[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 20 (Thursday, February 16, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TOKYO ROSE--2006 STYLE
(Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, during the great World War II, the Japanese
were searching for a way to demoralize the American forces that they
faced. The Japanese psychological propaganda warfare experts came up
with a message that they thought would work very well for them. They
gave the script to their famous broadcaster, Tokyo Rose. Every day she
would broadcast this same message packaged in various ways hoping to
have an impact on American GI morale.
What was the message? It had three points: One, your President is
lying to you. Two, the war is illegal. Three, you cannot win this war.
Madam Speaker, does that sound familiar? Maybe that is because some
in the media and some individuals have picked up the same message and
are broadcasting it to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and to our
enemies. The only difference is these people claim to support our
troops before they demoralize them.
Come to think of it, Tokyo Rose used to tell our troops she was on
their side, too. But the Tokyo Rose propaganda machine was
unsuccessful, just as the propaganda cynics of today will be
unsuccessful in this war on terror. And that's just the way it is.
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