November 2011 – Kenya’s Defense Force strikes new paths while being on war against the Al-Shabab militia in Somalia. Recently Major Chirchir, army spokesperson, used his Twitter account to issue a warning: ten villages in Southern Somalia would soon be attacked. Whoever receives this message, he added, should warn their friends or family living in these villages.
In mid October 2011 Kenya had sent her troops to Somalia to fighting against the terrorist threat of the Al-Shabaab militia. Since then news have gone to and fro. Possibly to become independent from reports by classic media, Major Chirchir busies himself twittering the war’s progress while about 2500 people “follow” him.
An army utilizing such ways of communication isn’t totally new. The US Army has been twittering for years with all guns blazing, also the German Bundeswehr and the British Forces. The questions remains: Why would I tell publicly when and where I am going to attack? After all, twitter can be read by friends and enemies as well.
Major Chirchir had to face the very question: Why do warn them, if I may ask, one follower inquired. His answer was somehow confusing by pointing out that the warning would allow the innocent to escape before the bombing. And the bad guys too, I might add.
Twittering attack plans is most likely a way of counter terror. Those having been warned may spend half of their time watching the skies in fear for jet fighters dropping their deadly load on them. Good and bad guys alike may also decide to run away, leaving the terrorist infrastructure damaged.
Will it work? In times where Twitter is still a rather new development, the Kenyan army scores at least on the communication battle field. The news on the twittering Major currently circles the news of media that wouldn’t otherwise care much for Kenya’s questionable reaction to a terrorist threat. Whether it will help to win a real war is another question.
By the way: The picture on the left is taken from the US Navy’s social media guide which uses a modernized warning poster from the World War II. Then and now the posters are meant to keep the soldier’s loose mouths shut respectively their loose fingers still not to giving away valuable information to the enemy.
