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Kosovo: Alliance plays the psychological game into Yugoslav airspace
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Alliance
plays the psychological game into Yugoslav airspace
The US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is conducting psychological operations (psyops) daily throughout the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in a bid to assist the escalating allied air strikes.
The US 193rd Special Operations Wing is transmitting psyops broadcasts outside Yugoslav airspace, according to US Navy Capt Steve Honda, an Italy-based spokesman for US forces involved in the NATO air strikes. The wing is a Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit that flies 'Commando Solos', a group of six EC-130E/RRs that are the world's only broadcast aircraft.
The highly modified C-130 transport aircraft, which look unique because of their large transmission antennas, are believed to be based in Italy. The number of these type of aircraft being used in the Balkans is unknown.
The daily, hour-long broadcasts are aired repeatedly between 11:00 and 13:30 throughout Yugoslavia. As in addition to being shown on one Yugoslav TV channel, the broadcasts run simultaneously on one AM and three FM radio frequencies, Capt Honda said.
SOCOM has also dropped more than 19 million leaflets into Yugoslavia, urging Serbs to turn against President Slobodan Milosevic and effectively end Operation 'Allied Force'. About 60% of the leaflets are aimed at Serb military units, such as the regular army (VJ), while the rest target civilians, mostly in northern cities such as Belgrade and Novi Sad.
The leaflets fall from high altitudes outside Yugoslavia's airspace. "We depend on the winds to carry our leaflets and deliver our message," Capt Honda said. "We think the fact that they got through, and are being shown on Serb TV is encouraging."
One of the leaflets targeting Serb military units depicts a US Army AH-64A Apache helicopter with a Yugoslav Serb tank in its cross hairs and a caption that reads: "Don't wait for me!" Another leaflet shows a similar sketch using a US Air Force A-10.
On the back of these leaflets, a message warns: "Attention VJ forces! You can hide, but NATO forces still see you. Remain in Kosovo and face certain death; or leave your unit and your equipment, and get out of Kosovo now.
"If you decide to stay, NATO forces will relentlessly attack you, with many different weapon systems, from many different nations, from the land, from the sea, and from the sky. Stop following Milosevic's orders to commit genocide and other atrocities against civilians in Kosovo.
"You are responsible for your own actions, and ultimately will be held accountable. The choice is yours!"
As well as airing broadcasts and dropping leaflets, SOCOM has also been conducting classified psyops missions in Yugoslavia, Capt Honda said.
GREG SEIGLE JDW Staff Reporter
Jane's
Defence Weekly