Israel to hire warriors in "internet warfare"

[Nordic]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 16,00.html

Gotta love it. Seems to me they should pay people a little more than that. $150,000 doesn't buy you too many whores these days.

he Foreign Ministry unveiled a new plan this week: Paying talkbackers to post pro-Israel responses on websites worldwide. A total of NIS 600,000 (roughly $150,000) will be earmarked to the establishment of an “Internet warfare” squad.

The Foreign Ministry intends to hire young people who speak at least one language and who study communication, political science, or law – or alternately, Israelis with military experience gained at units dealing with information analysis.

Beyond the fact that these job requirements reveal a basic lack of understanding in respect to the dynamics of the online discourse – the project’s manager argued that “adults don’t know how to blog” – they are not too relevant either. An effective talkbacker does not need a law degree or military experience. He merely needs to care about the subject he writes about.

The sad truth is that had Israeli citizens believed that their State is doing the right thing, they would have made sure to explain it out of their own accord. Without being paid.

Foreign Ministry officials are fighting what they see as a terrible and scary monster: the Palestinian public relations monster. Yet nothing can be done to defeat it, regardless of how many foolish inventions will be introduced and how many bright communication students will be hired.

The reason is that good PR cannot make the reality in the occupied territories prettier. Children are being killed, homes are being bombed, and families are starved. Yet nonetheless, the Foreign Ministry wants to try to change the situation. And they have willing partners. “Where do I submit a CV?” wrote one respondent. “I’m fluent in several languages and I’m able to spew forth bullshit for hours on end.”

[justdrew]

odd that the writer of the piece doesn't seem to know that it's already been done by volunteers for years.

this looks like it might be a good source of info:
http://thehasbarabuster.blogspot.com/2009/07/hasbara-booklet-just-lie.html

[barracuda]

The Foreign Ministry intends to hire young people who speak at least one language

That narrows the field. Mutes need not apply.

[sunny]

Israel backed by army of cyber-soldiers

[agitprop]

The Foreign Ministry intends to hire young people who speak at least one language

That narrows the field. Mutes need not apply.

I think fluency in ebonics would be great feather in the cap of any who applied and reflect the over all sincerity of the Foreign Ministry.

As a matter of fact, this fellow interviewing Noam Chomsky, has him completely flummoxed. He would be GREAT dealing with the "anti-Israel" crowd. Look at how deftly he handles Chomsky!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOIM1_xOSro

[nathan28]

Um, what's the pay like?

[Brentos]

"Gotta love it. Seems to me they should pay people a little more than that. $150,000 doesn't buy you too many whores these days. "
No need to, the 'left' already do enough self-censoring themselves.

[agitprop]

"Gotta love it. Seems to me they should pay people a little more than that. $150,000 doesn't buy you too many whores these days. "
No need to, the 'left' already do enough self-censoring themselves.

You can see why this happens on-line though. Criticism of Israel often encourages every Aryan knuckle dragging hick and his cousin bride to beat a path to your digital door when they're not working on their hubcap collection.

[Brentos]

"Gotta love it. Seems to me they should pay people a little more than that. $150,000 doesn't buy you too many whores these days. "
No need to, the 'left' already do enough self-censoring themselves.

You can see why this happens on-line though. Criticism of Israel often encourages every Aryan knuckle dragging hick and his cousin bride to beat a path to your digital door when they're not working on their hubcap collection.

agitprop, to anyone with a pulse, Israel is a demonstrable apartheid regime.
Now, by your rationale, back in the day, we shouldn't of criticised South Africa, in case a bunch of knuckle dragging Black Panthers/Black Supremacists joined in praise.

[Nordic]

"Gotta love it. Seems to me they should pay people a little more than that. $150,000 doesn't buy you too many whores these days. "
No need to, the 'left' already do enough self-censoring themselves.

You can see why this happens on-line though. Criticism of Israel often encourages every Aryan knuckle dragging hick and his cousin bride to beat a path to your digital door when they're not working on their hubcap collection.

Hm, well that's the argument, but frankly I don't really see much of that. Instead what I see are a bunch of people hysterically screaming "anti-semite!!" whenever anyone dares criticize the actions of Israel or the IDF.

