Operation Desert Storm Case Study
Psychological Operations (PSYOP), or currently known as Military Information Support Operations (MISO), are “planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals in a manner favorable to the originator’s objectives. ” In other words, PSYOP uses a variety of information mediums to influence a target audience (foreign civilian leaders, enemy forces or civilian populations) to change their beliefs, attitudes, or decision making in support of the commander’s objectives. During Operation Desert Storm, PSYOP had two major objectives: the MILDEC program and weaken Iraqi morale and increase desertion and surrendering. Accomplishing these objectives was projected to minimizing causalities with both the Iraqi and Coalition
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Leaflets informing the Iraqi forces to stay away as their equipment will be bombed.
The “Voice of the Gulf” Coalition radio network began broadcasting on 19 January 1991 and operated continuously through 1 April 1991, 18 hours a day. The radio program consisted of programs providing news, counter Iraqi propaganda and disinformation and encouraging Iraqi forces to surrender. ”
A best example of loudspeaker was against a large element of Iraqi forces on Faylaka Island. Rather than conducting a direct assault, a PSYOP team flew aerial loudspeaker mission around the island. The message told the adversaries to surrender the next day in formation at the radio tower. “The next day 1405 Iraqis, including a general officer, waited in formation at the radio tower to surrender to the Marines forces without a single shot being fired. ”
The international Red Cross reported that nearly 87,000 Iraqi soldiers turned themselves over to the coalition forces, most of them clutching the leaflets of hiding them in their clothing. All incidents of surrender were bloodless.
Leaflets informing the Iraqi forces to stay away as their equipment will be bombed.
The “Voice of the Gulf” Coalition radio network began broadcasting on 19 January 1991 and operated continuously through 1 April 1991, 18 hours a day. The radio program consisted of programs providing news, counter Iraqi propaganda and disinformation and encouraging Iraqi forces to surrender. ”
A best example of loudspeaker was against a large element of Iraqi forces on Faylaka Island. Rather than conducting a direct assault, a PSYOP team flew aerial loudspeaker mission around the island. The message told the adversaries to surrender the next day in formation at the radio tower. “The next day 1405 Iraqis, including a general officer, waited in formation at the radio tower to surrender to the Marines forces without a single shot being fired. ”
The international Red Cross reported that nearly 87,000 Iraqi soldiers turned themselves over to the coalition forces, most of them clutching the leaflets of hiding them in their clothing. All incidents of surrender were bloodless.