Strategists want to psych out Saddam with propaganda blitz
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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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