Guidelines for a U.S. Counterpropaganda Strategy to Defeat Al-Qaeda Recruiting
Abstract
This study evaluates the counterpropaganda strategy to defeat al-Qaeda recruiting and suggests new strategy guidelines based on an analysis of historical case studies. The author evaluates the counterpropaganda campaigns during WWI, WWII, and the Cold War in terms of ideology and purpose, context, target audiences, organization, media techniques, and effects and evaluation. The conclusion is five guidelines distilled from the case studies for a new counterpropaganda strategy. There are fundamental problems with the current US approach to al-Qaeda counterpropaganda strategy. Two related problems are the current organizational structure and policy for counterpropaganda. The US must adopt a counterpropaganda strategy that disaggregates al-Qaeda organizations and focuses on regional audiences susceptible to al-Qaeda influences. Furthermore, the US needs to adopt a cognitive approach to counterpropaganda. This approach must be inherently non-military focused and authentic, based on the truth, to maintain credibility with diverse audiences. Defeating al-Qaeda propaganda requires an organization representative of the information Instrument of Power, not the military, to establish a unified policy for counterpropaganda that focuses on regional audiences. This long term strategy will focus on the cognitive sphere, not destroying infrastructure and shutting down websites, to influence regional audiences using authentic information based on the truth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- AD1019414
Entities
People
- Scott D. Brodeur
Organizations
- Air University