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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| New media plan to combat Taleban | New media plan to combat Taleban |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A radical new plan is being considered by the UK government to counter growing Taleban propaganda in Afghanistan, the BBC has learned. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | These films are also distributed among the country's half a million internet users. |
| Propaganda war | Propaganda war |
| The plan has been devised by an outside consultant. Although no decision has yet been taken, it is said by the Foreign Office to "have merit". | |
| It envisages having up to 100 short films made by Afghans ready in time for a film festival next summer. | |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| Whitehall officials say the aim is to deprive the Taleban of its virtual monopoly on propaganda using new media. | Whitehall officials say the aim is to deprive the Taleban of its virtual monopoly on propaganda using new media. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said there was a growing realisation in Whitehall and Washington that the US-led coalition had been losing the propaganda war in Afghanistan to the Taleban. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said there was a growing realisation in Whitehall and Washington that the US-led coalition had been losing the propaganda war in Afghanistan to the Taleban. |
| The coalition's reputation was particularly damaged by the recent distribution of mobile phone footage showing the bodies of dozens of Afghan civilians killed in a US-led raid in August, our correspondent added. | The coalition's reputation was particularly damaged by the recent distribution of mobile phone footage showing the bodies of dozens of Afghan civilians killed in a US-led raid in August, our correspondent added. |
| On Sunday the UK's commander in Helmand said Britain should not expect a "decisive military victory" in Afghanistan. | On Sunday the UK's commander in Helmand said Britain should not expect a "decisive military victory" in Afghanistan. |
| Brig Mark Carleton-Smith said the aim of the mission was to ensure the Afghan army was able to manage the country on its own. | Brig Mark Carleton-Smith said the aim of the mission was to ensure the Afghan army was able to manage the country on its own. |
| The number of UK soldiers killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 currently stands at 119. | The number of UK soldiers killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 currently stands at 119. |