Losing the PSYOP war

[Bill Meara]

One of the top UK think tanks came out with in interesting piece that mentions shortcomings in PSYOP capabilities:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...003164,00.html

This is an old, old story. I think "Contra Cross" is one of very few books that discusses what life is like for a deplyed PSYOP soldier. In it, I note that back at Ft. Bragg, in terms of prestige, the poor PSYOP troops were down there with the mythical "mess kit repair company."

I go on to discuss how, when we did finally figure out that PSYOP might be an important element in the Central American war, we did what we always do: we threw money and technology at the problem. Our enemies focused not on the media, but on the message, and were much more effective than we were. See http://www.contracross.com

[marct]

Hi Bill,

I go on to discuss how, when we did finally figure out that PSYOP might be an important element in the Central American war, we did what we always do: we threw money and technology at the problem. Our enemies focused not on the media, but on the message, and were much more effective than we were. See http://www.contracross.com

I think that right now there is a double problem: one operational and one ideological. Operationally, most of the PSYOPs and IO seems to be focusing on obsolete, broadcast media rather than on the particular media used by a given audience (e.g. the newer interactive media or the older "oral culture" media). At the ideological level, there is very little sophistication or cultural appropriateness in the message.

If McLuhan was correct in his little aphorism of the "medium is the massage" (that's the original, not the later popularized version), then the campaign is failing on all fronts. Throwing money and technology at a problem may work in some settings, but this is too complex a problem for it to be appropriate. Without a solid, salable ideology it doesn't matter which media are used.

Marc

[J Wolfsberger]

Hi Marc,

I agree, but in that regard I think we have an inherent, severe disadvantage. The "cultural imperialism" the Islamists object to isn't typified by a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Mecca. It's abortion "rights," feminism, gay rights, the exclusion of God from civil life, etc. I think that once those are tied, by Islamist propaganda, to democracy, free markets, capitalism, etc., we face a tough uphill struggle to craft an effective message. Especially when it would have to be done under the intense scrutiny and outright opposition of the left. (I find it ironic that the people most opposed to the current war seem to be those most committed to the aspects of the West that seem a strong part of what motivates Islamists.)

[marct]

Hi JW,

I agree, but in that regard I think we have an inherent, severe disadvantage. The "cultural imperialism" the Islamists object to isn't typified by a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Mecca. It's abortion "rights," feminism, gay rights, the exclusion of God from civil life, etc. I think that once those are tied, by Islamist propaganda, to democracy, free markets, capitalism, etc., we face a tough uphill struggle to craft an effective message.

I agree. In many ways, the tying of TNC global "culture", i.e. McDonald's everywhere, into the basic political philosophy that is the basis of the modern, Western democratic state has been a major mistake. The ideological message that we should be selling is TNC neutral - individual rights and responsibilities, a "social contract" within a democratic framework, individual freedoms, including freedom of religion, speech, the press, and a , broadly construed, "capitalist" system (there hasn't been a real capitalist system, a la Adam Smith, since the 1850's or so).

Do we face a tough, uphill struggle? Sure, so what? First, if it was easy, then every culture would have done it. Second, and more immediate, maybe the people who are getting paid outrageous amounts of money to do it should think about actually dong their job.

Especially when it would have to be done under the intense scrutiny and outright opposition of the left. (I find it ironic that the people most opposed to the current war seem to be those most committed to the aspects of the West that seem a strong part of what motivates Islamists.)

Absolutely bang on! And please, don't get me started on your left wing ! Honestly, when I was much younger, I used to hang around up at Parliament Hill. I had the privilege of spending a number of lunches and afternoons talking with people like Stanley Knowles and other "old time" CCF members from the old Social Justice stream. Now there were Left Wingers who took their policies and beliefs seriously!

Most of today's left wing, especially the American crowd of neo-Marxists I've run into, are, to quote my grandmother, a bunch of "Parlour Pinks"! They have the guts to complain, while sipping their drinks in posh hotels, but they won't get their butts out on the streets to actually help people who need it, let alone put their lives on the line for those beliefs! (Sorry, major soapbox!)

Marc

[120mm]

Hi JW,



I agree. In many ways, the tying of TNC global "culture", i.e. McDonald's everywhere, into the basic political philosophy that is the basis of the modern, Western democratic state has been a major mistake. The ideological message that we should be selling is TNC neutral - individual rights and responsibilities, a "social contract" within a democratic framework, individual freedoms, including freedom of religion, speech, the press, and a , broadly construed, "capitalist" system (there hasn't been a real capitalist system, a la Adam Smith, since the 1850's or so).

