Historical Examples of 9/11-Style Psyops

What is an example of a PSYOP?

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Examples of psyops include historical events like the Trojan Horse, propaganda efforts such as dropping leaflets or using radio broadcasts to demoralize enemy troops, and modern digital operations using emails and social media to spread misinformation. Other tactics involve using loudspeakers, creating fake airfields, or even broadcasting spooky sounds to confuse and demoralize opponents.  

Historical and military examples 

• The Trojan Horse: 

  A famous ancient example where Greek soldiers hid inside a giant wooden horse to infiltrate the city of Troy. 
• Leaflets and broadcasts: 

  During the war with Iraq, Allied forces dropped millions of leaflets, and during WWII, propaganda radio stations like "Germany calling" were used to demoralize the enemy, notes American Psychological Association (APA) and Wikipedia. 
• Operation Wandering Soul: 

  In the late 1960s, the U.S. Army broadcast eerie audio tracks of ghosts and whimpering soldiers through the jungles to scare and demoralize the Viet Cong, according to Coffee or Die. 
• Mock airfields: 

  During WWII, Allied forces created fake airfields and ports to confuse German radar, says CBS News. 
• False flag events: 

  The Gleiwitz incident in 1939 involved Nazi forces staging a fake attack on a Polish radio station to create a pretext for invading Poland, notes Wikipedia. 

Modern examples 

• Digital misinformation: 

  Today, psyops use the internet to spread fake news, such as the false claim that a video of the 2020 Beirut explosion was a Pakistani missile strike on India, explains NEXT IAS MADE EASY on Facebook. 
• Targeted online campaigns: 

  A campaign called Operation Texonto used spam emails, phishing, and fake websites to demoralize Ukrainians and cast doubt on Russia's position, notes ESET. 
• Social media manipulation: 

  Psyops can involve using social media to create division, spread propaganda, or influence public opinion on a wide scale, says Study.com.
  
   Military psychological operations (PSYOPs), now officially called 

  Military Information Support Operations (MISO), involve using information and non-lethal actions to influence the emotions, motives, and reasoning of foreign target audiences to achieve specific military objectives. These operations use a wide range of media, including face-to-face engagement, print, and radio, to persuade target populations. PSYOP teams are highly trained, adaptive, and often work in small, autonomous teams. 

  What military PSYOPs entail 

  Influencing attitudes and behavior: 
  The primary goal is to influence the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of foreign populations to align with U.S. interests. 
  Using non-lethal methods: 
  PSYOPs employ persuasion, deception, and influence instead of lethal force to achieve strategic objectives. 
  Operating in diverse environments: 
  Teams deploy to foreign locations in peacetime, crisis, and conflict to support U.S. and partner nation goals. 
  Using a variety of media: 
  PSYOP specialists create and disseminate a wide array of materials, such as leaflets, radio broadcasts, and social media content. 
  Conducting information support: 
  PSYOP units support other military operations, build partner capacity, and provide civil authority information support when directed by the President. 

  Skills and training 

  Intellectual and analytical skills: 
  Soldiers are assessed for their ability to analyze operational environments and develop strategic influence options. 
  Adaptability and resilience: 
  The work requires adaptability, mental resilience, and the ability to operate in sensitive or hostile environments. 
  Cultural and language expertise: 
  PSYOP operators develop expertise in foreign cultures and languages to create more effective messaging. 
  Specialized training: 
  The training involves basic combat training followed by 14 weeks of Advanced Individual Training where soldiers learn the specific skills required for the job. 

  Career aspects 

  Career advancement: 
  The specialized skills and unique mission sets can lead to accelerated career advancement. 
  Special pay: 
  Qualified PSYOP soldiers can receive additional monthly special duty pay, language pay, and other incentives. 
  Integrated with special operations: 
  PSYOP is a critical component of U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and its unconventional warfare mission.