@novacaine.13: Philippines in the 1950s, the CIA employed an unusual psychological warfare strategy: exploiting local mythology. One of the most infamous tactics was the use of the aswang legend, a terrifying vampire-like creature from Filipino folklore. By rekindling rural communities’ fear of the aswang, American intelligence managed to spread paranoia among Huk fighters without always resorting to direct military force. Edward Lansdale, an American intelligence officer with extensive experience in psychological operations, became the key figure behind this strategy. Lansdale had previously helped rebuild the Philippine military intelligence network after World War II and was known for his creativity in using culture and mass psychology as weapons. He realized that fear rooted in traditional beliefs could be far more effective than ordinary propaganda, so the aswang myth was turned into a tool to weaken rebel morale. The “aswang operation” was carried out by spreading rumors in villages that the creature roamed Huk-controlled areas. To reinforce this fear, the CIA even staged events on the battlefield: one captured Huk fighter was killed with wounds resembling vampire bites, his blood drained, and his body left behind for comrades to find. When the corpse was discovered, fear spread rapidly, causing many Huk troops to abandon their positions. In this way, collective fear was weaponized into a tangible form of psychological warfare. #kuyang #psikologi #kuntilanak #horror #philippines

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Friday 03 October 2025 10:30:25 GMT