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Quote by Michael Hastings

“An information operations team was sent to Afghanistan to conduct various psychological operations on the Afghans and Taliban. The team was then asked not to focus on the Taliban but on manipulating senators into giving more funds and troops [to the war].”

Quote by Michael Hastings

Author

Michael Hastings

Michael Hastings (January 28, 1980 - June 18, 2013) was an American journalist known for his in-depth reporting on political and military issues. He gained recognition for his coverage of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, particularly for his revealing reports on the misconduct of U.S. military operations. Hastings' work often exposed government misdeeds and the truth behind military actions, having a significant impact on public opinion. more

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“The way the Pentagon and its defenders have pushed back against this story is to say: "They weren't doing psychological operations, they were doing information operations and public affairs. They were just helping us spin senators like we normally do."”

Way Helping Stories Information Affair Psychological Operations Senators Defenders Pentagon Public Affairs

Author:Michael Hastings

“But the frightening aspect is that it's part of a larger effort from the Pentagon to tear down the wall between public affairs and propaganda, and essentially say there is no difference between information operations, public affairs and psychological operations. It's all one and the same. They have a new name for that too, it's called Information Engagement.”

Names Differences Effort Information Tears Wall Aspect Affair Psychological Propaganda Operations Engagement Frightening Pentagon Public Affairs

Author:Michael Hastings

“I don't like a lot of crazy makeup.”

Author:AnnaLynne McCord

“A new software is being developed so the psychological operations guys and the Pentagon's strategic communications guys - and we don't really know who's running it - but this is all totally out in the open. It's this new program that will allow them to have like ten fake Twitter accounts and ten Facebook accounts so you can pretend.”

Knows Running Guy Communication Ten Program Accounts Psychological Operations Fake Software Strategic Pentagon

Author:Michael Hastings

“I stay out of the sun, which is very good. If you want to be in sun, please use SPF, it's important.”

Ifs Want Important Use Sun Please Very Good

Author:AnnaLynne McCord

“Look at the violence in Pakistan and the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan: the more troops we put in the more violent Pakistan becomes.”

Looks Violence Violent Afghanistan Troops Pakistan Troops In Afghanistan

Author:Michael Hastings

“I'm talking to people all of the time. So it hasn't really had a big impact. Access is never my main concern anyway. If you keep digging and making phone calls you can get stories and not have to rely on the good graces of the Pentagon spokesperson. I am not in his good graces.”

People Ifs Stories Bigs Talking Grace Concern Impact Phones Access Rely Digging Phone Calls Pentagon Big Impact

Author:Michael Hastings

“Afghanistan would have been difficult enough without Iraq. Iraq made it impossible. The argument that had we just focused on Afghanistan we'd now be okay is persuasive, but it omits the fact that we weren't supposed to get involved in nation-building in Afghanistan.”

Has Beens Made Enough Facts Nations Difficult Impossible Building Involved Argument Okay Iraq Focused Made It Afghanistan Get Involved Persuasive Nation Building

Author:Michael Hastings

“Whether or not Afghanistan would be a peaceful nation-state had we not gone into Iraq I doubt. Afghanistan is going to be Afghanistan, no matter how hard we try to make it something else.”

Trying Matter Hard States Would Be Nations Gone Doubt Iraq Peaceful Afghanistan

Author:Michael Hastings

“Inside the White House there were always extreme amounts of doubt about whether they should be escalating in Afghanistan. In fact, most of the president's advisers said, "This is probably not going to work." A lot of people in the military said, "This is probably not going to work."”

People Should Said Facts House President White Doubt Military Amount Extremes White House Afghanistan Going To Work Adviser Escalating

Author:Michael Hastings