Fighting the new media war
In Afghanistan, there is little doubt that NATO forces control the air, most of the ground as well as the sea.
But what they don't control is the airwaves and in particular, mobile media tools like video-capable cell phones.
And the Taliban has been using these tools to win the propaganda war.
But it appears NATO may be getting smarter.
From the http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7662549.stm
A radical new plan is being considered by the UK government to counter growing Taleban propaganda in Afghanistan, the BBC has learned.
The programme involves using new media like mobile phones and the internet to empower ordinary Afghans to contradict the prevailing Taleban message.
Non-governmental organisations would distribute mobile phones to Afghans for them to make their own video diaries.
Anti-Western films already circulate on Afghanistan's estimated 6m mobiles.
These films are also distributed among the country's half a million internet users.
