Original U.S. Psychological Operations Leaflet (Militia Reporting / Informant Recruitment) Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, c. 2004–2007
Original double-sided U.S. psychological operations leaflet encouraging Iraqi civilians to report militia activity, using humor and everyday urban imagery to normalize surveillance and cooperation with coalition-backed security structures.
Leaflet Number: 130
Operation: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Conflict / War: Iraq War
Year: c. 2004–2007
Country / Theater: Iraq
Language(s): Arabic
Format: Original printed leaflet, double-sided
Provenance: Surplus copy retained outside field distribution. Acquired from the personal materials of an unnamed U.S. military servicemember. Never airdropped or field-distributed.
Translation:
Front (dialogue scene):
“Citizen from Baghdad: My car is heavy and my pocket is starting to empty.”
“Militia member: Thank you, citizens. Remember, I am here to help you.” Report militia activities at the following numbers:”
0790-173-7723 / 0790-173-7724 / 0790-173-7725 / 0790-173-7726
baghdadtipshotline@yahoo.com
Imagery:
A cartoon-style street scene shows a civilian at a fuel pump, smiling uneasily while a militia member siphons or extorts fuel behind him. The exaggerated caricature frames militia actors as parasitic and exploitative. The use of humor and familiar daily hardship, fuel scarcity and petty corruption, grounds the message in lived experience.
Objective:
To delegitimize militias by portraying them as opportunistic criminals exploiting ordinary citizens, while simultaneously encouraging civilians to act as informants. The inclusion of multiple phone numbers and an email address operationalize the message, converting perception into actionable intelligence gathering. The tone blends satire with grievance, aiming to erode passive tolerance of militias and redirect loyalty toward coalition-aligned authorities.
Exhibited in Khajistan: Office of War Information (O.W.I.) at Pioneer Works, New York, May 08 – Aug 09, 2026.
Karachi, After Midnight Series
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