WASHINGTON, Feb 21: The Pentagon issued a statement on Wednesday night on a new office created in an attempt to influence public opinion abroad and said “under no circumstances will the office or its contractors knowingly or deliberately disseminate false information to the American or foreign media or publics”.

The statement came amidst scathing criticism here and abroad about the new office, called in what one writer described as an Orwellian twist as the Office of Strategic Influence, news of which was first broken early this week.

There has already been concern about lack of proper disclosure of the extent of civilian deaths in Afghanistan as a result of US bombings and other military actions.

It was stated that the office might go to the extent of planting disinformation as part of its job of shaping public opinion abroad and countering anti-American sentiment, particularly in Muslim countries.

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also tried to discount speculation about disinformation, telling reporters in Salt Lake City on Wednesday: “The department of defence, this secretary and the people that work with me tell the American people and the people of the world the truth.”