Congressmen exist in their own minds to be wined and dined - don't see the crime here.
Did Army general use ‘psy-ops’ on senators?
By Rajiv Chandrasekaran
The Washington Post
First published 3 hours ago
Updated 3 hours ago Updated Feb 24, 2011 07:29PM
The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan intends to order an investigation into whether a three-star general responsible for training Afghan security forces inappropriately used members of a psychological operations team to influence visiting U.S. senators into providing more funding for the war.
The U.S. command in Kabul issued a statement Thursday saying Gen. David Petraeus “is preparing to order an investigation to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the issue.”
The investigation stems from an article published early Thursday on the website of Rolling Stone magazine alleging that Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, the head of the U.S. and NATO training operation for Afghan forces, used an “information operations” team to “manipulate visiting American senators” and other visitors, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen.
The article is based on the claims of a lieutenant colonel who served on a psychological operations team in Afghanistan last year and who alleges he was subjected to retribution when he resisted the assignment.
A spokesman for Caldwell denied that he had done anything improper.
Among the senators allegedly targeted by the team were John McCain, R-Ariz., Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. All four have been long-standing supporters of more funding for training Afghan security forces.
The lieutenant colonel, Michael Holmes, who was assigned to Caldwell’s headquarters last year, said in the article that he was asked by the general’s chief of staff to find ways to manipulate the lawmakers. Holmes claims he was asked: “How do we get these guys to give us more people? What do I have to plant inside their heads?”
Holmes said he objected. “My job in psy-ops is to play with people’s heads, to get the enemy to behave the way we want them to behave,” Holmes is quoted as saying. “When you ask me to try to use these skills on senators and congressman, you’re crossing a line.”
The article did not cite evidence of false or misleading information being provided to the senators and other visitors.
Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune.
Did Army general use ‘psy-ops’ on senators?
By Rajiv Chandrasekaran
The Washington Post
First published 3 hours ago
Updated 3 hours ago Updated Feb 24, 2011 07:29PM
The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan intends to order an investigation into whether a three-star general responsible for training Afghan security forces inappropriately used members of a psychological operations team to influence visiting U.S. senators into providing more funding for the war.
The U.S. command in Kabul issued a statement Thursday saying Gen. David Petraeus “is preparing to order an investigation to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the issue.”
The investigation stems from an article published early Thursday on the website of Rolling Stone magazine alleging that Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, the head of the U.S. and NATO training operation for Afghan forces, used an “information operations” team to “manipulate visiting American senators” and other visitors, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen.
The article is based on the claims of a lieutenant colonel who served on a psychological operations team in Afghanistan last year and who alleges he was subjected to retribution when he resisted the assignment.
A spokesman for Caldwell denied that he had done anything improper.
Among the senators allegedly targeted by the team were John McCain, R-Ariz., Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. All four have been long-standing supporters of more funding for training Afghan security forces.
The lieutenant colonel, Michael Holmes, who was assigned to Caldwell’s headquarters last year, said in the article that he was asked by the general’s chief of staff to find ways to manipulate the lawmakers. Holmes claims he was asked: “How do we get these guys to give us more people? What do I have to plant inside their heads?”
Holmes said he objected. “My job in psy-ops is to play with people’s heads, to get the enemy to behave the way we want them to behave,” Holmes is quoted as saying. “When you ask me to try to use these skills on senators and congressman, you’re crossing a line.”
The article did not cite evidence of false or misleading information being provided to the senators and other visitors.
Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune.
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