New in PJ Media:
The U.S. Army has come a long, long way from “Be All That You Can Be” — an odd and unsettling new recruitment video touts Army psyops, proclaims “All the world’s a stage,” and asks, “Who’s pulling the strings?” Apparently, if this video is to be believed, shadowy forces in the Army are. But it’s not at all clear what exactly the video is intended to accomplish, or what point it is trying to make.
The video, which is entitled “Ghosts in the Machine,” is apparently a production of Fort Bragg’s 4th Psychological Operations Group-Airborne, which posted it on YouTube. It starts out like a movie trailer (actually, it is very much like a movie trailer throughout), leading off with a quote from Sun Tzu in white type on a black field: “If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”
Is that some reference to the weakest president in U.S. history, Old Joe Biden, and to his opponent in the Kremlin? Are we supposed to be reassured that Biden’s manifest weakness is all part of some elaborate psy-op designed to lull America’s enemies into complacency? Your guess is as good as mine. The whole video is gnomic, elusive, and determinedly obscure, as if the Army were trying to appeal to millennial dweebs who spend their time reading dark graphic novels and figuring out ways to hack into corporate computer systems.
And maybe they are. The Charlotte Observer points out that “the video, posted May 2, starts innocently, with benign clips of cartoons and images of empty city streets and subways. But the vibe grows increasingly disturbing, with footage of a shadowy man, anxious stares at dark skies, violent riot scenes and soldiers being deployed. ‘Have you ever wondered who’s pulling the strings?’ the video asks. ‘You’ll find us in the shadows at the tip of the spear. … Anything we touch is a weapon. We can deceive, persuade, change, influence, inspire. We come in many forms. We are everywhere.’” So is the Army now boasting about lying to the American people and spreading propaganda in order to influence people into changing their views? Is that really a good look in this age of the Disinformation Governance Board and overwhelming media manipulation?
The video certainly gives the impression that the Army is proud of its power to “deceive, persuade, change, influence, inspire.” The Observer notes that “the 4th Psychological Operations Group, also known as PSYOP, defines itself as ‘Masters of Influence’ and practitioners of ‘information warfare,’ according to its website. That means the mere act of people debating its video is a sign of success.” The Group states: “We conduct influence activities to target psychological vulnerabilities and create or intensify fissures, confusion, and doubt in adversary organizations. We use all available means of dissemination – from sensitive and high tech, to low-tech, to no-tech, and methods from overt, to clandestine, to deception.”
There is more. Read the rest here.
Emilie Green says
“[A]nd asks, ‘Who’s pulling the strings?'”
I bet Hillary and Obama know the names.
JOHN L SCHARF says
War is too important to be left to Republicans. They have neither the time, the training, nor the inclination for strategic thought. I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, communist subversion, and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.
Well boys, I reckon this is it: nuclear combat, toe to toe with the Russkies.
JOHN L SCHARF says
If Democrats can lie loudly enough they can create a war like President Johnson did. Republicans END wars rather than STARTING them.
wpm says
Was that recruitment ad for the new OWG army ?
CogitoErgoSum says
Is this boasting about being able to deceive people? That defeats your purpose doesn’t it? Telling people that you are good at deception only makes people trust you less. If someone tells me he’s an expert liar why would I ever trust anything he tells me again? Yes, it’s a creepy commercial and it’s creepy that we have people in our government who think that being able to lie better than the enemy is the future of warfare. This sends the signal that they don’t want a few good men; they want a few men who are good at pretending to be good. They reference Shakespeare with “all the world’s a stage.” Indeed it is … and our government leaders and now our military leaders too are but walking shadows who strut and fret upon the stage – idiots full of sound and fury, standing for nothing more noble than being able to lie well. And only those who stick to the script will be allowed to remain on the stage.
All is not well in America.
somehistory says
great analysis. bragging about lying. guess they have nothing better to brag about.
PRCS says
Green Beret recruitment ad.
Obvious, to me, from about a minute in.
PRCS says
Sorry: SOF (not just Green Beret).
