On August 20, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Ben Jensen was quoted in an article in the New York Times titled “How the Taliban turned social media into a tool for control.” In the article, Jensen remarks on the purpose of Taliban social media content in convincing the populace that they can govern a nation.

The Taliban don’t need to post content to remind the population they are brutal…The population knows that. What they needed were images that showed they could govern and integrate the country.

Benjamin Jensen
Forward Defense

Forward Defense, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, generates ideas and connects stakeholders in the defense ecosystem to promote an enduring military advantage for the United States, its allies, and partners. Our work identifies the defense strategies, capabilities, and resources the United States needs to deter and, if necessary, prevail in future conflict.

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