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Propaganda Masquerades as Technology

From Granma · (1d ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The U.S. military's claim of using a technology called 'Ghost Murmur' to locate a downed pilot in Iran is presented as a piece of propaganda, not a factual technological achievement.
  • The article argues that such 'technological supercheries' are used to fabricate fear, project omnipotence, and reinforce the image of American military power.
  • This narrative strategy, employing complex jargon and futuristic concepts, aims to legitimize massive defense budgets and maintain technological supremacy.

The recent narrative disseminated by Washington regarding the alleged use of a technology named 'Ghost Murmur' to locate a downed pilot in Iran warrants critical examination. Presented as a feat of advanced military capability, the story, which claims the device could detect a heartbeat's electromagnetic signal from miles away, appears more aligned with science fiction than scientific reality. This narrative serves a specific political purpose: to bolster the image of American power and technological prowess on the global stage.

Ghost Murmur should not be read solely as an extravagant hoax or another presidential exaggeration, but as a functional piece within a propaganda machinery that needs to permanently inflate the image of American military power.

— Article AuthorThe author frames the 'Ghost Murmur' technology as a propaganda tool.

Such 'technological supercheries' are not new; they are a recurring feature of imperial propaganda. By invoking terms like 'quantum magnetometry' and 'electromagnetic isolation of the human heartbeat,' the U.S. aims to create an aura of omnipotence. This strategy manufactures fear, projects an image of inescapable reach, and suggests Washington possesses almost supernatural resources. The complexity of the jargon serves as a shield, masking the lack of scientific basis and leveraging the public's deference to science and technology.

The technological supercheria fulfills a precise political task here: to fabricate fear, project omnipotence, and reinforce the idea that Washington has almost supernatural resources to see, hear, and reach anyone anywhere in the world.

— Article AuthorExplains the political function of such technological claims.

This narrative is designed to achieve more than just admiration; it seeks obedience. It aims to normalize exorbitant defense spending, justify ongoing arms races, and perpetuate the myth of American technological supremacy. By blending real technological concepts with fantastical operational capabilities, these stories become plausible narratives for a non-specialist audience, effectively serving the political agenda of inflating military power and maintaining global dominance.

Complexity then operates as an alibi. The lie is no longer presented as a naked assertion, but as a formulation armored by the social prestige of science and technology.

— Article AuthorDescribes how technical jargon is used to legitimize falsehoods.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Granma in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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