U.S. PSYOP IN HAITI
(OPERATION UPHOLD DEMOCRACY)

The 4th PSYOP Group booklet PSYOP Support to Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY adds:

Army Reserve magazine of spring 1995 mentioned the Haiti operation. It featured several photographs of reservists handing out 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" leaflets with pictures of Aristide that encourage national reconciliation. Some of the article text is:

Using language capability, cultural sensitivity and information technology, the PSYOP soldiers create a combat multiplier effect giving the U.S. forces an edge in many kinds of conflict situations. Over 80% of U.S. PSYOP forces are Army Reservists, and in October, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC) established the 2nd PSYOP Group, a composite unit made up of Army Reserve PSYOP soldiers from across the nation. In Haiti, PSYOP was tasked with supporting the 8,600 combat troops of the 10th Mountain Division as they oversaw the peaceful change over of the Haitian government.

On the subject of the 2nd Group, The winter 1996 issue of Perspectives, the Journal of the Psychological Operations Association is dedicated to the Haiti intervention. The 2nd  Group deployed 67 reservists to Haiti, assigned from Cap Hatien in the north to Jeremy Jagmel in the south. They put 18 loudspeaker teams in the field. 

There are only two leaflets that are known to have been dropped before the American intervention into Haiti. The first depicts a formal black and white portrait of President Aristide with a Haitian flag in the background. The back of this leaflet has five lines of blue text in Creole:

THE SUN OF DEMOCRACY. THE LIGHT OF JUSTICE. THE WARMTH OF RECONCILIATION WITH THE RETURN OF PRESIDENT ARISTIDE.

The New York Times of September 15, 1994 featured a Reuters photograph of hundreds of the above leaflets showing deposed President Aristide on the streets of an unidentified Haitian city. The caption is, "A U.S. plane dropped leaflets in Haiti supporting the exiled President." The British Broadcasting Company announced on 14 September that two million leaflets were dropped over Port-au-Prince and two other cities asking the population to support the US invasion and demanding the return of Haiti's ousted President Jean-Bertand Aristide. One published report states that seven million leaflets were dropped on Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes and Cap Hatien from 13-17 September. Another says that three million leaflets were dropped on the night of 14 September. A third report states that the Aristide leaflets were dropped over Port-au-Prince and La Plaine during the early morning hours of 10 September. There seems to be much confusion about where and how many leaflets were dropped, but it is clear that before the Americans hit the beaches, the people of Haiti had been psychologically prepared for the intervention.

The Associated Press reported:

Pro-army militiamen beat up some people trying to pick up the American leaflets, which announce the return of Haiti's elected president. Capital Police Chief Michel Francois was heard on the police band ordering soldiers to shoot at the aircraft as they flew over at 2:45 a.m… Mindful of uniformed and plainclothes soldiers and auxiliaries, nervous people intentionally ignored fliers dropped downtown within blocks of the National Palace, seat of the government installed by the army in May, and Haitian army headquarters. Soldiers picked up the fliers that fell on Bel Air before the people could even read them. ‘When the plane flew over, the soldiers at the post cordoned off our area and fired their automatic weapons into the air’.

The second leaflet depicts a radio at the far right with the frequency of the American-sponsored government station, a map of Haiti and the flags of the United States and Haiti at the left. The text is, "Help us to help you. Listen to Radio 1080 AM 24 hours a day." The back is all text,

The American Army has arrived to re-establish democracy. For your own and your family's safety, follow the advice below: Remain calm. Stay indoors. Keep away from windows. Do not form in groups on the street. Leave the American Army alone to work. Do not block traffic. Listen to the radio on 1080 for information. For more information tune your radio to 1080 AM."

This leaflet was dropped along with portable radios on 15 September 1994.

A Haitian who was on the ground during the drop makes an interesting observation. Admittedly he is Pro-Army and anti-Aristide but he says:

I had an opportunity to view the American PSYOP projects from inside of Haiti. The C-130s were a waste of fuel since their broadcasts were much milder than ones already being broadcast on the local Haitian radio stations. Contrary to the propaganda, there was no censorship of Haitian media. They said some awful things about General Cedras. Radio Tropic, one of the most vocal, was just around the corner from Grand Quartier General, the military headquarters. The Americans were broadcasting to Haitians who knew the truth. There was no systematic violence or rape. The military was blamed for many things through very effective propaganda controlled by Aristide.

I can remember the night when low flying 130s dumped radios all over the place. Many of these were turned in to the police, while Haitians claimed to have converted others so they could listen to Radio Superstar.  Loads of leaflets could be seen cluttering the streets. I saved a few.

