Call Number:

Print Collection 86

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.4 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

Urdu, Persian, Pushto; Pashto, and Arabic

Preferred Citation:

Collection of United States Army propaganda leaflets in Iraq and Afghanistan, 1990-2021, Print Collection 86, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1990-2021 (inclusive)

Form:

Propaganda and Leaflets (printed works)

Abstract:

This collection consists of propaganda leaflets dropped by the United States military over Iraq during the Gulf War from 1990 to 2013 and over Afghanistan for twenty years following the September 11 terrorist attack in New York. The leaflets are in Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Urdu, and English and were designed to represent the United States' military efforts as positive and as working for the Iraqi and Afghan populations against terrorism.

Propaganda media has been used in warfare throughout history; but beginning in World War I, "propaganda became a modern political tool engendering good will across wide demographics," (Norwich University). Based on psychological operations, the intent for propaganda media "involve[s] sharing specific information to foreign audiences to influence the emotions, motives, reasoning, and behavior of governments and citizens [and] can include cyber warfare and advanced communication techniques across all forms of media," (United States Army). While propaganda media types include face-to-face interactions, audiovisual, audio media, and printed paper; this collection consists of leaflets which were dropped over Iraq during the Gulf War from 1990 to 2013 and over Afghanistan following the September 11 terrorist attack in New York until 2021.

Following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in the summer of 1990, the United States led an international coalition against Iraq. Troops, largely from the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, were deployed. During this conflict, propaganda leaflets were created by the United States military and were dropped over the Iraqi forces in an effort to make them constantly aware of the presence of the coalition. Leaflets were frequently anti-Saddam Hussein and encouraged Iraqi soldiers to return to their families rather than fight for Saddam Hussein and to surrender before being bombed. Leaflets were also dropped on the Iraqi people warning of land mines and encouraging the people to report criminals. Leaflets frequently contained information about radio broadcasts. Over the course of the war, leaflets were tested on cooperating enemy prisoners of war (EPW) who suggested changes to the American military designed leaflets, including removing the color red from leaflets, showing Allied soldiers with chin beards rather than clean-shaven, adding luxury items, such as bananas, to images, and removing American-style thought-bubbles from leaflets. After the cessation of conflict, leaflets were again used to encourage the Iraqi population to support a new government and to build a new Iraq.

After the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York on September 11, 2001, the United States declared a war on terrorism, specifically against Osama bin Laden and his global organization, Al-Qaeda. On October 7, 2001, following failed negotiations, the United States military bombed terrorist and Taliban military positions. At the same time, they engaged in a psychological battle to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people and to persuade members of the Taliban to change their position on sheltering Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network. While many Muslims have some reservations about Western culture, the Taliban's extreme restrictions on the education of women and human rights, more generally, have resulted in limited support by the majority of the people of Afghanistan. In an effort to take advantage of the people's suspicion of the Taliban and to persuade them of their goodwill towards the population, the United States used propaganda, in the form of leaflets, in addition to broadcast coordination and food. Many leaflets provided information about radio stations and times of broadcasts that reassured the population that the war was focused on terrorism and not on the people of Afghanistan or their religion. Other leaflets urged the people to avoid military installations, government buildings, terrorist camps, roads, factories, bridges or other potential targets for bombings; ensured that food provided by the American military was halal; and requested support from the population to report Taliban and Al-Qaeda members. Over the course of the conflict, messages in leaflets urged support of the new interim government of Afghanistan and warned of continued dangers of mines and drinking water.

Works cited:

Norwich University. "History of American Propaganda Posters: American Social Issues through Propaganda." https://online.norwich.edu/online/about/resource-library/history-american-propaganda-posters-american-social-issues-through-propaganda (accessed 2025 May 20).

United States Army. "Psychological Operations." https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/specialty-careers/special-ops/psychological-operations (accessed 2025 May 20).

This collection is arranged into two series, I. United States psychological operations in Iraq (Arabic, Pashtu, Urdu) (عمليات الحرب النفسية الأمريكية في العراق) and II. United States psychological operations in Afghanistan (Persian, Pashtu, Urdu, Arabic) (عملیات فکری ایالات متحده در افغانستان (فارسی، پشتو، اردو، عربی)).

Series I. United States psychological operations in Iraq (Arabic, Pashtu, Urdu) (عمليات الحرب النفسية الأمريكية في العراق) leaflets exist in various sizes, papers and colors. In many cases, the same leaflets were prepared in both color and in black and white, on slightly different papers, in different sizes, and containing slightly different vignettes. A popular leaflet resembled a banknote which ensured that people would them up and read them. These leaflets were primarily written in Arabic, but there were some in Pashtu, Urdu and English. By and large, these leaflets were directed to the Iraqi soldiers and/or people and worked to influence against Saddam Hussein, provide access to radio broadcasts, warn about dangers within the country (such as landmines and chemical weapons), and outline rules and regulations for prisoners of war. There are a small number of leaflets produced by the Iraqi army that were intended for United States soldiers and soldiers of the Coalition Forces.

Series II. United States psychological operation in Afghanistan (Persian, Pashtu, Urdu, Arabic) (عملیات فکری ایالات متحده در افغانستان (فارسی، پشتو، اردو، عربی)) leaflets are largely about Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban. These leaflets were produced in Pashto, Persian, Urdu, and Arabic, with a few in English. These leaflets were directed to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban and the people of Afghanistan and worked to influence against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, provide access to radio broadcasts, warn about dangers within the country (such as landmines and water quality), and urge support for the national army and the interim government of Afghanistan.

Across the board, leaflets did not last long. Some were destroyed by supporters of Iraq or Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in order to prevent further dissemination; and others were destroyed by those for whom they were designed due to fear of being found with them. This small sampling of surviving leaflets is a glimpse into the strategies of the United States government to influence public opinion in foreign countries during times of conflict.