Shaping the Information Environment in Afghanistan
Shaping the Information Environment in Afghanistan
Understanding and Addressing Counter-Insurgency Information Challenges through Bottom-up, Collaborative planning in the Future Operations Cross Functional Team, ISAF Joint Command
by CDR Ingrid Rader and Edward Ledford
Shaping the Information Environment in Afghanistan Afghanistan from the perspective of an International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Joint Command (IJC) communicator or information professional: a multitude of languages, tribes and sub-tribes; a literacy rate of only about 35%, and a generally xenophobic population with a preference for face-to-face engagements with associates they trust. These characteristics significantly challenge coalition forces’ effective information and communication activities. Of course, as is usually the case with indigenous people, the Anti-Afghan Forces (AAF) — which include Taliban fighters, insurgents, criminals and, in some cases corrupt officials — enjoy obvious advantages. They live among the people. They know the terrain. They understand the social dynamics. They communicate their messages quickly and effectively in a way that can resonate with the audiences they know intimately. These are advantages that ISAF communicators simply do not possess. In Afghanistan, western airborne television broadcasting capabilities, leaflet dissemination, or glossy media products may do more harm than good if they are not thoroughly planned and carefully tailored. Indeed, they might inadvertently serve as ammunition for the adaptable, flexible and responsive enemy propaganda machine.
That environment, the limitations it represents, and other myriad other factors demanded that the IJC FUOPS CFT information and communications planners re-evaluate and redefine more effective ways to approach information operations (Info Ops), psychological operations (PSYOPS) and public affairs (PA).
This essay attempts to share those lessons. It describes how the ISAF Joint Command Future Operations (FUOPS) Cross-Functional Team (CFT) integrates synchronized communications into planning and guidance in the complex Afghan environment. Additionally, in documenting the challenges the FUOPS CFT information communication planners initially struggled with, the essay, as well, aims to provide insight for IJC-bound Info Ops and communications planners and other interested professionals. Here, we will describe our methodology in planning synchronized communications in the 72 hour — 60 day horizon and discuss the factors that contributed to the positive achievements of the team.
The entire FUOPS Synchronized Communications
Team contributed to this article.
Lieutenant Colonel Tomasz Grudzinski,
Polish Army, (Info Ops Planner)
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Gowan,
U.S. Army (PA Planner)
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Manos,
U.S. Army (Info Ops Planner)
Major Niels Vistisen, Danish Army
(PSYOPS Planner)
Commander Ingrid Rader, U.S. Navy
(Info Ops Team Lead)
Edited by LTC Ed Ledford
