Thread: Stryker Video

Check out the Stryker video on the POGO website. It was produced in January by the 366th Military Public Affairs Detachment (MPAD), whose job it is to produce media (voice, print, video) in support of the unit they are working with (in this case - 1/25 ID (SBCT), which is the SBCT currently deployed). Once the WP published the article loosely based on the CALL report, the Army sent this video to demonstrate the Stryker's capabilities.

POGO responded with the following:
"In a time of war, there is no legitimate reason for the Army to spend money on promotional propagandistic videos. This video includes 'so-called' testimonials which can not be taken seriously. The verdict is in. Behind closed doors, soldiers and commanders raised serious issues about the performance of the Stryker. The only question left is whether these issues have been adequately addressed. Rather than spending funds on promotional videos, the Army should be fixing these problems."

After making this statement, POGO was attacked for making such a strong statement without providing access to it, and they have finally posted it so others can see it and
make their own decision.

http://pogoblog.typepad.com/

While there is no doubt that it is a pro-Stryker video designed to highlight the Stryker's capabilities and can be considered propaganda depending on the definition you are using, I was impressed by the details about the survivability even after having read much of the same information in print (especially seeing the video clip of the an explosion whose force threw the 21 ton Stryker onto it's side, but didn't penetrate the Stryker). I'm curious to see what your thoughts and reactions are to the video since I know that I am biased in favor of the Stryker since I've had a chance to see its capabilities first hand.

(YES) information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn

(YES) Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation aimed at serving an agenda. At its root, the denotation of propaganda is 'to propagate (actively spread) a philosophy or point of view'. The most common use of the term (historically) is in political contexts; in particular to refer to certain efforts sponsored by governments or political groups.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda

(NO) False or partly false information used by a government or political party intended to sway the opinions of the population.
fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/resource/glossary.htm