical Liberal
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 8:15pm@prredlin,
Just where is it exactly that you Stand on the indefinite detention that has been continued in this years defense bill?
My guess is your just fine with it as long as your guys in office. You and many Americans like you are stuck in a state of infancy, unable to grow up and learn reason. You types are the enemy to liberty and the suckers politicians prey on.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 8:35pmIf you are putting you’re trust in a government of godlessness … good luck, cause that’s all you gonna get … and I doubt at the end of the day it’s gonna be good. And the truth is, luck never had any part to play in it anyway.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 10:53pmPRREDLIN, A liberal with a brain? Makes me thing of this from Young Frankenstein.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH97lImrr0Q
Perfect description of the lib mind.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:43amGee, what’s next? Death camps? Can you say COMMUNISM? This regime and ALL of it’s pundits have got to go in November! If not, The United States of America, As we know it, will just be a memory!!!
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 8:31amWe always knew the gov’t was lying to us-now it’s official!
NDAA and now this-where the hell are the Tea Party Repubs in the House???
Report Post »wolverine
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:42pmI thought all press releases from the US government were already propaganda
Report Post »Classical Liberal
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:55pmAbsolutely correct. Anything that comes out of the federal government is propaganda so focussing on this and not the indefinite detention provisions of the bill is a waste of energy.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:18pmWeapons of Mass Deception was one propaganda campaign that was exposed !!!
We all know that is just the tip of the iceburg.
People, please wake up to the fact that our representatives are gone, and that these posers are puppets and minions of the Federal Reserve and IMF-World Bank/United Nations. (owned by the global elite – the .00000001%)
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 4:42pmIf you support RINOs like Mccain, Gingrich, or Romney – you have no room to complain because you have kept the republican party terrible. Thats right – its YOUR OWN fault for not supporting the real candidates who stand against big government and tyranny.
It’s late in the game and we are down by 3 touchdowns – what are you gonna do?
Report Post »carolewash
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 5:24pmAgree!
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:34pmIt’s a change to an amendment in a $600 + Billion defense funding bill. If 2008-present shows anything it’s that the propagandists are going to propagandize regardless. So what’s the big deal really. Americans are smart enough to know the difference for the most part. Yes the progs will abuse this change, it’s what they do. They’ll do it with or without the amendment. It is up to us to know the difference and to vote the progressives far back into their unholy closet once more. Hopefully forever. We need to worry about getting rid of the Dept of Education where they use propaganda every hour of every day. Our kids deserve a break from it..
Report Post »Td Dig
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 1:13pmThat’s just it. Most Americans are NOT smart enough to know the difference. Therein lies the problem. I see it all around my office and when I’m out socializing. Uninformed, news blip king/queens who spew (without fact checking) and tidbit they’ve come across. I seriously fear for this nation. I speak to both parties…you both have led us down this path, both are seemingly bent on destroying a once great nation. I have no solution to the problem sadly…as voting them ALL out would never happen. We the people have lost what little power we’d been clinging to…or are withing sight of losing it. Sad…
Report Post »Tom K
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:14pm@ GHANDI WAS A REPUBLICAN : A hell of a lot of Americans are NOT smart enought to vote out of office the “ Ineligible One ”. Those knuckleheads would vote for Barry AGAIN ! Restore America’s Greatness – Anyone BUT Obama in November !
Report Post »justangry
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:19pmThis is for our safety people. We have outstanding people looking out for our welfare. They care about us. Really, they do. If you don’t believe me, just ask them.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:45pmYou do know that 30% of America beleives what you wrote as Gospel? If you tell them your being sarcastic they will stone you as an apostate.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:48pmPS That same 30% doesn’t know the difference between an Apostate and a Prostate. lol
Report Post »proudamerican67
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:56pmI would have to agree…
Report Post »justangry
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:13pm@shogun, Funny
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:32pmStand on the street and see how many people support ending women’s suffrage.
I bet you get >80%
justangry
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 7:36pm@Soybomb, The old Man Show (I think) did that. There were actually women signing the petition to end the sufferaging of women.
Report Post »DarthMims
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:18pmI think this story is propaganda. Think about it, a fascist piece of legislation passes the Republican House, but is opposed by the Democratic Senate and is threatened to be vetoed by Obama. And it is an AP story. Either the Republicans really are fascists, or the story was made up so the Republicans look like fascists.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:42pmThe Democrats threatened to stop NDAA.It passed.The Patriot Act.It Passed.HR 347.It passed.You think Government is going to give up that much power?
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:38pmR‘s and D’s are both full of facists.