[agitprop]

"Gotta love it. Seems to me they should pay people a little more than that. $150,000 doesn't buy you too many whores these days. "
No need to, the 'left' already do enough self-censoring themselves.

You can see why this happens on-line though. Criticism of Israel often encourages every Aryan knuckle dragging hick and his cousin bride to beat a path to your digital door when they're not working on their hubcap collection.

Hm, well that's the argument, but frankly I don't really see much of that. Instead what I see are a bunch of people hysterically screaming "anti-semite!!" whenever anyone dares criticize the actions of Israel or the IDF.

I see it ALL the time. I've seen forums have to shut down, when concern about Israeli politics and international influence become a lightening rod for every racist moron on the web. Basic human nature explains a lot of it, but you have to wonder who funds sites like Stormfront. Each and every racist imbecile, with time on his hands, is worth an entire team of earnest intelligent pro Israeli advocates, spreading the greater glory of Israel, online. The Aryan nation tribe are disruptive and always turn genuine concern, with a focus on specifics, into generalized hate fests. Who benefits? You know it was republicans who provided a lot of the funding for Nader, right?

[agitprop]

"Gotta love it. Seems to me they should pay people a little more than that. $150,000 doesn't buy you too many whores these days. "
No need to, the 'left' already do enough self-censoring themselves.

You can see why this happens on-line though. Criticism of Israel often encourages every Aryan knuckle dragging hick and his cousin bride to beat a path to your digital door when they're not working on their hubcap collection.

agitprop, to anyone with a pulse, Israel is a demonstrable apartheid regime.
Now, by your rationale, back in the day, we shouldn't of criticised South Africa, in case a bunch of knuckle dragging Black Panthers/Black Supremacists joined in praise.

This is a much more insidious problem, that is not clearly defined, where "the enemy" as such, may not exist in the form that is easily understood.

[Nordic]

I see it ALL the time.

Apparently you and I visit different sites. I pretty much only visit forums that are "left-leaning" where people would be embarassed, or immediately banned, for spouting any true anti-semitism.

You know it was republicans who provided a lot of the funding for Nader, right?

I'm not sure what your point is there, but then again I'm still drinking my coffee. It only makes sense that Repubs would have funded Nader. If Palin runs as an Indie, I would expect the Dems to fund her as well.

[sunny]

"Gotta love it. Seems to me they should pay people a little more than that. $150,000 doesn't buy you too many whores these days. "
No need to, the 'left' already do enough self-censoring themselves.

You can see why this happens on-line though. Criticism of Israel often encourages every Aryan knuckle dragging hick and his cousin bride to beat a path to your digital door when they're not working on their hubcap collection.

Hm, well that's the argument, but frankly I don't really see much of that. Instead what I see are a bunch of people hysterically screaming "anti-semite!!" whenever anyone dares criticize the actions of Israel or the IDF.

I see it ALL the time. I've seen forums have to shut down, when concern about Israeli politics and international influence become a lightening rod for every racist moron on the web. Basic human nature explains a lot of it, but you have to wonder who funds sites like Stormfront. Each and every racist imbecile, with time on his hands, is worth an entire team of earnest intelligent pro Israeli advocates, spreading the greater glory of Israel, online. The Aryan nation tribe are disruptive and always turn genuine concern, with a focus on specifics, into generalized hate fests. Who benefits? You know it was republicans who provided a lot of the funding for Nader, right?

You think pro-Israel forces who invade I/P discussions and shout everyone down with their "megaphones" are "earnest intelligent..advocates"? The links in this thread alone tend to prove the pro-Israel forces on the web are not only more organized and pervasive than the Aryan racists they are also just as committed. And in most cases, just as hateful.

[agitprop]

Nordic, Opinion shapers and the educated class ignore any kind of Aryan brotherhood ramblings. Mention "zionist" and they hit the off switch. It is to the benefit of Israeli intel that any online conversation about this subject, quickly devolves along certain lines. The threads are then not taken seriously and the forums can become vulnerable.

So you have real concern about Israel's tentacles into congress, taking this circuitous route through beer soaked conversations centered in delapidated trailer parks.

It's both a classic disinfo tactic, and human nature, so it's hard to determine it's exact nature. But it certainly helps Israel to have so much conversation about it's overreach and international crime, tainted by association with far right no-minds.