Headed The Wrong Way: The British Army's Painful Re-Acquaintance With Its Own COIN Doctrine In Southern Iraq by Major Thomas E. Walton Sr

Author:Major Thomas E. Walton Sr. [Walton, Major Thomas E. Sr.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, Iraq War (2003-2011), Persian Gulf War (1991), United States, Aviation
ISBN: 9781786252319
Google: 3DBvCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2015-11-06T02:58:52+00:00

Prioritizing the Defeat of Political Subversion

In Oman, defeating political subversion meant undercutting PFLOAGs negative propaganda aimed at exploiting legitimate grievances and at the Sultan’s reliance on foreign intervention. Restoring confidence in the government in both its willingness and ability to institute reforms was also important. On a more basic level, the people had to see that the government was actually able to secure its gains. They had to be convinced that the government had both the necessary will and the capacity to succeed.{283}

One of the most powerful illustrations that they were succeeding in this regard came when one of the Front’s political commissars, Salim Said Dherdhir, surrendered. When asked what made him decide to switch sides, he replied with the following trail of logic.

“Because your are here–and you could not be here in the West unless the loyal firqats were with you. You would not have any firqats unless the people supported them and you would not have that support if the rumours (sic) of progress and development I have heard are true. If they are true, then the Front has told me lies. If they lied on that, they probably lied on other things. Therefore I have surrendered to you”.{284}

The government also utilized an innovative information program to counter subversion. Qaboos allowed the sale of transistor radios on the open market, at minimal cost, in direct contrast to his father’s earlier policy. An earlier attempt to provide the radios free met with failure, as they ended up stolen or destroyed at checkpoints manned by adoo. The jebalis were a bit more protective of that which they purchased. Because of this, enough radios survived to allow Radio Dhofar to provide credible broadcasts to the people as an alternative the blatant and somewhat obvious distortions coming out from Aden. It also allowed the government to focus the attention of the people on development projects, agricultural programs, and public services to improve health and education.{285}

The information service also printed leaflets portraying these positive efforts to assist the people against the backdrop of the enemy’s hostile attempts to eradicate tribalism and Islam. Promotion of Islam and accommodation of tribalism together provided an effective wedge for the government to drive between the people and PFLOAG. In producing such products, those involved were careful to adhere to the guidance provided by Arab/Dhofari advisors so that distributed products appealed to an Arab rather than a western mindset. As with all other aspects of the COIN campaign in Dhofar, the British trained Omani officials to take over this vital program as soon as they were capable of doing so.{286}

One Dhofar vet who was employed as a civilian in support of psychological operations proudly cites how powerfully he co-opted the importance of the Islam faith to the people of Dhofar. He produced leaflets communicating in easily understood pictures and Arabic language, “Freedom is our aim; Islam is our way.” This message resonated with the people and stood them in stark contrast with the Marxist leadership of the Front and the barbaric methods they employed in an attempt to make them renounce their faith.

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