The Mahablog: We Are All Conspiracy Theorists Now

Let's all give a robust "WTF?" to this WaPo article from Saturday:

The Pentagon awarded three contracts this week, potentially worth up to $300 million over five years, to companies it hopes will inject more creativity into its psychological operations efforts to improve foreign public opinion about the United States, particularly the military.

All together now: "WTF?"

The writer, Renea Merle, continues:

"We would like to be able to use cutting-edge types of media," said Col. James A. Treadwell, director of the Joint Psychological Operations Support Element, a part of Tampa-based U.S. Special Operations Command. "If you want to influence someone, you have to touch their emotions."

He said SYColeman Inc. of Arlington, Lincoln Group of the District, and Science Applications International Corp. will help develop ideas and prototypes for radio and television spots, documentaries, or even text messages, pop-up ads on the Internet, podcasting, billboards or novelty items.

Much more alert than I, Xan of Corrente has already coaxed considerable background info out of Google Cache, which "can be talked into just about anything, the slut."