A link: https://goarmysof.com/PsyOp/PsyOprecruiting.html
Pierre Delecto says
Intriguing, but the military needs quality privates. People willing to sacrifice themselves, from their dignity to their very lives, for their beloved homeland and all its traditions.
As a young man I served with senior sergeants who had been in the horse cavalry. I love this place more than I can say. So did they.
Oren says
Two or three months before the ukranian government was overthrown in 2014, three new news channels were launched, giving 24 hour criticism of the russian friendly democratically elected president of ukraine.
You can watch the two oliver stone documentaries on some of the alternative video streaming sites, but not on youtube. Watching you see that Ukraine was clearly overrun with mercenaries, and other intelligence agents, paying bribes, taking control of police forces, making sure that they could not all be arrested, as the laws of every nation requires of spies and people who undermine their elections, influence their media, and threaten their politicians and judges.
My main point, is opening 3 news stations for 24 hour criticism of the pro russian president, is not covert at all. It is more of the hard stuff, and if it worked, it cant be repeated. Zelensky was questionably elected, but no attempt was made to win A democratic election on the basis of discriminating against russians, or making russia the enemy of ukraine.
So, I guess the people of ukraine could not be influenced enough to side with the objectives of the american attackers, instead, they desired cover in the form of plausibility, that the president of ukraine fled to russia, which is supposedly the same as stepping down.
There is no doubt that the people of Ukraine were the biggest losers in this horrible leadership that got rid of their nukes, then threatened to develop nukes again, out loud, and threatened to join nato. Zelensky passed laws discriminating against russian speakers, even though he was one, persecuting the orthodox church, and allowing the formation of radical racist groups like the Azov battalion. It is difficult to consider Zelenskys actions, and think of him as A representative of the ukranian people, versus an American agent.
I dont even think the intention was to weaken russia, the oil revenues more than made up for the price of the war, perhaps even if you include the recession and upheaval in the business community. Russia has lost no factories or cities, the russian army will come out of this wiser, stronger, veterans, more aware of their equipment’s capabilities.
Russia can walk away from Ukraine at any time. It is clear there is no international support for going to war with russia. Sweden and finland were always going to take the side of the west. I suspect secret written guarantees were given by the ukranians to the russians, promising not to join nato, during the time the russians removed their threat to destroy kyve. They could have reduced it to rubble, there is nothing the ukrainians could have done about it. Without substantial troop loss.
The objective of america was to cause A rift between the EU and russia. If the truth should come out, then the operation would in fact fail. Not necessarily in A day, but quickly. The ukranians would be outraged at the americans, being used, they would make peace with russia, which would push western europe hard.
The fact that covert operations are no longer working, mean that the only remaining option is wolf diplomacy. When you covert manipulations stop working, you claim to be cool because that’s what you do. Burning the bridges of subtle diplomacy, enabling the implementation of open dictatorship which is the same as losing. They have always been fascist liars, but in the past they did not have to admit it. Once they admit it, it is only A matter of time before the vast majority of people admit they hate living under tyranny, which sucks. In G-d I trust.
gravenimage says
Never a good sign when you start off citing America-hating Oliver Stone…no mention of the names of these three secret news channels, either. Then the idea that Ukrainians just love living under Russian tyranny. Try again…
Pierre Delecto says
Heads up appreciation.
Our overwhelming national interests are here.
We are being vivasected by the Left.
gravenimage says
Creepy New Army Recruitment Video Looks Like an Ad for the New Joker Movie
…………..
*Oh my God*, this is creepy. Who would be enticed to join up after watching this unsettling mess? They deserve criticism just for making the iconic “Mr. Gorbechev, tear down this wall!” sound spooky.
As noted, not exactly “Be All That You Can Be”.
