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Strategists want to psych out Saddam with propaganda blitz

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, December 24, 2001

WASHINGTON ø The same psychological war methods that succeeded against the Taliban in Afghanistan should be used to undermine the regime of Saddam Hussen, some U.S. strategists say.

Proponents of psychological warfare are found in the Pentagon as well as in the U.S. strategic community. Their argument is that propaganda and psychological warfare can spark tension within the inner circle of the Saddam regime.

"Such efforts could keep Saddam on the defensive and create an atmosphere of crisis and tension, forcing the regime to divert assets to deal with internal security, and leaving fewer resources available for clandestine technology procurement or trouble-making elsewhere," Michael Eisenstadt, a leading U.S. strategist said in a report for the Washington Institute Near East Policy.

"Such efforts could transform the psychological environment in the country, creating an atmosphere in which a coup or uprising might occur, " the report said.

Advocates of psychological warfare said the method was successfully used by the U.S. military during the current war in Afghanistan, Middle East Newsline reported. U.S. warplanes dropped millions of leaflets on Afghanistan that explained Washington's goals in the war against the Taliban regime. Radio broadcasts exhorted Afghans to revolt against the Taliban.

Eisenstadt envisions a psychological war meant to exacerbate relations between Saddam and his military commanders. Over the last year, Saddam has executed scores of officers on charges of insubordination.

In his report, Eisenstadt said Saddam has invested enormous efforts to counter hostile propaganda to ensure that he appears invincible to his people. The strategist cited a Saddam speech in 1999 in which he warned that hostile media is more influential than bombs.

The London-based Iraqi National Congress has appealed to the administration for funding to establish opposition activities in northern Iraq. The activities would include a radio station that would broadcast anti-Saddam propaganda.

"American propaganda should play on this distrust and resentment, emphasizing the risks incurred by the armed forces as a result of continued Ba'athi rule," Eisenstadt said. "Such propaganda, along with the adoption of more aggressive rules of engagement for coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones might encourage members of the armed forces to turn on the regime if given the opportunity to do so."

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