Propaganda and intelligence : Iraq 2005–2007

Propaganda and intelligence became interrelated on the operational level in the IraqWar after General Casey called for the creation of an Information Operations TaskForce (IOTF) in 2005. The intelligence function of the IOTF was to undertakemeasures of effects of the propaganda efforts which also entailed psychologicaloperations or PSYOP. The measures of effect entailed data gathering by polling andsurveying the 30 million recipients of the propaganda effort through television commercials, radio broadcasts, newspaper editorials and street billboards. The data gathering and subsequent analysis were significant in the planning and implementation of theBaghdad Security Pact and the Petraeus Surge of coalition forces commencing April2007 as a prelude to the withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq in 2010. This articleprovides an eyewitness account of this process by the Director of Research of theIOTF