PRCS says
It’s not ‘creepy’ when you understand the issue. And, yes, “Be All That You Can Be” is appropriate.
https://goarmysof.com/PsyOp/PsyOprecruiting.html
gravenimage says
PRCS, I understand that this is Psy Ops. Sorry–still creepy.
tgusa says
They used President Reagan in that ad. I’m offended. One of the reasons I joined under President Reagan was to do my part in his effort to bring down the Evil Empire (USSR). All of those that I served with would be considered muy un-woke. Becoming offended? Heck, we made an effort to try to offend each other through jokes and banter but in most instances laughter was the end result. That is a far cry from today’s SJW preferred reaction of, you have offended me and therefore you must be destroyed!
Most of us from way back then would be considered unacceptable in today’s woke military. But one thing differs us from today’s military, we won, they lost. That was mostly because of the superiority of our leaders compared to the leaders the poor guys and girls have today. We were also confronting an enemy that posed a direct threat to the continental USA. We were most definitely not an international mercenary force.
Today, 29 percent of the nation’s young adults are qualified to serve. 9.7 million out of the 33.4 million Americans between 17 and 24 meet the Army’s minimum standards. Considering that the woke military has managed to offend a good number of potential recruits those numbers are even worse.
I mean no offense to those serving today but I would have great difficulty serving under any President that came after Reagan, except perhaps President Trump.
gravenimage says
I’m offended too, tgusa, as I mentioned.
tgusa says
As you should be, gravenimage.
tgusa says
Democrats mocked President Reagan’s SDI proposal using terms like Reagan’s Star Wars defense initiative. They laughed and called it impossible, a Hollywood dream, not realistic. Back then, I thought it was a tremendous idea. Fast forward to today and we hear democrats warning of Russian nukes being launched in retaliation. Reagan was ahead of the game then, he was way ahead of their game today. I cant believe we are hearing him being resurrected because before President Trump the democrats treated President Reagan in the same way.
somehistory says
I can recall the old ones…when they said how Men from America were strong, moral, people of integrity and a willingness to go where they were needed to help those less fortunate, and to conquer evil.
This just looks evil. Can’t imagine our grandfathers, fathers, uncles and older brothers wanting to join after watching it.
PRCS says
“Men from America were strong, moral, people of integrity and a willingness to go where they were needed to help those less fortunate, and to conquer evil.”
Psychological warfare is not new. The first line in that video was attributed to Sun Tzu
My Physical Therapist, a perfectly normal woman, spent eight years in Army PsyOps.
Here’s a more informative video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFQWaZTfh9s
James Lincoln says
After watching the video, I’m not sure what type of person the Army wants to attract with this kind of recruitment video…
PRCS says
What part of the work are you referring to, James?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFQWaZTfh9s
James Lincoln says
PRCS,
I guess it’s the general theme of the entire video, very different from Army recruiting videos from years back:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlzdZqSVbJ4&t=30s
The current video’s emphasis is on psyops vs traditional combat skills. The Army certainly needs experts in psyops, but it may not be a great idea to broadcast this initiative to the rest of the world.
PRCS says
Yes, very different from those of the past shipmate. But the rest of the world already knows.
Jack Flag says
BRAIN HACKING
Looks as though this is COGNITIVE WARFARE dealing with the battle for the brain. It’s the weaponisation of brain sciences and involves hacking the individual by exploiting the vulnerabilities of the human brain in order to implement more sophisticated social engineering.
How does it work? Well, you’re already thinking about it, is that correct? Yes, I thought so!
And just when you thought controlling or changing your thoughts was Orwellian, now it’s controlling and CHANGING how you act and not just how you think!
More here:
https://thegrayzone.com/2021/10/08/nato-cognitive-warfare-brain/
somehistory says
that’s interesting, and if linked up with the nano-particles involved in the covid jabs , once upon a time envisioned by doctors wanting to target cancer cells and tumors, ..with scientists saying they can be used to cause people to think certain things and act in certain ways, it all makes sense. In an awful way.
PRCS says
Your post begins with:
Western governments in the NATO military alliance are developing tactics of “cognitive warfare,” using the supposed threats of China and Russia to justify waging a “battle for your brain” in the “human domain,” to “make everyone a weapon.”
Whatever your opposition to Psychological Warfare is, China and Russia are not supposed threats.