The Rand Corporation makes an interesting comment on what seems to be this radio leaflet in their Organization Publication MR 1287, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield for Urban Operations.

One proposed PSYOP campaign developed for Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti might prove illustrative of why perception assessment is necessary. Prior to deployment, leaflets were published informing the Haitian populace of U.S. intentions. The original leaflet was published in Dutch, the language of the Haitian elite. The one actually used for the PSYOP campaign was published in Creole, the official language of Haiti, because an astute PSYOP team member realized the need to publish to the wider audience. If the Dutch flier had been dropped on Port-au-Prince, it could have undermined the American mission to the country in several ways. The majority of the population would have been unable to read the flier. The subsequent deployment of U.S. forces into the country therefore, could have been perceived to be hostile. The mission itself, which was intended in part to restore equity within the nation’s social structure, could have backfired if the Haitians viewed the Dutch flier as an indication of U.S. favoritism to the Haitian elite.

The New York Times said on 16 September that:

Paramilitary forces seized many of the thousands of radios that were dropped from an American plane that flew over the capital after President Clinton's speech. Because the security forces have beaten those who stopped to pick up pro-Aristide leaflet scattered in earlier airplane forays, many people today simply ignored the latest flyer, dropped last night which proclaims that "The road to a prosperous future begins with democracy."

Three small leaflets circulated about the time of the American entry. They are not the standard 6 x 3-inch leaflet size. They are 6 x 2-inch in size, black and white line drawings, crude in production and with blank backs. Very little is known about them, but it has always been assumed that they were CIA products.

One shows a rifle round covered by a "prohibited" symbol at the left and an armed soldier exploding at the right. The text is, "There is going to be an explosion. We have destroyed some weapons."

The second shows two soldiers throwing their weapons down on a pile of rifles and pistols. The text is, "Remain where you are. Put your rifles on the ground."

The final leaflet shows a thug holding a club over his head. He is covered with the "prohibited" symbol. The text is, "Don't seek vengeance." One of the great fears of the multinational forces was that the Haitian people would rise up and attack the former police and military that had terrorized them for so many years.

In addition, there were a number of leaflets that were produced but not disseminated. These are standard 6 x 3-inch leaflets, certainly produced by the 4th PSYOP Group, but not approved for some reason. Perhaps they were meant to be used in case the Haitians resisted. All of the leaflets are in black and white.

The first leaflet shows two Haitians surrendering to an American soldier. A pile of weapons is at the left. There are seven lines of Creole text on the back, "This is how you conduct yourself upon arrest. Remove all the bullets that are in your gun. Tie a towel around the barrel of your gun. Place you gun upside down on your shoulder. Approach the multinational soldiers very slowly. If you do these things, all will go fine."

The next leaflet depicts an American soldier in front of a Haitian and American flag. Text on the back is, "The American force will arrive in this zone. They have come to work with leaders of the nation to re-establish law and order for the people of Haiti."

The third leaflet has the same vignette of an American soldier in front of the Haitian and American flag. The text on the back is, "The American Army has arrived here to re-establish democracy in your country. Remain calm. Do not jeopardize military operations. The American Army will work with all speed to finish the job."

The fourth leaflet shows a family walking toward a sunrise. Text on the front is, "Happiness. Democracy. Prosperity. Opportunity. Education." Three lines of text on the back are, "That which leads you to prosperity starts with democracy."

The fifth leaflet shows two clocks. One is at 10:00 p.m., one at 5:00 a.m. The text is, "If you are out during the hours 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. you can be arrested. Harm can come to you." There are five lines of text on the back, "IMPORTANT CURFEW NOTICE! By order of the commander of the multinational force in Haiti, everyone must remain indoors every day from 10 o'clock at night to 5 o'clock in the morning."

The sixth depicts a Haitian solder throwing his rifle away at the left, shaking hands with a U.S. soldier at the right. A similar leaflet vignette was used during Desert Storm, (C54) except it was reversed because Arabs read from right to left. Text on the back is, "People who cooperate will be paid. People who cooperate will have jobs. People who cooperate will be part of Haiti's future."

