Prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Pentagon began a radio propaganda campaing aimed at the Iraqi people with broadcasts of anti-Saddam Hussein messages. The purpose of the broadcasts were to weaken the resolve of Hussein's public supporters and also those in his military.
In part, messages said things like: "People of Iraq...the amount of money Saddam spends on himself in one day would be more than enough to feed a family for a year..." or others directed at soldiers which told of how, during the Iran-Iraq war, Hussein sacrificed thousands of soldiers and when those who were taken prisoner were returned, he cut off their ears "...as punishment for being captured."
These radio broadcast were five hours each night and originated from American planes that flew outside of Iraq. The messages were surrounded by Arabic music.
Using radio as a propaganda tool has historical precedent. During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, U.S. forces used a similar tactic when it aimed radio messages at the Iraqi troops that had invaded Kuwait.
The Sounds of Silence
In December of 1989, when the United States invaded Panama to oust corrupt dictator, Manuel Noriega, one of the first tasks for troops were to silence the pro-Noriega radio stations. Assault teams blew up Radio Nacional's AM and FM stations to stop them from broadcasting recordings of Noriega urging his supporters to fight the Americans.
Under President Ronald Reagan, the U.S. began a radio-based propaganda program aimed at Cuba. On September 23, 1981, the Reagan administration announced its plans for what would become known as Radio Marti. Radio Marti provided unfiltered and uncensored news to Cubans living under the regime of the dictator Fidel Castro.
