Propaganda Review Spring 1989 Number 4 1 Editorial: 3 Letters by Sheila O’Donnell 4 Propaganda Watch Propaganda Review flourishes with our fourth issue in spite of rumors Smith & Wesson’s kinder, gentler weapon; US shoots down two to the contrary. Propaganda and Postmodernism will be the theme of Libyan MiG’s; United Airlines shows women how to be both on the our conference slated for August in San Francisco. mommy track and the executive track; USIA defines propaganda; Urban guerrillas create news Features 6 The Media and Government Deception 26 A Nazi in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush by David Pearson by Chip Berlet Deception takes its toll upon the individuals and organizations that Bush utilizes the Big Lie technique to sidestep charges in the Bellant practice it. Report that the campaign’s Coalition of American Nationalities was infiltrated by Nazi collaborators, racists, and fascists. 12 Renegades, Terrorists and Revolutionaries by Ward Churchill 31 The Wages of Cynicism Propaganda was integral to the government’s strategy of repression by Michael Miley against the American Indian Movement. Inspired by a reading of Peter Sioterdijk’s book Critique of Cynical Reason, Michael Miley puts a magnifying glass to the dominant mood 17 Hitler’s last laugh of our culture and suggests that it is an essential aspect of today’s by Martin A. Lee propaganda. An in-depth analysis of a recent book, Blowback, which documents the “ghoulish tryst” between the CIA and ex-Nazis which was largely responsible for the rabid nature of the Cold War. 34 Against From Within - Godard, Mieville and TV by David Levi Strauss 22 Economic Data - Moral Equivalent of Fast Food When Jean-Luc Godard abandoned film for TV, he turned the medium by Loretta Graziano against itself and discovered new possiblities for real communication. Inflation and unemployment rates have become powerful propaganda tools; as long as the figures are low the electorate looks no further. Departments 40 Dialogue: The Perils of Polling 46 Ad Watch by David Kubrin by Marina Hirsch Is polling a valid way to assess public opinion? Kubrin thinks not. Juggling Act - Two women in the public eye: Muriel Hemingway and Rosanne Barr provide contrasting role models. 43 Dialogue: Taken In - Two Divergent Perspectives by Stephen Ducat and Hannah Silver 48 Resources The Case for Psychoanalytically-Informed Politics: Stephen Ducat We are not alone - you’ll want to know about: Peace By Peace; National responds to Hannah Silver’s review of his book and she replies. Abortion Rights Action League; Political Research Associates. 45 Dazibao 49 No Comment by Simon Loekle “What’s wrong with this picture?” Graphic examples of propaganda Holy Cow, it’s Dazibao! Chinese “large-character posters” are alive and from the advertising world which really don’t require any comment. well in the “Yuooer West Side.” Editorial Who & Why We Are By Sheila O’Donnell created by the release of the Bellant Report Propaganda Review Conference Update “Rumors of my death are greatly revealing the involvement of ethnic fascist exaggerated” and Nazi collaborators in the presidential Everybody complains about propaganda Mark Twain campaign. Loretta Graziano discusses the but nobody does anything about it; we contradictions between what we are told have created this magazine to study, PROPAGANDA REVIEW is alive and about US economic health and the facts analyze, expose and do something well despite any rumors to the contrary showing how inflation and unemployment about propaganda. This summer we are which you may have heard. We are happy rates are used as foils by the economists sponsoring a conference to further that to report that we are quite healthy with and statisticians. Michael Miley uses Peter purpose. We will be gathering at Fort a growing subscriber base and an ever Sloterdijk’s Critique of Cynical Reason Mason by the San Francisco Golden Gate increasing author roster. With issue #4, we as the basis for his essay on cynicism Bridge to spend two and one-half days in have created the post of issue editor in an and its importance in our culture and its a conference entitled “Propaganda and effort to actually be quarterly instead of propaganda. David Levi Strauss reviews Postmodern ism” meeting our readers, sporadical; this sporadical condition no the Son image series created by Jean-Luc writers, artists, activists and experts as doubt contributed to the suspicions that we Godard with his colleague Anne-Marie we come to know each other over lively had gone wherever defunct magazines go. Mieville; the series questions social and discussion, debate and cultural activities. We will continue as an editorial board but perceptual assumptions about the medium. We expect that from this meeting ideas one member will accept the role of editor Marina Hirsch presents us with two will be born, alliances will be made, and for each consecutive issue. American female role models as