3-53. Military information support operations exert significant influence on foreign target audiences and are often the primary capability for affecting behaviors among these audiences. During stability operations, psychological operations forces advise commanders and staffs on the psychological effects of their operations, provide public information to the target audience to support humanitarian assistance, and assess adversary propaganda. Although public affairs is only authorized to inform audiences, whereas military information support (psychological operations) forces are also authorized to influence approved target audiences, forces can leverage both of these information-related capabilities to counter adversary propaganda and misinformation. For example, public affairs may present factual, verified information that counters false or misleading claims and unfounded rumors. Effective military information support operations support communications with the local populace, reduce civil interference with military operations, support efforts to establish and maintain rule of law, and influence the host-nation attitude toward external actors. The approved objectives and themes of military information support operations are integrated through the operations process to ensure military forces effectively and efficiently apply limited resources. When supporting a friendly host-nation government, local key leaders and key communicators in whom the populace has confidence should help disseminate messages to enhance message legitimacy in public perception. Furthermore, persons from the same society as the target audience can also better communicate in the cultural context, phrasing messages in a manner that will better resonate with the target audience.