DoD Strategic Communication Plan for Afghanistan

**milnews.ca** · 08-09-2009

For those mass-distribution electronic night letters, I guess.

From the Xinhua news agency:

Taliban insurgents fighting Afghan and international troops based in Afghanistan have established their propaganda mouthpiece in the southern Ghazni province, locals said Sunday. The FM transistor, according to locals, airs program from 07:00p.m. until 09:00 p.m. local time and often broadcasts Taliban anti-government activities in local language of Pashtu. "This radio called itself "Da Shariat Ghag Radio" or Radio voice of Sharia (Islamic Laws) have been airing programs on Taliban anti-government activities over the past three days," a resident of Qarabagh district Noor Mohammad told Xinhua .... Meantime, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told media from an undisclosed location via telephone claimed that militants have established four radios in the country.

**milnews.ca** · 08-10-2009

... from Pajhwok News:

.... A spokesman for the FM radio says the station has been set up in the mountainous area of Shahi Kot, lying south of Gardez, capital of the southeastern Paktia province.

But FM broadcasts cannot be heard clearly over such a long distance. The station airs religious programmes, poetry praising Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), pro-Taliban songs and commentaries on daily occurrences.

( .... )

Speaking on behalf of the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid told Pajhwok Afghan News the radio station was the most effective communication tool for the fighters.

He claimed the guerrillas were in control of enough territory in Ghazni, where they could freely run the FM radio, which could be listened to in a 50-kilometre radius from the provincial capital.

In order to convey their message to the masses, Mujahid added, Taliban had set up similar radio stations in Paktia, Paktika, Kunar and Nuristan provinces....

.pdf version of story here in case link not working

**milnews.ca** · 08-30-2009

...in a Globe & Mail article quoting folks claiming to be Taliban commanders:

“He said his fighters never intended to follow through on threats outlined in “night letters” – leaflets warning death and dismemberment to would-be voters.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight....

The Globe piece has also been picked up by at least one pro-jihadi blogs like this one.

**milnews.ca** · 09-02-2009

HIGHLIGHTS

• Taliban statements monitored during August 2009 claimed responsibility for at least 33 Canadian deaths. Canada announced the death of 2 soldiers during this period.
• Eight ( 8 ) Taliban announcements were monitored mentioning Canadian personnel or casualties in August 2009, compared to an average of 8.1 such reports per month since October 2008.
• Since October 2008, the Taliban have claimed 12.9 Canadian casualties for every one officially announced by the Government of Canada (387 alleged by Taliban vs. 30 reported by Canada).

Available in .pdf format here

Feedback (good, bad or ugly) greatly appreciated.

**davidbfpo** · 09-13-2009

I am sure Night Letters have appeared on SWC before and this is possibly the right, current home.

Found whilst pursuing the links on SWJ Blog to the Strategic Communication post (http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/200...atham-royal-n/ ), was a link to Small Wars & Insurgencies journal's article 'the Taliban Insurgency and Night Letters by Thomas Johnson (Sept '07): http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCs/Docs...ars_%20Pub.pdf

Quite long, but on a quick initial read worth placing here.

davidbfpo

**marct** · 09-13-2009

David,

As a note, Tom is coming out with a book on the Night Letters either this fall or early in the new year.

**milnews.ca** · 09-19-2009

Many messages issued by the Taliban are sent out in Arabic and area languages first, then in English. This one is interesting in that it went out in simultaneously in English and other languages.

Here's the original in English if you don't care if the Taliban get your IP number

, and here's a link to a PDF version on a non-terrorist site.

A couple of highlights (more here):
1) They still want foreign troops out of Afghanistan.

“Our goal is to gain independence of the country and establish a just Islamic system there on the basis of the aspirations of the Muslim nation. We can consider any option that could lead to the achievement of this goal. We have left open all options and ways towards this end. However, this will only be feasible when the country is free from the trampling steps of the invading forces and has gained independence.”

2) They want to like the alternative, kinder, gentler governing alternative.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has distinctive and useful plans for the future of Afghanistan under the shade of the just social system of Islam after the withdrawal of the foreign forces. They include rehabilitation of social and economic infrastructure, advancement and development of the educational sector, industrializations of the country and development of agriculture …. The Islamic Emirate (IE) believes in social and internal reform as well as in positive initiatives in the context of Sharia.”

E-mail me here if you'd like the Arabic, Urdu, Farsi or Pashto versions in PDF.

**milnews.ca** · 09-19-2009

Many messages issued by the Taliban are sent out in Arabic and area languages first, then in English. This one is interesting in that it went out in simultaneously in English and other languages.

Here's the original in English if you don't care if the Taliban get your IP number

, and here's a link to a PDF version on a non-terrorist site.

A couple of highlights (more here):
1) They still want foreign troops out of Afghanistan.

“Our goal is to gain independence of the country and establish a just Islamic system there on the basis of the aspirations of the Muslim nation. We can consider any option that could lead to the achievement of this goal. We have left open all options and ways towards this end. However, this will only be feasible when the country is free from the trampling steps of the invading forces and has gained independence.”

2) They want to like the alternative, kinder, gentler governing alternative.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has distinctive and useful plans for the future of Afghanistan under the shade of the just social system of Islam after the withdrawal of the foreign forces. They include rehabilitation of social and economic infrastructure, advancement and development of the educational sector, industrializations of the country and development of agriculture …. The Islamic Emirate (IE) believes in social and internal reform as well as in positive initiatives in the context of Sharia.”

E-mail me here if you'd like the Arabic, Urdu, Farsi or Pashto versions in PDF.

**milnews.ca** · 11-01-2009

1) Talib spokesperson shares his account of the 28 Oct 09 attack on U.N. staff in Kabul (Voice of Jihad English page, link to PDF at non-terrorist page here) - proof of war crimes as defined by Amnesty International?

2) Yet another run-off election statement from the Taliban (PDF at non-terr site here) - my haiku summary:

Western voting bad.
Last vote boycotted, rigged, fake.
Expect same again.

3) AFG Taliban Deputy Dog on US Plan to Buy Off "Moderate" Taliban: "We Can't Be Bought, and There ARE No Moderate Taliban."

4) Latest ratio (over 12 months) of Taliban Claims of Canadian Casualtie vs. Canadians Announced Killed: 12.89 to 1 - more here.

**milnews.ca** · 02-06-2010

Highlights

• Taliban statements monitored during January 2010 claimed responsibility for approximately 158 Canadian deaths. Canada announced 1 deaths during this period.
• In the past 12 months (including January 2010), the Taliban has claimed 15.5 Canadian casualties for every one officially announced by the Government of Canada (496 alleged by Taliban vs. 32 reported by Canada).

Full report available here.

**milnews.ca** · 03-07-2010

HIGHLIGHTS
• Taliban statements monitored during February 2010 claimed responsibility for approximately 25 Canadian deaths. Canada announced 1 death during this period.
• In the 12 months between March 2009 and February 2010, the Taliban has claimed 15.18 Canadian casualties for every one officially announced by the Government of Canada (501 alleged by Taliban vs. 33 reported by Canada).

Full report available in .pdf format here

**milnews.ca** · 08-01-2010

HIGHLIGHTS

• Taliban statements monitored during July 2010 claimed responsibility for at least 10 Canadian deaths. Canada announced 1 death during this period.
• Since the start of Taliban statement tracking in October 2008, the Taliban has claimed an average of 14.45 Canadian casualties for every one officially announced by the Government of Canada (795 alleged by Taliban vs. 55 reported by Canada).

Full summary here (Scribd.com)