Media Remains Silent As Obama Signs Anti-Propaganda Bill That Harms Press Freedom

. Within the PDF that reveals an authorization of more than $600 billion in military spending for 2017, there lies a provision that allows for a national Anti-Propaganda Center that could hinder the freedom of press. Of the event, Obama said: Today, I have signed into law S. 2943, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.” This Act authorizes fiscal year 2017 appropriations principally for the Department of Defense and for Department of Energy national security programs, provides vital benefits for military personnel and their families, and includes authorities to facilitate ongoing operations around the globe. It continues many critical authorizations necessary to ensure that we are able to sustain our momentum in countering the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and to reassure our European allies, as well as many new authorizations that, among other things, provide the Departments of Defense and Energy more flexibility in countering cyber-attacks and our adversaries’ use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 puts in legal practice a U.S. Ministry of Truth. Besides reporting on the passage of the bill, the corporate mainstream media has been quiet on its details. One can only speculate that, such ins and outs don’t fit their agenda to keep America out of the loop regarding the Information War their own government has put in place. Zero Hedge reported: U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) today announced that their Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act – legislation designed to help American allies counter foreign government propaganda from Russia, China, and other nations – has been signed into law as part of the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report.

The bipartisan bill, which was introduced by Senators Portman and Murphy in March, will improve the ability of the United States to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation from our enemies by establishing an interagency center housed at the State Department to coordinate and synchronize counter-propaganda efforts throughout the U.S. government. To support these efforts, the bill also creates a grant program for NGOs, think tanks, civil society and other experts outside government who are engaged in counter-propaganda related work. This will better leverage existing expertise and empower our allies overseas to defend themselves from foreign manipulation. It will also help foster a free and vibrant press and civil society overseas, which is critical to ensuring our allies have access to truthful information and inoculating people against foreign propaganda campaigns.

The Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 is another example of government control and immorality, and it proves the necessity to move away from mainstream media for factual information. And yet, the act merely marks strength for the fight against press freedom and accurate, unbiased information. Zero Hedge also reported: Introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Ted Lieu, H.R. 5181 seeks a “whole-government approach without the bureaucratic restrictions” to counter “foreign disinformation and manipulation,” which they believe threaten the world’s “security and stability.” Also called the Countering Information Warfare Act of 2016 (S. 2692), when introduced in March by Sen. Rob Portman, the legislation represents a dramatic return to Cold War-era government propaganda battles. . . . Long before the “fake news” meme became a daily topic of extensive conversation on such discredited mainstream portals as CNN and WaPo, H.R. 5181 would task the Secretary of State with coordinating the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors to “establish a Center for Information Analysis and Response,” which will pinpoint sources of disinformation, analyze data, and — in true dystopic manner — ‘develop and disseminate’ “fact-based narratives” to counter effrontery propaganda. Corporate media has come under fire for their work with the world’s elite to provide information that keeps Americans in the dark. Rather than face the facts, they chose to come back in spite, pointing the finger at alternative media outlets with unbiased opinions, calling them fake news reporters.

They took matters further with their Russian propaganda. But these have been mere tools to ensure the truth does not come out. And now we come to find out the U.S. government was quietly taking matters into their own hands by cracking down on any news that does not align with their needs. And so, we now have the U.S. Ministry of Truth being labeled as foreign propaganda, when the reality is something much more corrupt; something much more harmful to the greater good of the country’s people, and the world. .

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References:

• https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s2943/BILLS-114s2943enr.pdf
• https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/12/23/statement-president-signing-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal
• http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-24/obama-signs-countering-disinformation-and-propaganda-act-law
• http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F345D646-D202-4A26-88C0-E2821E02C195