Research Catalog

Title

U.S. military information operations in Afghanistan : effectiveness of psychological operations 2001-2010 / Arturo Munoz.

Author

Munoz, Arturo, 1949-

Publication

Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 2012.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• National Defense Research Institute (U.S.)
• Rand Corporation.
• United States. Marine Corps Intelligence Activity.

Description

xxvi, 175 p. : col. ill., col. maps; 23 cm.

Summary

The U.S. Marine Corps, which has long recognized the importance of influencing the civilian population in a counterinsurgency environment, requested an evaluation of the effectiveness of the psychological operations (PSYOP) element of U.S. military information operations in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2010 based on how well messages and themes were tailored to target audiences. This monograph responds to that request. It summarizes the diverse PSYOP initiatives undertaken, evaluates their effectiveness, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and describes the way forward, including making certain specific recommendations for improvements. Special attention is paid to how well PSYOP initiatives were tailored to target audiences, primarily the Pashtuns who are the dominant population in the conflictive areas and the main support of the Taliban insurgency. It contains reports of specific operations that were successful in achieving objectives, as well as examples of operations that did not resonate with target audiences and even some that had counterproductive effects. The biggest PSYOP successes were in face-to-face communication and the emphasis on meetings with jirgas (local councils of elders), key-leader engagements, and establishing individual relationships with members of the Afghan media. In addition, the concept of every infantryman as a PSYOP officer proved very effective. The most notable shortcoming was the inability to sufficiently counter the Taliban propaganda campaign against U.S. and coalition forces on the theme of civilian casualties, both domestically and internationally.

Series Statement

Rand Corporation monograph series

Uniform Title

Rand Corporation monograph series.

Alternative Title

• US military information operations in Afghanistan
• United States military information operations in Afghanistan

Subject

• Afghan War, 2001- > Propaganda
• Afghan War, 2001- > Psychological aspects
• Psychological warfare > History > 21st century
• United States > Armed Forces > Afghanistan

Genre/Form

• Electronic books
• History.

Note

• "Prepared for the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity."
• "National Defense Research Institute."
• "MG-1060-MCIA"--P. [4] of cover.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-175).

Additional Formats (note)

• Also available online.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

• Machine generated contents note: Background -- Overlap of Strategic Communication, Information Operations, and Psychological Operations -- How This Monograph Is Organized -- The War on Terror Justifies U.S. Intervention -- Propaganda Products Featuring 9/11 -- Propaganda Products Against Osama bin Laden and an Afghan Safe Haven -- Coalition Forces Bring Peace and Progress -- The Issue of Civilian Casualties -- Handshake Leaflets and Posters -- American and Afghan Families Juxtaposed -- Good Times Have Returned to Afghanistan -- Peace and Friendship -- Al-Qai'da and the Taliban Are Enemies of the Afghan People -- Multimedia Products Disseminating the Message That the Actions of al-Qai'da and Taliban Terrorists Are Un-Isiamic -- Taliban Injustices and Atrocities -- Leaflets Threatening Specific Taliban Leaders -- Anti-Taliban Leaflets on Terrorist Training Camps -- Monetary Rewards Are Offered for the Capture of al-Qai'da and Taliban Leaders --
• Contents note continued: Reward for Capture of Terrorist Leaders -- Osama bin Laden Matchbook -- Monetary Rewards Are Available for Weapons Turned In -- Leaflets and Posters Offering Money for Weapons -- Support of Local Afghans Is Needed to Eliminate Improvised Explosive Devices -- U.S. Forces Are Technologically Superior -- The Afghan Government and Afghan National Security Forces Bring Progress and Security -- Democracy Benefits Afghanistan, and All Afghans Should Vote -- Additional Themes -- Radio -- Leaflets and Posters -- Newspapers and Magazines -- Social Networking and the Internet -- Billboards -- Face-to-Face Communication -- Lack of Integration of Information Operations with Unit Operations -- Long Response Times and Coordination-Process Delays -- Ineffective Interface Between Information Operations and Psychological Operations -- Isolation of Information Operations Officers -- Lack of Coordination Between Information Operations and Public Affairs --
• Contents note continued: Failure to Exploit the Informal, Oral Afghan Communication Tradition -- Lack of Measures of Effectiveness -- Revision of Information Operations Doctrine -- New Multimedia Strategy -- Hold a Lessons-Learned Conference of Information Operations and Psychological Operations Personnel -- Use Local Focus Groups to Pretest Messages -- Conduct Public-Opinion Surveys for Target-Audience Analysis and Posttesting -- Utilize Key Communicators to Help Develop and Disseminate Messages -- Harmonize Information-Operations Doctrine and Practice, and Implement Greater Integration with Psychological Operations and Public Affairs -- A.Plan for Campaign Against Improvised Explosive Devices -- B.Campaign Plan to Support the 2004 Afghan Presidential Elections.

ISBN

• 9780833051516 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 0833051512 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2011049898

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library