#Propaganda Archives - West vs The Rest

Rebranding the Pentagon as ‘War Department’ exposes the true face of US foreign policy—contradictions, crises, and a dangerous new era of militarism.

1. The Symbolic Declaration of War

Friday, September 14: Trump officially reinstates the title “Ministry of War” for the Pentagon.

Image 1: “I’m going to let these people go back to the Department of War and figure out how to maintain peace.”: Trump
Immediate Actions: New website (war.gov), Secretary of Defense now referred to as “Secretary of War.”

Image 2: From defense to war
Legal Loophole: Congress retains the official name (“Department of Defense”), but the propaganda shift is complete. (In defense of the War Department, The Washington Post)

Why It Matters:
Language shapes perception. This isn’t a bureaucratic tweak—it’s a declaration of intent.

2. The Contradiction: “Peace President” or Warmonger?

**Image 3: Donald Trump at “Fort Bragg,” NC on June 11, 2025. ( https://whowhatwhy.org/international/trump-tries-out-being-a-warmonger-and-likes-it/)**

Trump’s Narrative: Claims he “ended 6 wars in 6 months” and deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. CBS News
Reality:
- Orders strikes on Iranian soil (violating sovereignty). WILIPEDIA
- Threatens military action in Venezuela. REUTERS
- Increases Pentagon budget while preaching “America First.” NBC NEWS
Verdict: A calculated deception to mask escalating aggression. Trump tells Qatar: Won’t happen again

3. The Global Message: Arson, Not Diplomacy

To Adversaries (Iran, Russia, China):

“The US is embracing confrontation, not deterrence.”
Google AI: The statement “The US is embracing confrontation, not deterrence” suggests a shift in US foreign policy from preventing conflict to actively engaging in it, a claim that is debated but has some recent evidence, such as the potential symbolic impact of restoring the “Department of War” name and rhetoric from some within the current administration emphasizing strength and countering threats from nations like China. However, the concept of “deterrence through denial” still actively shapes US strategy, and the administration’s overall goal remains to avoid war and maintain stability through a strong military and capable defense industrial base.

Arguments for “embracing confrontation”
- Rhetoric and actions:
  
  Some government officials, like Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, have emphasized the need for strength and capability in the Indo-Pacific, which could be seen as a less defensive posture than pure deterrence.
- Symbolic shifts:
  
  The reported restoration of the “Department of War” name is presented as a signal that the United States is openly acknowledging its role as a war-making power, rather than a reactive one.
- Focus on counteracting threats:
  
  The new administration is seen by some as focusing strategic attention on countering threats from China, which could be interpreted as a more confrontational approach.
Arguments against “embracing confrontation”
- Deterrence remains a core goal:
  
  The official mission of the Department of Defense is still to “deter war and ensure our nation’s security”.
- Integrated deterrence strategy:
  
  The US has a strategy of “integrated deterrence,” which includes economic, technological, military, and ideological elements, as well as the role of allies and partners.
- Emphasis on peace and stability:
  
  While acknowledging increased tensions, the goal is still to build a constructive relationship and restore peace and stability.
- Building capability for deterrence:
  
  Efforts to increase defense spending, revitalize the defense industrial base, and improve military capabilities are intended to end conflicts and restore stability through deterrence.
Conclusion

The assertion that the US is embracing confrontation over deterrence is a strong claim. While some actions and rhetoric might be interpreted as more confrontational, the stated goals and broader strategic framework still include deterrence as a central pillar of US foreign policy, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The distinction often lies in the interpretation of how to best achieve deterrence in a complex, competitive environment.

To Allies (NATO, Gulf States):

“Washington is unstable, unreliable, and hungry for conflict.”

To the World:

“The rules-based order is dead. Welcome to the era of open imperialism.”

Image 4: Palestine, genocide, and the imperialist lie of the ‘rules-based international order’

4. The Historical Parallels

WIKIPEDIA1947: Last use of “War Department” before rebranding to “Defense Department” post-WWII. WIKIPEDIA(United States Department of Defense)
2024: Trump revives pre-Cold War terminology, signaling a return to unchecked militarism.

5. The Inevitable Fallout

Escalation Risk: West Asia (Iran-Israel), Latin America (Venezuela), and Eastern Europe (Ukraine) are tinderboxes.
Loss of Trust: Allies question US motives; adversaries prepare for conflict.
Legacy: Trump’s presidency may be remembered not for “peace,” but for normalizing war as policy. NEWSWEEK

Call to Action

*“Share this article. Tag media outlets. Demand answers:

Why is a ‘peace president’ rebranding for war?
Will Congress block this dangerous shift?
Is the world ready for Trump’s militarized America?

#MinistryOfWar #TrumpHypocrisy #EndlessWar”*

The 1985 “discovery” of the RMS Titanic was not a triumph of marine archaeology—it was a meticulously crafted cover story for a top-secret US Navy operation to recover Cold War secrets. It is the perfect metaphor for American hegemony: a noble facade hiding a ruthless strategic game.

