Communicating the reason behind the attack
Psyop leaflet showing the WTC bombing as the cause for US retaliation
Source: www.psywarrior.com
Early in the war many Americans clamored for a leaflet showing the burning World Trade Center to explain to the Afghans why the United States had attacked the terrorist al-Qaida faction and Taliban forces ruling their nation. A very good explanation of Psyop use in Afghanistan and the way by which the US communicated its reason for invading Afghanistanto its locals is found in a United States Army War College research paper entitled “Information Operations” by Peter L. Burnett Jr. He says, " During the initial attack against Afghanistan, the Afghan people’s views of America were negative primarily due to a lack of knowledge the people possessed regarding the attack. The Taliban government and the leadership of al-Qaida tried to convince the people of Afghanistan that America was attacking the religious faith of the Afghan nation. The Taliban government and the Al-Qaida network’s goal was to gain support of the Afghan population, the political will of the people, and to promote hatred toward any American effort in Afghanistan. Using PSYOP as a tool, America was able to reach the people through leaflets, food, broadcast coordination, use of coalition forces, and good deeds to prove America was not attacking their religious faith, but was attacking terrorist activities. The PSYOP efforts cast a brighter light regarding America’s efforts in Afghanistan regardless of America’s efforts or explanation. No country wants to be attacked, but the PSYOP efforts paid off and proved to be an effective measure in America’s efforts against terrorism.
Earning the trust of the locals
Psyop leaflet showing the Partnership of Nations
Source: www.psywarrior.co
On October 15, the United States government released illustrations of the first two leaflets dropped on Afghanistan. It reported that a single B-52 Stratofortress bomber had dropped 385,000 leaflets over the eastern town of Ghazni, the northwestern town of Sheberghan, and between Sheberghan and the western city of Herat. The first leaflet depicts an American soldier shaking hands with an Afghan citizen. The photograph is in full color, the text in bright blue. The leaflet was written in Pashto (spoken by the Afghan ethnic majority Pashtun) and Dari (a Persian dialect spoken by the minority Tajiks). The leaflet states on the front, "The partnership of nations is here to help." The back of the leaflets says, "The partnership of nations is here to assist the people of Afghanistan." The leaflet is coded AFD10c.
Connecting the Muslim faith
Psyops leaflet showing that even in America, Muslims were living in peace
Source: www.psywarrior.com
The United States produced a full color leaflet that told the people of Afghanistan that there were American Muslims, American mosques, and that true believers had the right to practice their religion and worship their God. The leaflet is coded AFD04. The front of the leaflet shows a mosque in the foreground with the Stars and Stripes within a map of the United States. Muslim men and women are depicted worshipping at the right. The text is “Muslims in the United States worship freely.” The back of the leaflet depicts the inside of the Islamic Center of Long Island mosque at the left, and a crescent moon and text at the right. The text is, "There are more than 7 million Muslims and 1200 mosques in the US."
The tyranny of the Taliban
Psyop leaflet showing how the taliban were ill-treating Afghan nationals
Source: www.psywarrior.com
This leaflet dropped on Jalalabad shows Al-Qaida terrorists at the left and right targeted by a sniper's crosshairs in red. Text at the center in Pashto and Dari read, "Drive out the foreign terrorists." The Taliban is made up of non-Afghans, particularly Pakistanis. Thus the leaflet tried to drive a wedge between the two groups.
The back of the leaflet shows a member of the Taliban religious police whipping a woman in a burqa at the left. Text at the right reads, "Is this the future you want for your women and children?" The Religious Police will whip women on the street that they feel are not dressing in accordance with a strict interpretation of the Koran. This leaflet was coded AFD24.
Vilifying the Osama
Psyop leaflet showing Osama Bin Laden playing chess with the future of Afghanistan
Source:www.psywarrior.com
This leaflet shows Bin Laden playing chess and moving Taliban figures around the board. The Taliban had banned chess in Afghanistan. The text on this leaflet is, "Expel the foreign rulers and live in peace." The back of this same leaflet shows a figure identified as bin Laden holding a chain to the collar of a "kuchi," a dog of nomads. The dog had the head of Mullah Omar. The text asks, "Who really runs the Taliban?" It had been reported earlier that this leaflet was dropped over Kandahar.
