U.S. Cultural Advisors & PsyOps Against ISIS In Syria And Iraq

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On December 14^th, the Drive published a story shedding some light on the US psychological operations against ISIS.

The details regarding the US PsyOps is due to a Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA).

It all began in October 2016, when US cultural advisors assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), or the Combined Joint Operations Center-Jordan (CJOC-J) approved 25 messages that were to be played at ISIS. The codes of the messages begin with “OIR” and “SY,” however it is unclear where exactly they are utilized.

Generally, the audio is relatively “mundane” and repeat tropes on the uselessness of fighting and a longing for the safety and comfort of home. However, there is OIR16A024vaTC0005 [the original audio is in either Kurdish or Arabic, English transcript was provided by the US Central Command]:

“Do you regret choosing this life with Da’esh [another name for ISIS]? You probably miss your family at home… Or, perhaps you long for some of the comforts of your life before Da’esh… Electricity that works all day… Or being able to watch television, or freely use the internet…join your comrades now that have already saved their lives by leaving Da’esh.”

SY16A02aaTC2000 seeks to cause mistrust between ISIS’ local and foreign fighters:

“I don’t know whether to laugh at you or pity you, Brother. You joined Da’esh to fight and be part of something. But look! The foreign fighters get paid more than you; they get better food, better places to live, and the spoils of war. What do you get? Honestly, my friend, you have been cheated! Da’esh would be nothing without you, and look, you are barely treated better than they would treat a nonbeliever, and enemy prisoner. Is this what you signed up for?”

OIR15A02aaRD4010 and a few others appear to simply be insulting:

“To Da’esh rats: Dig as many tunnels and trenches as you wish, and hide as many containers [caches] as you wish. I swear by Allah, we know all of these things, where they are located, and what’s in them. We even know what type of clothing you change into in your homes. God willing, we are coming! And we shall stomp on your heads.”

However, “the last two messages on this list, OIR15A02aTC0008 and OIR16A02vaTC0008, are wholly unlike the rest.”

OIR16A02vaTC0008 appears to be intercepted radio chatter from a mid-level ISIS commander:

“Fall back!  They are everywhere! (Pause w/ static) Why is no one answering me? You need to move back! We cannot hold our position if you do not fall back you will be overrun! (Pause w/ static) If you can hear me fall back, I cannot hear you. You must fall back now or you will be killed! Is there anyone there? (Static that fades out).”

While, OIR15A02aTC0008 appears to be a “sinister” crying.

“We have no way of telling how long this particular recording lasts,” the Drive reported.

No information was provided on how these messages were broadcast.

“At present, the U.S. military has a mix of fixed radio broadcasting systems, vehicle-mounted speakers and so-called “acoustic hailing devices,” and a small number of specially configured psyops EC-130J aircraft assigned to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing.”

The Drive also provided tweets by a user named “MrRevinsky,” which supposedly “shows the real situation in the Hajin pocket” and that ISIS militants, realizing that they are surrounded by ISIS refuse to obey their commander’s commands.

#Syria
The footage shows us what is the real situation in #Hajin pocket. Militants understand that they are surrounded by #SDF and they start disobeying their commander, Abu Ayman al-Iraqi. pic.twitter.com/zdYH6wNbOT

— MrRevinsky (@Kyruer) December 12, 2018

#Syria
Abu Ayman al-Iraqi (this #Isis commander). tries to incite his unit: "shot them. Do not be afraid". But panic as won: #SDF are very close now and militants decide to leave their commander alone at the frontline. At the end, he gets wounded but nobody helps him. pic.twitter.com/W8Tv60nYYv

— MrRevinsky (@Kyruer) December 12, 2018

The videos show another kind of psychological warfare.

The Drive story in its entirety is a sort of promotional piece of the US-led coalition’s efforts in the fight against ISIS.

Of course, not all of the special efforts of the US military work out in the end. An example would be COLSA Corporation’s “WebOps” operation. As part of the operation, language specialists employed fake identities and tried to dissuade targets from joining ISIS ranks.

However, the operation was plagued by accusations of bribery and failures. Among other things, translators reportedly frequently mixed the words for “salad” and “authority.” Leading to the “Palestinian salad” meme of 2017.

AP also cited four unnamed current and former workers who worked on the operation that claimed that they had personally witnessed WebOps data being manipulated to create the illusion of success.

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