Propaganda and intelligence: Iraq 2005–2007

Abstract

Propaganda and intelligence became interrelated on the operational level in the Iraq War after General Casey called for the creation of an Information Operations Task Force (IOTF) in 2005. The intelligence function of the IOTF was to undertake measures of effects of the propaganda efforts which also entailed psychological operations or PSYOP. The measures of effect entailed data gathering by polling and surveying the 30 million recipients of the propaganda effort through television commercials, radio broadcasts, newspaper editorials and street billboards. The data gathering and subsequent analysis were significant in the planning and implementation of the Baghdad Security Pact and the Petraeus Surge of coalition forces commencing April 2007 as a prelude to the withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq in 2010. This article provides an eyewitness account of this process by the Director of Research of the IOTF.

Keywords:

• propaganda
• intelligence
• Iraq War 2005–2007
• psychological operations
• PSYOP
• Baghdad security pact
• Petraeus Surge
• Al Qaeda

Notes

¹ United States Department of Defense, Joint Publication 3-53, Doctrine for Psychological Operations, 9. United States Department of Defense, Pentagon, 1997.

² All documents are open source published by the United States Department of Defense, Pentagon: Some of the documents used were AFDD 3-1 Air Warfare, AFDD 3-01 Counterair Operations, AFDD 3-70 Strategic Attack, AFDD 3-03 Counterland Operations, Countersea Operations, AFDD 3-50 Personnel Recovery Operations, AFDD 3-52 Airspace Control, AFDD 3-40 Counter-CBRN, AFDD 3-60 Targeting, AFDD 3-27 Homeland Operations, AFDD 3-72 Nuclear Operations, AFDD 3-14 Space Operations, AFDD 3-14.1 Counterspace Operations, AFDD 3-24 Irregular Warfare, AFDD 3-22 Foreign Internal Defense, AFDD 4-0 Combat Support, AFDD 3-10 Force Protection, AFDD 4-02 Health Services, AFDD 4-11 Bases, Infrastructure, and Facilities, AFDD 1-04 Legal Support, AFDD 3-13 Information Operations, AFDD 3-13.1 Electronic Warfare, AFDD 3-61 Public Affairs Operations, AFDD 3-17 Air Mobility Operations, AFDD 3-05 Special Operations, AFDD 6-0 Command and Control, AFDD 2-0 ISR Operations and AFDD 3-59 Weather Operations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Glen Segell

Glen Segell is the Editor of London Security Policy Study and former Director of Research of PSYOP in Iraq. He was educated at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and King’s College, London. He has received anti-terrorist training and continued in Iraq, Kuwait, Libya and Sudan. He has authored over 300 items and lectured at the University of Reading, UK, and Bar-Ilan University, Israel.