Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Propaganda fails in Afghanistan, report says --- British expert says U.S. commanders are routinely conned by propaganda contractors. -- WASHINGTON — U.S. propaganda efforts in Afghanistan have failed because of poorly designed programs by contractors who often propose expensive marketing solutions to U.S. commanders incapable of making informed choices, according to a study published by the Army's War College. -- USA TODAY, in a series of reports since 2012, has found the Pentagon has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on poorly tracked propaganda programs. A government report obtained by the paper this spring showed the impact of the programs is unclear, and that the military doesn't know if it is targeting the right foreign audiences. These propaganda efforts include websites, leaflets and broadcasts intended to change foreigners' "attitudes and behaviors in support of U.S. Government" objectives, according to the report by the Government Accountability Office. -- The author of the War College study, Steve Tatham, is the longest continuously serving officer in the British military's information activities. Rather than terminate the U.S. information operations programs, Tatham argues for a different approach. He says that contractors' attempt to influence attitudes "may work in convincing U.S. citizens to buy consumer products, it does not easily translate to the conflict- and crisis-riven societies to which it has been applied." It makes more sense to attempt to change problem behavior, for instance understanding why Afghan soldiers desert and addressing their concerns. - More, Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

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