Teach the Children Well

[Troubleshooter]

Judicial Watch, the conservative government-watchdog group, just filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Dept. of Defense over details of Pentagon programs involving "'strategic influence, perception management, strategic information warfare and/or strategic psychological operations' through media consultants, 'think tanks,' foreign expatriate political organizations and Internet sites." From the press release:

Judicial Watch is seeking, among other matters; information on a "peace movement" Internet site that reportedly was funded and established by the Pentagon called "Empower Peace." The site was developed by The Rendon Group, a media consultancy firm the Pentagon has paid more than $40 million dollars to since 2001, and targets participation of American school age children, teachers and schools in what appears to be a "grassroots" peace movement. The Rendon Group's relationship with the Pentagon has been reported in the New York Times and public relations trade magazines. "Empower Peace" offers "cultural awareness," interactive web broadcasts between New York and Jordan, as well as Boston and Bahrain, and interaction with school age children of Islamic countries. There is no indication on the site that it is a project of the U.S. Defense Department.

Full complaint [PDF file] is here.