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Information Warfare Using Aggressive
Psychological Operations: Information Operation Roadmap Part 4
Brent Jessop
Knowledge
Driven Revolution.com
Tuesday November 27, 2007
The Pentagon's plans for psychological operations or PSYOP
in the global information environment of the 21st century are wide ranging
and aggressive. These desires are outlined in the 2003 Pentagon document
signed by Donald Rumsfeld in his capacity as the Secretary of Defense
called the Information
Operation Roadmap.
More detail about the origins and purpose of this document can be read
in the first part of this series here.
Also, a description of the Pentagon's desire to dominate
the entire electro-magnetic spectrum and their need to "fight
the net" as outline in the Information Operation Roadmap were
previously described.
What is a PSYOP?
A PSYOP is not specifically defined in this document but it does provide
some insight into the wide ranging activities that are considered PSYOP.
"The customary position was that "public affairs informs, while public
diplomacy and PSYOP influence." PSYOP also has been perceived
as the most aggressive of the three information activities, using
diverse means, including psychological manipulation and personal threats."
[emphasis mine] - 26
"One result of public affairs and civil military operations is greater
support for military endeavors and thus, conversely these activities
can help discourage and dissuade enemies, which PSYOP does more
directly with its own tactics, techniques and procedures." [emphasis
mine] - 10
"PSYOP messages disseminated to any audience except individual
decision-makers (and perhaps even then) will often be replayed
by the news media for much larger audiences, including the American
public." [emphasis mine] - 26
(Article continues below)
"A PSYOP force ready to conduct sophisticated target-audience analysis
and modify behaviour with multi-media PSYOP campaigns featuring
commercial-quality products that can be rapidly disseminated throughout
the Combatant Commanders area of operations." [emphasis mine] - 63
"PSYOP products must be based on in-depth knowledge of the audience's
decision-making processes and the factors influencing his decisions,
produced rapidly at the highest quality standards, and powerfully
disseminated directly to targeted audiences throughout the area
of operations." [emphasis mine] - 6
"Better depiction of the attitudes, perceptions and decision-making
processes of an adversary. Understanding how and why adversaries
make decisions will require improvements in Human Intelligence
(HUMINT) and open source exploitation, as well as improved analytic
tools and methods." [emphasis mine] - 39
"SOCOM [Special Operations Command] should create a Joint PSYOP Support
Element to coordinate Combatant Command programs and products with
the Joint Staff and OSD [Office of the Secretary of Defense] to provide
rapidly produced, commercial-quality PSYOP product prototypes consistent
with overall U.S. Government themes and messages." [emphasis mine]
- 15
"SOCOM's ongoing PSYOP Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration and
modernization efforts should permit the timely, long-range dissemination
of products with various PSYOP delivery systems. This includes
satellite, radio and television, cellular phones and other wireless
devices, the Internet and upgrades to traditional delivery systems
such as leaflets and loudspeakers that are highly responsive
to maneuver commanders." [emphasis mine] - 15
"PSYOP equipment capabilities require 21st Century technology. This
modernization would permit the long-range dissemination of PSYOP messages
via new information venues such as satellites, the Internet, personal
digital assistants and cell phones:
- (U) PSYOP ACTD. Commencing in FY04, SOCOM [Special Operations Command]
initiates an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) to address
dissemination of PSYOP products into denied areas. The ACTD should
examine a range of technologies including a network of unmanned
aerial vehicles and miniaturized, scatterable public address systems
for satellite rebroadcast in denied areas. It should also consider
various message delivery systems, to include satellite radio and
television, cellular phones and other wireless devices and the Internet."
[emphasis mine] - 65
"Rapid, fully integrated nodal and network analysis providing Combatant
Commanders with holistic kinetic and non-kinetic solutions
for a full range of electromagnetic, physical and human IO [information
operations] targets." [emphasis mine] - 39
"Capabilities such as physical security, information assurance, counter
intelligence and physical attack make important contributions
to effective IO." [emphasis mine] - 23
Third Party PSYOP
The Pentagon is also willing to use third parties for their PSYOP.
"Identify and disseminate the views of third party advocates
that support U.S. positions. These sources may not articulate the U.S.
position the way that the USG [US Government] would, but that may nonetheless
have a positive influence." [emphasis mine] - 27
Under recommendation number 48 - "Create a Joint PSYOP Support
Element" - is the following:
"Contract for commercial sources for enhanced product
development." [emphasis mine] - 64
The use of third party advocates or front groups for the
dissemination of US government propaganda is well documented. A couple
of recent examples include the illegal payment of $1.6
billion for domestic fake news and similar
activities in Iraq using the Lincoln Group among others.
Virtual PSYOP
Not only is the Pentagon exploiting new and old technology for aggressive
behavior modification, they can also practice and refine their techniques
in a virtual simulation of the entire world.
From an
article by Mark Baard:
"U.S defense, intel and homeland security officials are constructing
a parallel world, on a computer, which the agencies will use to test
propaganda messages and military strategies."
"Called the Sentient World Simulation, the program uses AI routines
based upon the psychological theories of Marty Seligman, among others.
(Seligman introduced the theory of "learned helplessness" in the 1960s,
after shocking beagles until they cowered, urinating, on the bottom
of their cages.)"
"Yank a country's water supply. Stage a military coup. SWS will tell
you what happens next."
"The sim will feature an AR avatar for each person in the real world,
based upon data collected about us from government records and the internet."
How useful do you think your new MySpace or Facebook account
is in helping the Pentagon develop a detailed psychological profile of
you? Do you think they would be shy in exploiting such a valuable source
of personal data?
AIDS Awareness
PSYOP in the past, however, often was used to support U.S.
Government public diplomacy and information objectives with non-adversarial
audiences. These actions include counter-drug, demining and AIDS
awareness programs in friendly countries." [emphasis mine] - 25
It is a minor point in the context of this document, but
it is worth reflecting on why US military PSYOP were used for AIDS awareness.
Are There Any Limits to Information Warfare?
An obvious question arises from the description of PSYOP described by
the Information Operation Roadmap, are there any limits? Can PSYOP
be conducted on the American public or just foreign audiences? On adversaries
or non-adversaries? Can they be performed during peacetime? My
next article will attempt to show just how few limits there actually
are.
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