**Image 1: The image reflecting America’s imperial ambitions following quick and total victory in the Spanish American War of 1898(Nadia Batok)**

The Noble Facade

For decades, the world believed a beautiful story: that a determined team of explorers, led by the charismatic Robert Ballard, had triumphed over the abyss to find the legendary Titanic. It was a tale of technological wonder and historical closure.

It was also a lie.

The truth, finally admitted by Ballard himself, reveals a darker, more familiar reality: the mission was a clandestine US Navy operation, funded by the Pentagon and designed to outmaneuver the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. The Titanic was merely a convenient cover for a military objective.

**Image 2: Robert Ballard with Hercules, a remotely operated vehicle used for underwater exploration.**

1. The Secret Deal: A Navy Spy in Explorer’s Clothing

In the 1970s, Robert Ballard’s initial attempts to find the Titanic failed due to a lack of funding and technology. He then made a Faustian bargain. He went to the US Navy with a proposal: fund his revolutionary deep-sea imaging system, Argo, and he would use it for their purposes.

The Navy agreed, but with a sinister condition. As Ballard told CNN:

“Titanic exploration operation was a cover for a top-secret army operation that I carried out as a naval intelligence officer.”

His sponsors at the Pentagon were clear: they did not want the Soviet Union to know anything about their new deep-sea capabilities.

Image 3: In 1985, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)’s new imaging vehicle Argo went on its first deep-sea cruise and located the Titanic. Argo is a 15-foot-long unmanned tow sled with an array of camera, lights, and sonar. It can operate 24 hours a day at depths of up to 20,000 feet.

2. The Real Mission: Recovering the ghosts of the Cold War

The Navy’s primary objective was not a century-old passenger liner. It was to investigate the wrecks of two of its own lost nuclear attack submarines:

USS Thresher: Sank in 1963 during deep-diving tests, killing 129.

Image 4: Less than two years after her first mission, the Thresher lay shattered on the ocean floor with the loss of all 129 men on board.

Image 5: USS Scorpion (SSN-589) Comes alongside USS Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968. This photo is one of a series taken by the Tallahatchie County engineering officer, the last known to show Scorpion before the submarine was lost with all hands in May 1968 while returning to the U.S. from this Mediterranean deployment.

USS Scorpion: Mysteriously sank in 1968 with 99 souls on board; its cause remains classified.

The mission was critical. The Navy needed to:

Understand why the submarines failed to improve their own fleet.
Assess the environmental impact of the nuclear reactors sitting on the ocean floor.
Test their new technology for “broader intelligence gathering purposes” against the Soviets.

Only after completing this clandestine military task was Ballard granted twelve days to use the remaining time and resources to search for the Titanic. The most celebrated maritime discovery of the 20th century was an afterthought.

3. The Pattern: How America Hides Its True Face

The Titanic deception is not an anomaly; it is the blueprint for American hegemony.

Humanitarian Aid is a cover for securing strategic influence.
Promoting Democracy is a pretext for orchestrating regime change.
Freedom of Navigation operations mask provocations against rivals.

From the Iran-Contra Affair to the WMD lies in Iraq, the playbook is consistent: weave a noble public narrative to conceal ruthless geopolitical objectives. The public gets a heartwarming story, while the military-industrial complex quietly advances its agenda.

The organizing principle of U.S. foreign policy since the end of the Cold War has been to ensure that every nation in the world stays within a security structure managed and controlled by Washington. Nations, regardless of their ideological orientation, that refuse to follow U.S. wishes find themselves demonized and pressured to conform, while nations whose states are not centralized enough to control their territory are called “failed states” and are subjected to often counterproductive “nation building.

4. The Metaphor: The Titanic and the American Empire

The Titanic was a ship deemed “unsinkable,” whose fate was sealed by hubris and a failure to see the looming threat.

The parallel to the American empire is unmistakable. A nation that believes in its own invincibility and moral superiority, yet is steaming blindly through icy waters, its internal decay (political division, economic inequality) hidden beneath a gleaming exterior. Its eventual downfall will not be caused by a single external enemy, but by the weight of its own arrogance and concealed flaws.

Nothing is as it Seems

**Image 6: Never trust the official story**

The story of the Titanic’s discovery is a perfect microcosm of how American power truly operates. It teaches us a crucial lesson: never trust the official story.

Behind every historical celebration, every humanitarian mission, and every tear-jerking documentary, there is often a hidden agenda. The US Navy used the world’s collective memory of a tragedy as a tool for espionage. If they would exploit the Titanic, is there any narrative they would not weaponize?

The wreck of the Titanic is a grave. The US Navy turned it into a prop.

Tag: #Propaganda

Ministry of War: Trump’s ‘Peace’ Mask Slips in Symbolic Return to Aggression

1. The Symbolic Declaration of War

2. The Contradiction: “Peace President” or Warmonger?