Battle without Bullets: Psychological Operations During the Baghdad Surge

The Surge in Baghdad was fought on two fronts. Explosive ordinance, automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and armored vehicles on one front to gain the city streets. The other front was the battle to gain the confidence and trust of the citys residents. The latter fired words rather than bullets and was considered by those who did it, equally difficult. Psychological Operations, PSYOPS, used by the 318th Psyop Company and the author, a principal leader in the battle of words, shows how the U.S. Army actually used the technique to aid significantly in the victorious Surge in Baghdad.