they are the community will be strengthened and We have added two new features fed to us through the media. broadened. to our publication. In the spirit of We are delighted to present the The conference will open with encouraging debate among our readers, illustrations of Dan Hubig, an artist who a presentation on propaganda and we have started DIALOGUE with David has provided us with graphics since our postmodernism. The following two days Kubrin’s comments on Nina Eliasoph’s inception as well as the work of several we will have a multi-media program of article on polling (PR#2) and Stephen artists who are new to PROPAGANDA papers, panels, and workshops on such Ducat responds to Hannah Silver’s review REVIEW. We are grateful to San Francisco topics as Propaganda and Advertising, of his book (PR#3). We look forward to artist Lisa Ryan for her pen and ink sketch Film, Television and the Media, Theory many lively DIALOGUES in the future. which illustrates our new DIALOGUE and Definitions of Propaganda, Propaganda NO COMMENTbegins with a collection section. Tom Yeates, a progressive comic History, Government Deception, of graphic visuals from the advertising book illustrator, is the artist responsible Propaganda in Foreign Policy, and more. world. for the work which accompanies Ward We expect to have stimulating intellectual In this issue David Pearson presents Churchill’s article. Salim Yaqub graciously discussion and fun with new friends and his analysis of the Machiavellian use agreed to allow us to use one of his Iran- old; there will be time to walk in the of the press corps by the government Contra Scandal Trading Cards which sun on the Marina green and visit San while Ward Churchill demonstrates our appears in Chip Berlet’s article. DAZIBAO, Francisco’s hot spots. Come to beautiful government’s use of propaganda as the created by Simon Loekle takes an irreverant Northern California in August, meet new precursor to repression. Martin Lee’s essay look at the Salman Rushdie affair. exciting people and do something about uses information culled from Christopher We thank all our authors and artists for propaganda. Simpson’s book Blowback to refute the making this magazine a success. Reagan Justice Department’s assertion - Claude Steiner that Klaus Barbie was the only Nazi war - Sheila 0’ Donnell criminal recruited by US intelligence [Correction. PR#3: on page 33 the agencies. Chip Berlet documents the cartoon which accompanied Claude response of the Bush Presidential Campaign Steiner’s article should hGl’e been titled and the Republican Party to the :ontroversy “FARLEY” by Phil Frank.] P R O P A G A N D A R E V I E W Summer 88 1 Edlter Sheila O'Donnell Associate Editors Johan Carlisle Loretta Graziano Hanna Silver Claude Steiner Frederic Stout Copy Editors Bob Boye Hannah Silver Desktop Publisher Johan Carlisle Design and Layout Johan Carlisle Sheila O'Donnell Illustrations Dan Hubig Lisa Ryan Salim Yaqub Tom Yeates PROPAGANDA REVIEW is a publishing and PROPAGANDA REVIEW is a publishing and organizing project of Media Alliance, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization of 2500 writers, journalists, and other media professionals. For more information about PROPAGANDA REVIEW or Media Alliance, contact Media Alliance at 415/441-2557. Submissions ot letters, manuscripts, drawings, and photographs are invited. All submissions will be acknowledged; they can be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. US subscriptions to PROPAGANDA REVIEW are$20for four issues or $100 for a sustaining subscription. Foreign subscriptions-$28 Please help us continue this important work. Oonations are tax-deductible. Mail to: PROPAGANDA REVIEW Media Alliance Fort Mason Center, Building D San Francisco, CA 94123 Special Thanks PROPAGANDA REVIEW wishes to thank the following individuals and organizations for their generous financial support: Jackson Browne, John Maher, Cheyney Ryan, W.H. and Carol Bernstein Ferry, the Tides Foundation, the Pohaku Fund, the Limantour Fund, and the National Community Funds (a project of The Funding Exchange). We also thank all those who have become sustaining subscribers. Special thanks to Matt Fenner and Kerstin Gotz. Copyright © 1989 by Media Alliance. All rights reserved under the International Copyright Convention. Unauthorized republication is prohibited. Reprint requests must be approved both by PROPAGANDA REVIEW and by the individual author. Views expressed in PROPAGANDA REVIEW are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those ot the board of directors. staff or members of Media Allianae. 2 P R O P A G A N D A R E V I E W Summer 88 Letters Letters-Pro and Con Your proposed conference to consider propaganda in the Iight of postmodernism meets an urgent need that has developed lately, at least in my life; a perspective powerful enough to address the more amorphous and ambient types of propaganda in an otherwise “hallucinatory” electronic media.