We mentioned earlier that there was a buy-back program for weapons. LTC Arata discusses this campaign:

Finally, one of the major programs that the infantry battalions, along with other units, were involved in was a weapons buy-back program. The intent of this program was to remove, voluntarily, dangerous weapons and munitions from the streets of Haiti, in an effort not only to protect the local population, but also to enhance force protection for the soldiers in the multi-national force.  Payment price increased according to how dangerous the item was or what operational condition the weapon was in. The better the condition of the weapon, the more money was paid to the Haitian turning it in. Although the intent of the program was worthy, it was the opinion of many that the weapon buy-back initiative was only marginally successful. Most weapons turned in were rusted and non-operational, and most explosives appeared unstable and perhaps posed a greater danger to the soldiers and Haitians handling them at the turn-in station. 

The final rejected leaflet consists of three panes. At the left, a looter comes through a store window. In the center, a citizen informs a U.S. soldier. At the right, the looter is arrested. Text on the back is, "HELP US HELP YOU. Support law and order. Report all criminals. Do not loot. Cooperate with the multinational force."

Two examples of cards

Two examples of bumper stickers

"They can beat you if you respect one another"

Waller mentions the Army's efforts in greater depth,  "The Army's 4th PSYOP Group at Fort Bragg, NC, divided Haiti's population into 20 target groups to be bombarded with different types of leaflets. No detail was ignored. Radio broadcasts began with the crow of a rooster, the mascot for Aristide's party. Leaflets were printed in red and blue, the colors of Haiti's flag. Orange was avoided. It was the color of Haiti's hated military buildings."

About the preparation of the battlefield he says, " Two months before the September 19 intervention, the daily Commando Solo broadcasts began - from 4 to 8 a.m. and 6:30 to 10 p.m. Market surveys showed many Haitians slept during the day because of the stifling heat.

The CIA had its own campaign to psyche out the Strongmen. Anonymous phone calls went out to Haitian soldiers warning that the regime's days were numbered. CIA planes did manage one air drop five days before the intervention; thousands of transistor radios were parachuted in so Haiti's poor could tune into Commando Solo broadcasts."

On the subject of CIA operations in Haiti, The New York Times said on 27 September, "President Clinton has approved a secret contingency plan that authorizes unspecified political activities to neutralize the opponents of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, senior Administration officials said today. In addition, the $5 million plan authorizes the Central Intelligence Agency to spend $1 million on propaganda to help ease Father Aristide's return and to use covert means to protect American forces there from hostile groups, they added."

The following leaflets show some of the important themes and subjects prepared and disseminated by PSYOP troops during Operation Uphold Democracy.

This leaflet shows the flags of the nations of the Multinational Force and reminds the Haitians that the world is concerned for their welfare.

These leaflets show the new well-trained professional Haitian policeman and encourages the populace to listen to his instructions.

This is a unexploded ordinance-warning leaflet and reminds the children of Haiti not to pick up odd items found on the ground.

This leaflet asks the people of Haiti to turn in looters to the multinational forces.

Some American troops in Haiti were issued a small pointee-talkie booklet. The cover shows an American soldier in front of the flags of Haiti and the United States and the text "MWEN SE OU SOLDA AMERIKAN" ("I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER"). The 46-page booklet introduces the troops to Haiti's history, culture and religion, has a pronunciation guide, and ends with a number of Creole phrases and expressions. Some of the more interesting ones for soldiers in peril are:

     

Two pages from the pointee-talkie booklet

Picture showing an injured foot. "English: I am injured. Creole: Mwen Blese."

Picture showing a hand holding a banknote. "English: The Americans will reward you if you if you take me to them. Creole: Ameriken yo ap peye ou, si ou aide mwen alle kote yo ye."

Ambassadors of Peace Do's and Don'ts Card

The "Ambassadors of Peace" card  was a complete lists of Do's and Don'ts issued to American troops who were in country supporting Operation Uphold Democracy.

Another interesting handout depicts a Haitian man attempting to beg gasoline from a US Army soldier in a Humvee. The soldier is clearly telling him "no" and the text warns the Haitians not to interfere with military operations. The back of this handout is blank.

Lieutenant General Henry L. Shelton, Commanding Officer of the 18th Airborne Corps had this to say about PSYOP in Haiti:

"As Commander of Joint Task Force 180 during Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, it is my belief that the integration of psychological operations early in the planning process was critical to the successful execution of the operation. Long before any American military forces stepped ashore, PSYOP helped us quickly accomplish our political and military objectives by semi-permissive operations. Without a doubt, PSYOP won the hearts and minds of Haiti's citizens, as well as setting the stage for the peaceful accomplishment of the Joint Task Force's mission.

There is no question PSYOP saved lives, on both sides, during operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. It proved to be the unsung, yet vitally important, factor in this operation. A true combat multiplier."