Do we face a tough, uphill struggle? Sure, so what? First, if it was easy, then every culture would have done it. Second, and more immediate, maybe the people who are getting paid outrageous amounts of money to do it should think about actually dong their job.



Absolutely bang on! And please, don't get me started on your left wing ! Honestly, when I was much younger, I used to hang around up at Parliament Hill. I had the privilege of spending a number of lunches and afternoons talking with people like Stanley Knowles and other "old time" CCF members from the old Social Justice stream. Now there were Left Wingers who took their policies and beliefs seriously!

Most of today's left wing, especially the American crowd of neo-Marxists I've run into, are, to quote my grandmother, a bunch of "Parlour Pinks"! They have the guts to complain, while sipping their drinks in posh hotels, but they won't get their butts out on the streets to actually help people who need it, let alone put their lives on the line for those beliefs! (Sorry, major soapbox!)

Marc

I think it might be a healthy exercise to consider that we, the West, HAVE been attacking Islam for some time now. OUR Weapon of Mass Destruction is the internet and mass media, and Joe Jihad objects more to Britney Spears than US support of Israel. If you consider how this impacts their culture, their Point of View is very understandable.

And the stark, no #### necessity for us to be prepared to fight them to the death, because "sweet-talking" them into accepting porn, "alternative lifestyles" and abortion doesn't seem to be very realistic at this point in time.

As an aside, Marc, as I said earlier, my wife and I support several worthy causes and often run into "American Leftists" who try to convince us to stop directly supporting these causes and start lobbying for someone else to pay for them through the gov't dole.

[tequila]

I think it might be a healthy exercise to consider that we, the West, HAVE been attacking Islam for some time now. OUR Weapon of Mass Destruction is the internet and mass media, and Joe Jihad objects more to Britney Spears than US support of Israel. If you consider how this impacts their culture, their Point of View is very understandable.

I'm interested in what leads you to this belief. Most of what I have read from Sageman, OBL's manifesto, etc. leads me to believe that Islamists object mainly to what they perceive as military/political domination of the Muslim world by nefarious Jewish/Western interests, leading to atrocities against defenseless Muslims, i.e. Israeli occupation in Palestine, Russia invasion of Chechnya, Serb attacks on Bosnia and Kosovo, Western sanctions vs Iraq, now U.S. occupation of Iraq, etc.

[Stan]

Hi Marc,

broadcast media rather than on the particular media used by a given audience (e.g. the newer interactive media or the older "oral culture" media). At the ideological level, there is very little sophistication or cultural appropriateness in the message.

We encountered the same problems in then Zäire. 5th group had come in with its own CA and Psyops. Some, much like the agency's folks, could even listen to local broadcasting in Lingala (but they would never grasp the local meanings, nor could they communicate in Lingala when the situation dictated). When they decided on the target audience for this mission, they also overlooked those "oral culture" folks who from an ideological sense, would not be the least bit impressed or even pay attention.

To some extent, we experience this operational vs ideological scenario even here in Estonia. It's more divided by age rather than ideological or cultural aspects, but rings the same tone.

We would later collate the info and carefully compare it against our target audience, coming up with a broader approach to our end goal.

Regards, Stan

[marct]

Hi Stan,

We encountered the same problems in then Zäire. 5th group had come in with its own CA and Psyops. Some, much like the agency's folks, could even listen to local broadcasting in Lingala (but they would never grasp the local meanings, nor could they communicate in Lingala when the situation dictated). When they decided on the target audience for this mission, they also overlooked those "oral culture" folks who from an ideological sense, would not be the least bit impressed or even pay attention.

It is a classic problem . Even without the language barrier problem, there is still the problem of identifying the demographic slice with the best ROI and the appropriate way of targeting that group. On of the examples that comes to mind is "peer marketing". This is where a company will hire a bunch of teenagers to a) listen to what teens are saying and report back, and b) show off "their" (i.e. their companies / employers) products. It uses word of mouth, rumour and F2F media technologies.

To some extent, we experience this operational vs ideological scenario even here in Estonia. It's more divided by age rather than ideological or cultural aspects, but rings the same tone.

We would later collate the info and carefully compare it against our target audience, coming up with a broader approach to our end goal.

That's the more normal scenario, Stan. Age always makes a difference . The best way to handle it, is to work on the assumption that medium usage tends to be age segmented, and ideological/cultural stuff tends to be role segmented. Ideally, your ideological message is based in a solid philosophical exposition that can the be tailored for each target segment (yeah.... too much time doing market research ).

Marc