Under The Same Sun: "Anti-Insurgency" Hotline in Iraq

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November 02, 2004

"Anti-Insurgency" Hotline in Iraq

The U.S. Army has set up an "anti-insurgency" hotline " where Iraqis can phone in anonymous tips."

In two interviews with Arabic TV networks on Monday, Brig. Gen. Jeffery Hammond assumed the role of a big city American police chief, squinting into the camera and beseeching Iraqis to phone in anything they know about planned attacks.
"When you see this terrible insurgent about to do something, pick up your phone and call me. I'll do something about it," said Hammond, deputy commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. "We can fight this war together. You can help me fight — in secret."

...

"The choice is simple," Hammond continued. "You can choose the choice of the insurgent, which is death. Or you can choose the path of the interim government, which is life."

"I understand that you're scared. I'd be scared too," Hammond said. "But someone in Baghdad sees the insurgent, knows the insurgent. Tell me what it is you know."

Yes, it's one of those do you laugh or do you cry stories. As the piece notes later, some of the phone calls they did get were, well, less than helpful. But it got me thinking: who is this aimed at? I mean, if you are really trying to crush the rebellion in Iraq, you know this this "hotline" is worthless -- people have a tendency not to like foreigners who bomb them from helicopter gunships, drop 500 pound bomsb on their houses, and cause deaths of tens of thousands of their countrymen and install puppet regimes. Propaganda loses its potency under such circumstances, you know. On the other hand, I didn't see this touted in U.S. media either, so it doesn't seem to be a propaganda ploy directed at the American public, although much of the news and press releases and announcements made by the occupation is just that: propaganda for domestic, not Iraqi, consumption. In fact, this one was aired specifically at Arab television stations.

This, I think, is an example of propaganda aimed at oneself. It's quite plasuible that the U.S. army needs to continuously indoctrinate itself, especially in the face of the reality of the occupation. Think about it: from the lowest-ranked soldier to the top brass, those stationed in Iraq can't but know, at some level, that the populace is strongly against their presence in the country, sympthasizes with the insurgency, and wants the occupiers out, now. On the other hand it's harder to kill --and to risk life and limb-- when you admit that you're acting as a hired gun for an unpopular, imperial occupation. So, there's a huge need for generating propaganda aimed not only at the American people but at the armed forces itself, including obviously ridiculous gestures like this.

Posted by zeynep at November 2, 2004 10:36 AM

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There is at least one reason for the hotline: to point to an anonimous Iraqi as the sourse for information about a "Zarqawi safehouse".

Posted by: Val at November 2, 2004 01:39 PM

Hey, that really makes sense. I think you're right.

Posted by: zeynep at November 4, 2004 12:02 AM

Posted by: cialis at January 19, 2005 01:54 PM

Under The Same Sun

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November 02, 2004

"Anti-Insurgency" Hotline in Iraq

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