Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Morton devonshire (talk | contribs) at 17:12, 18 July 2006 (Removed sources that don't qualify under WP:RS). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

It has been suggested that this article be merged into Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. (Discuss)

The Zarqawi PSYOP program refers to a US Psychological operations program, or propaganda campaign, implemented as part of the War on Terror, exaggerating the importance of Al Zarqawi in Al Qaeda and the Iraq insurgency.

The program was primarily aimed at, but not limited to, the "Iraqi and Arab media" along with the "U.S. Home Audience," which was part of a "broader propaganda campaign." The article goes on to explain: That slide, created by Casey's subordinates, does not specifically state that U.S. citizens were being targeted by the effort, but other sections of the briefings indicate that there were direct military efforts to use the U.S. media to affect views of the war. Such efforts include selective leaking of factual information to reporters. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

Several incidents turned him from an unknown and unimportant individual into the well-known voice of Al Qaeda in Iraq.The Myth of Al Qaeda Before 9/11, Osama bin Laden’s group was small and fractious. How Washington helped to build it into a global threat By Michael Hirsh, Newsweek, June 30, 2006</ref> Following the allegation he was a link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda (used as casus belli<ref name="GRca2">, by Colin Powell before the UN Security Council in 2003, he became the embodiment of resistance against the US in the Muslim world. Another stimulus for his popularity was the invasion of Iraq by the Bush administration. After the capture of Saddam Hussein the Bush administration accused him of being behind the continuing mishaps in Iraq, or, as Patrick Cockburn commented in an editorial for Counterpunch Newsletter:

"No sooner had Saddam Hussein been captured than the US spokesmen began to mention al-Zarqawi's name in every sentence."

In the wake of his assasination, which had erroneously been reported several times before, the US produced a video showing him to be the opposite of what the media previously advocated him to be.

Quotes

The Washington post cites Col. Derek Harvey who said at a meeting by the Army in Fort Leavenworth:

"Our own focus on Zarqawi has enlarged his caricature, if you will - made him more important than he really is, in some ways."

Citing an internal memo by Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the senior commander in charge, the Washington Post states:

"The Zarqawi PSYOP program is the most successful information campaign to date."

According to the same article:

A goal of the campaign was to drive a wedge into the insurgency by emphasizing Zarqawi's terrorist acts and foreign origin, said officers familiar with the program.

See also

• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
• Doublespeak
• Iraq war
• Newspeak
• Propaganda
• Psychological operations (United States)
• Psychological warfare
• PSYOP

References

1. ^ Military Plays Up Role of Zarqawi By Thomas E. Ricks, The Washington Post, 10 April 2006
2. ^ Cite error: The named reference RollingStone was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

• Psychological warfare
• Propaganda
• Counter-terrorism
• Anti-terrorism policy of the United States
• George W. Bush administration controversies
• 2003 Iraq conflict
• Iraqi insurgency