David Champagne, civilian analyst for the 4th PSYOP Group at Fort Bragg, NC. explained, "In Afghanistan, Kuchi dogs guard all the camps, sort of like the American “yellow dog.” These dogs were kept outside homes and not allowed inside.Interestingly Osama bin Laden is dressed in an Arab outfit. He is not dressed in native Afghan clothes thereby segregating him from the Afghans. The image actually proclaims that Mullah Omar is Osama's dog."
Of Cluster bombs and food packets
Psyops leaflet showing the difference between cluster bombs and food packets (both were yellow)
Source: www.psywarrior.com
On November 2 the Pentagon stated that leaflets had been dropped warning the Afghans not to pick up the yellow cluster bombs that were similar in color to the HDR food packets. Human rights groups had criticized the use of the cluster bombs because it was thought that children might be attracted to the bright yellow color. The Pentagon reported that the color of the humanitarian Daily Rations would be blue in the future. The warning leaflet is AFD39. The leaflet depicts a hand reaching toward a food packet on one side and a short message explaining that this is safe. The back of the leaflet depicts a hand reaching for a bomblet, and shows bomblets in several forms on the ground. There is a skull and crossed bones at the center of the leaflet warning finders of the danger.
Winning the hearts and minds
Psyops leaflet showing the distribution of 'halal' meat
Source: www.psywarrior.com
On October 29, the U.S. Government released this leaflet image. This leaflet had four cartoons in full color. The first showed an American aircraft dropping humanitarian daily rations (HDR) food packets. The second showed an Afghan picking up one of the packets. When turned over, the leaflet showed the Afghan tearing open the packet. The word "Halal" was at the upper right. This term shows that the food was prepared in accordance with the Koran. The final illustration showed the Afghan sitting with his entire family and enjoying the feast sent by the Americans. The leaflet was clearly designed for illiterate Afghans to show them what to do with the yellow packets found on the ground. This leaflet was found with and without the code AFD16g.
Targetting Mullah Omar
Psyop leaflet showing Mullah Omar to be under watch by the Coalition forces
Source: www.psywarrior.com
On November 2, the Pentagon announced that they had dropped a new aerial propaganda leaflet. The oversized leaflet depicted three photographs of the face of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar targeted by the crosshairs of a gun scope at the far right. The Mullah had earlier forbidden any photographs of himself. To the left of the photographs were three photographs of the license plate of one of Omar's vehicles, again covered by the crosshairs. This second photo was probably taken during an earlier operation when an American Predator unmanned surveillance aircraft fitted with two "Hellfire" anti-tank missiles had targeted the car but was not allowed to fire due to a rules of engagement dispute. To the left were three pairs of eyes alternated with the text "We are watching!" The leaflet was identical on both sides except for the text, which is in Pashto or Dari. The Pentagon announced that 16 million such leaflets had been produced and would be dropped in batches at intervals.
Targeting Zawahari and Bin Laden
Psyops leaflet showing reward for information on Zawahiri and Bin Laden
Source: www.psywarrior.com
On December 13 Centcom released several more leaflets to the public. A second variety of the reward leaflet similar to one mentioned earlier was shown. This leaflet depicts Ayman al-Zawahiri at the left and Osama bin Laden at the right. The text is "$25,000,000 reward." The back has al-Zawahiri above bin Laden in the center, and text at right and left that says "Any information leading to the whereabouts of these men contact Coalition authorities." This leaflet is coded AFD29m. The leaflet also exists in a black and white version coded AFD29o.
Wanted: Osama
Psyop leaflet showing reward for the capture of Bin Laden
Source: www.psywarrior.com
The right side of the third leaflet shows Osama Bin Laden giving a speech. There is an arrow drawn across a heap of United States $20 bills pointing to a vignette at the left. On the left side of the leaflet a saddened Bin Laden is shown in prison dress behind bars. Text on the front says "Osama Bin Laden / $25,000,000 reward." The back of the leaflet is all text and says "$25,000,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts or capture of Osama bin Laden. Contact Coalition authorities." This leaflet is coded AFD29n.
