*Lessons from the OSS: How NOT to be an 'Enemy' Propagandist
By IgnoranceIsntBliss
This is more perspective from the OSS's "Psychology of War" 'manual'. The OSS was the precursor to the CIA.
This perspective will examine the tactics and methods used in subverting and demoralizing 'enemy' populations, so that we may understand how not to demoralize and subvert our own groups and efforts and movements.
Note that virtually everythig here was written in the context of the Nazi German enemies. The lessons and rules are virtually timeless and universal.
Lesson #1: Demoralization
The goal of "Morale Operations" is to break the morale and fighting will of the "enemy". For this reason, and it's effectiveness in subverting a movement, 'we' must be careful of doing that within 'our' own 'ranks'.
Note the use of "apathy" as a weapon. In our situation, vast scores of the population are apathetic: they don't care what happens or about any cause. Many people don't even know why don't care, or where they get that attitude. It's actually a complex set of 'attitudes'. Many others know why they're apathetic, and in many cases it's because they see no hope in the 'cause' or the 'greater good'. As a people, at least amonst those who don't worship our government and believe that all is well, it's come to be accepted that nothing can be done.
How many people are going to 'fight' if they're disillusioned, especially if not backed into a 'corner' (yet)? For those projecting power with intent, the ideal would be to break the will of the indiviuals to destroy the cohesive 'ranks', and then back them into a 'corner' on the individual level.
When the assaulter has succeeded and broken the will of the 'enemy', that 'enemy' is likely to use "confirmation bias" to confirm the belief in defeat. From there, the more the victim confirms these prescribed expectations the more "broken" they become. This same concept applies to thought patterns and other beliefs.
The fear referenced here is the fear of defeat. Fear can be a chaotic thing. It can be used to wake people up, but it can also be used to completely break their will. The other examples shed light on this.
When leaders propagandize their own populations with fear they generally seek compliance with programs and ambitions that the population normally wouldn't accept.
Lesson #2: Psuedosupport
Pseudosupport mostly speaks for itself. The lesson here is that we ourselves can unwittingly engage in it by making comments that include examples from Lesson #1.
Projecting the attitudes of defeat will crush the will of 'our' own. It's critical that we self examine our words and attitudes. By "engaging" in pseudosupport 'we' undermine 'our' 'fight'. If we ourselves possess these attitudes we must wonder if we've been influenced by demoralizing propaganda. Overcoming these attitudes can be done by taking offense to the notion that our will to resist has intentionally been broken by the demoralizing aggressor.
Lesson #3: Rumors
Rumors are used to spread subversive messages. For this reason it's important that we try our best to keep from engaging in such activities. Here the principles and ethics of journalism are the guiding light, and important for all people to have some concept of.
Rumors can feed drectly into Lessons #1&2.
An example of this in the Truth Movement is how 'celebrities' like Alex jones are often accused of literally working for the "Zionists", because he doesn't aggressively attack them. Logical fallacies come into play by the rumor propagators, all of his out front contributions are ignored, and then attention is focused on the rumor instead of the goals of the movement.
It's possible that disinfo agent provocateurs originate the rumors, and then those who jump on the bandwagon help spread them thus becoming 'enemy' propaganda agents themselves.
Note that even subtle comments can be subversive and demoralizing.
Lesson #4: Black-Balling
Anyone who's witnessed any online debates, or read articles with comments covering controversial subjects has probably seen this. Ad Hominem, Red Herring and Straw Man attacks are thrown around without any actual debate on the subject itself.
These feed into Lesson #3.
Lesson #5: Subversion - Divide and Conquer
Divide and Conquer is as old as human conflict, and language, itself.
The ideal compromised 'enemy' will be broken into endless factions and groups that more or less hate each other. For example, here in the U.S. we're not only divided by things like left / Right "Binary Politics" (that is prescribed by the media and politicians who desire for us to be divided, but people actually physically fight over issues like which rapper is better, or what color 'rag' they wear. That goes to show how badly divided the populations that suffer the worst have been divided: the ultimate individualism.
Many Americans have been divided from not only their own race or culture, but also their own families. As long as we squabble over the undane and all hate eachother (including ourselves) there cannot be a serious movement.
As you can see, all 5 lessons directly feed into one another, so therefore each must be squashed.
It's time that people start relaizing that there is only the Wealthy/Elite and the non-Wealthy/Elite. "Rich People" (your boss, millionaires, etc) generally dont even come close to the true elite. The Elite are rarely even the people you read in the richest people indexes. For example, even the numbers of those wealthy people are estimates. Then there's the people we don't even know about. This would be the bankers and other types who dominate the scenario from behind the scenes.
See Also:
Declassified: "The Motion Picture as a Weapon of Psychological Warfare"
Official Guidelines for Subversion, Diversion and Division of Populations
