Untying Our Hands: Reconsidering Cyber as a Separate Instrument of National Power

Abstract

Military considerations significantly influenced development of U.S. national cyber capabilities, resulting in the current U.S. strategic approach that identifies cyber as a military capability. While this strategic approach offers advantages with regard to resourcing, the application of military power is limited by domestic law, international treaty law, and international customary law. Reconsidering cyber as a separate instrument of national power by legally distinguishing cyber activity from an armed attack and consolidating national cyber capabilities within a single, civilian-led organization within the executive branch avoids these limitations and provides additional cyber employment options to national strategic decision-makers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 21, 2017
Accession Number
AD1032283

Entities

People

  • Carl Priechenfried

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computer Networks
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Cyber Defense Techniques
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cyberspace
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Intelligence Community (United States)
  • International Law
  • International Relations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Network Protocols
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Cyber - Legality in Cyberspace