This spending bill also repeals many of the freezes that were agreed to earlier in the year as part of raising the deficit ceiling. So let’s get this straight….Republicans whine and complain about raising the defiicit – they pass some automatic spending decreases – and when the decreases are about to take effect, they pass a bill to by-pass the cuts. HYPOCRISY
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:17pmHow big is the current advertisement budget for the U.S. Government? I‘m not going to bother looking it up because I’m certain it is big and I am certain it spreads plenty of pro-government bologna. This is just another “legal” step to make it okay to spend our money to tell us what we don’t have to do for ourselves.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:51pmIDIOT! There has been NO BUDGET since Obama took office, it’s all off the books.
Which is on purpose so YOU can NEVER follow the money!
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:14pm“It removes the protection for Americans,” says a Pentagon official who is concerned about the law. “It removes oversight from the people who want to put out this information. There are no checks and balances. No one knows if the information is accurate, partially accurate, or entirely false.”
There was no protection from the government produced propaganda in the run-up to the war in Iraq. The Office of Special Plans was set up for that very purpose, to deceive and lie to the American people. The 9/11 Commission Report under Philip Zelikow was no different.
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:13pmDoes this mean that they can call Tea Party (Hard Working Family’s, Veterans et al) terrorist’s? and that Holder can call Muslim Extremist’s ( Muslim brotherhood sneaking across the border) Innocent by standards of patriotic Americans?
Report Post »red_white_blue2
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:26pmThat’s precisely what it means! Get Rid of the Commie Chief in Nov!
Report Post »DarthMims
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:13pmI think this story is propaganda. Think about it, an amendment that serves fascists gets passed by the Republican House, but is opposed by the Democratic Senate and is threatened to be vetoed by Obama. And the story is throught AP. Either the story is true, in which case the Republicans are fascists, or the story was made up to make it look like the Republicans are fascist.
Report Post »smokey888x2
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:10pmAnyone know who voted what?
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:10pmThe Republicans and the Democrats are the same. Holy crap wake up. Romney supports this bill. Obama signed the bill. These men are bought and paid for by the same people.
Ron Paul 2012!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:09pmLock n load……..
Report Post »smokey888x2
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:09pmEach of us needs to make a personal visit to our rep’s office and get answers.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:07pm‘If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — for ever….’
1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:07pmT.R.E.A.S.O.N.! Idiots!
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:07pmApparently, the people concerned about government-controlled propaganda have never heard of MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CNN, NY Times, Washington Post, or the public education system.
Report Post »Dont be a sucker
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 7:13pmYou forgot to add Fox News to that list.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:07pmAmericans don’t believe government info anyway, so why the big fuss? Eliminating the marxist president and his henchmen will be a better solution. It’s coming in Nov.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:03pmEACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE IDIOTS WORK FOR “We the People”…this insanity MUST stop. This is not Venezuela..or Cuba…or Russia…or Iran………..who in the hell do these people think they are?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:12pmWho do they think? .. our rulers! We must clean out the House, Senate, and White House.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:15pmSupport the candidates that vote with your principles and refuse to vote for the ones that dont.
Ron Paul
Report Post »No to the Patriot act.
No to NDAA.
No to TSA.
No to PIPA, SOPA, and CISPA.
No to the FED.
No to budgets that spend more than we take in.
No to the UN.
No to the global policy force.
lantzh
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:20pmBig brother!
Report Post »HKS
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:03pmEverything they say now is lies and propaganda, so what’t the difference.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:59amI don’t know what to think of the Republicans anymore or our government in general. What has America turned into?? A big brother, communist country?
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:49pmDr. Joseph Goebbels
Report Post »skinnyreporter
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:57amDoes this mean the government can lie about the impact of this amendment, which legalizes lying by the government?
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:56amGood-Bye America. It was good while it lasted.
Report Post »amyb73
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:54am“It removes the protection for Americans,” says a Pentagon official who is concerned about the law. “It removes oversight from the people who want to put out this information. There are no checks and balances. No one knows if the information is accurate, partially accurate, or entirely false.”
It’s not like we have any protection now…
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:17pmAll too true; the propaganda machinery of the leftist communists are the news media; especially ones like CNN and MSNoBodyCares. We have crossed a line once again in history, where there shall be no limits on disinformation and propaganda – facism rising once again and people still refuse to see what is really there.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:50amHow about just stop passing any bill longer than 1 page? how about that? anyone else want to go back to basic common sense government instead of this bloated beast we have now? so sick of this I am losing hope this nation will ever get back to its roots.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:49amHistory is repeating itself yet again; this time we may truly be finished if we cannot end this madness and restore freedom in the nation.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:16pmYou think Mitt who supported the NDAA will stop the madness? Not a chance.
Ron Paul 2012.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:46pmThis is/was the beauty of a Ron Paul presidency…But supporters were called mindless and crazy
What a strange country we live in
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