War in the Age of Information: The Military and the Media
Abstract
This paper examines the ability of the military to conduct war in the age of information. It begins with an examination of how the media has changed the environment of the modern battlefield and the critical importance of the operational commander's understanding the implications of this change. This paper argues that the future commander must possess the necessary skill as a war fighter to achieve a military victory on the battlefield. Second and equally important, he must be a communicator. Everything a manager does -- from motivating and influencing others, to controlling and modifying their behavior - - revolves around communications. He must possess an appreciation of the political foundation of war, the various audiences that constitute the political foundation, and the importance of very carefully presenting our case to these various audiences. The focus of this paper is on the role of the media as a new driver in modern warfare, how it has changed the nature of warfare, and how it has blurred the distinction between combatant and noncombatant. Military actions in Grenada and Panama demonstrated that otherwise successful operation are not considered total successes unless the media aspects are properly handled, an area generally given relatively little attention compared to other war fighting skills.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 11, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA236974
Entities
People
- Richard E. Fridley
Organizations
- Naval War College