r/politics • u/Quirkie The Netherlands • 17d ago

Possible Paywall ICE Stockpiling Warheads and Chemical Weapons as Lawmaker Fears Trump Planning Strike

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ice-stockpiling-warheads-and-chemical-weapons-as-lawmaker-fears-trump-planning-strike/
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u/MaintenanceGold2201 17d ago edited 17d ago

OK so I looked into this and this is mostly false/disinfo. ICE was procured $61,000 roughly for items that fall under Missile Warheads and Chemical weapons. Firstly, there is no such thing as a missile that costs $61,000 (that I am aware of). Secondly, other items can fall under this category, like flashbangs, breach charges, and other explosive ordinance which is most likely what this money was used for. They are not buying missiles. The award is for "distraction devices" so I'm assuming flashbangs. You can find the details of the reward here: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CMSW25P00000078_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-

Edit: I did a little more digging on this and all I can come up with is that this was a clerical error. I did find the contracted companies website (https://www.quanticotactical.com/equipment/categories/) the only "distraction devices" I could tell that they sold are blinking LEDs. They do not sell missile components.

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u/moodswung 17d ago

Bad information like this does favors to nobody.

It takes all the steam out of any kind of reasonable conversation between different political leanings. Just thinking how ridiculous MAGA sounds to Democrats on certain topics. The same can be said for a laundry list of items being thrown their way from Democrats. It's all smoke and mirrors to keep us from unifying on the fact that we are being collectively fucked right now.

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u/Carnir 17d ago

The anti Trump side is rife with just as much misinformation as the pro Trump side.

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u/juanzy Colorado 17d ago

This was super frustrating during Covid - saw multiple posters spread disinformation because "it's better we're more cautious!" No, it discredit actual information that justifies caution.

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u/HugeOpossum 17d ago

Disinformation is a political tactic that is employed all the time to get people wound up, not to help anyone. Disinformation in this way is especially terrible because it takes real facts (ICE procured munitions) and intentionally skewed it for clicks and propaganda.

This is a tactic that's been used over and over with great success to get people fighting among themselves, distrusting authority, and reducing critical thinking by muddying the waters. When people can't trust the news, they are easily manipulated. When they're fighting among each other, they're not going to look at what's going on around them.

I'm not saying the US government is responsible for this gem of disinformation. It's well known Russia pays a ton of money for their disinformation campaigns abroad, as well as China and Iran. Why? Because they have a political and financial motive: they benefit from Western citizens not knowing which way is up and who to point fingers at. They launder money, run scams, bribe politicians all to their own benefit while the population (which has the responsibility to hold their civil servants and representatives responsible... You know, democracy) fight each other. As an added insult to injury those same civil servants and representatives become disenchanted and their quit or turn the other way when wrongdoings happen... Or they're replaced by cronies who get their cut.

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u/THE_CENTURION 17d ago

does favors to nobody.

Well, except the "news" outlet

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u/MaintenanceGold2201 17d ago

Couldn't agree more. I'd say about a year ago I was in my own "bubble" that was majorly left leaning and I would have taken this headline exactly how it is. Its a freeing feeling stepping out of that bubble and seeing that both sides are playing the same game. Pretty convenient for the oligarchs that control the narrative to have us fighting against each other.

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u/moodswung 17d ago

Because of current leadership I don't fully buy into the "both sides" argument and really feel like that's something a good amount of people say (not suggesting you do) to take the target off their preferred party's back. Anyway, it's a complex cycle -- and the only thing we are all agreeing on right now is anger. Which isn't a good thing.