- Psychological operations will play a key role in the
war in Afghanistan and, although few details are being revealed, US defense
secretary Donald Rumsfeld has confirmed that "PsyOps" have
begun.
-
- PsyOps has two main purposes: to persuade the enemy to
surrender, and to convince local civilians that the attackers are not the
real enemy. Leaflet drops and radio propaganda broadcasts are the chief
weapons.
-
- "The objective is always to shorten the conflict
by demoralising the enemy and to keep civilians out of harm's way. Leaflets
and radio broadcasts will be used to tell them where food is, how to reach
safety and to persuade them that they are not the target of the
operation,"
Rick Hofmann, president of the US Psychological Operations Veterans
Association
told New Scientist.
-
- Six EC-130E "Commando Solo" aircraft are known
to be in the Afghanistan region. These planes operate as airborne radio
stations, blocking local transmissions and broadcasting replacement
propaganda
programmes.
-
- On Monday, a White House spokesman confirmed that the
US is broadcasting messages to the Afghan people "so they can have
full knowledge about what is happening in Afghanistan from a source other
than a repressive Taliban regime". There are also reports
that leaflets were dropped with the first wave of bombs on Sunday
night.
-
- Raining Radios
-
- The 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) based
at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is the only active US Army psychological
operations unit. Although Fort Bragg will not confirm that members of the
unit are in the Afghanistan region, it is highly likely that the group
will be coordinating PsyOps activities.
-
- Analysts suggest that leaflets and broadcasts in
Afghanistan
are likely to focus on Islam's teaching of non-violence and peace. They
may also point out inconsistencies in the enemy's actions, says Hofmann.
"The Taliban are against pictures of any kind - against video and
photographs. And yet Osama Bin Laden has appeared on television and is
now one of the most recognisable faces in the world."
-
- Only one third of people in Afghanistan are thought to
be literate, so many of the US-dropped leaflets will be printed with
cartoons
and illustrations, says Hofmann. Portable radios tuned to the US military
propaganda frequency may also be dropped.
-
- Bart Simpson
-
- PsyOps have been extremely successful in the past. During
the Gulf War, warnings about B-52 bomber attacks were issued to Iraqi
troops
on the ground. Leaflets promising humane treatment if they surrendered
were then dropped. Most of the soldiers who later surrendered were carrying
the leaflets, army officials said at the time.
-
- But a thorough understanding of the culture of the people
targeted by PsyOps is crucial, says Hofmann.
-
- "One of the keys is to have your message accurate
in a cultural context. Enemy armies often attempt PsyOps, but often without
success," he says. "In Iraq, for example, Saddam Hussein tried
to demoralise US troops by broadcasting messages that while they were away
fighting, their sweethearts were being seduced by movie stars such as Bart
Simpson."
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