Information Warfare: August 1, 2003

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The U.S. Army is taking no chances with poor media coverage of the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq. Officers and NCOs are assigned to supervise funeral arrangements for each dead soldier and to make sure the bereaved family has no problems (with the Army or anything else.) This is something that began during the Vietnam war, but has become increasingly more comprehensive over the last two decades. It's gone so far that a general officer is assigned to show up at each funeral, as an added measure of respect. The Army can do this because the number of dead is so low. In past wars, at least until the the last few years of the Vietnam War, the bad news was delivered by telegram and an honor guard was provided, if the family wanted it, for the funeral. 

 

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