Grand Strategy for Information Age National Security.
Abstract
Current national security strategy is obsolete. Based upon industrial age threats and defenses with limited information-age applicability, it fails to defend against structured information attacks threatening U.S. centers of gravity, and relies upon DoD as sole provider of national defense in the information dimension. U.S. technology dependence presents a strategic threat to the information systems that control key aspects of our national power. Future competitors may undermine our national will to fight by exploiting our reliance upon information systems, our present technological vulnerability. This threat would be most effective in situations where U.S. forces application is discretionary, and the desirability of employment is not obvious. The study proposes a strategic framework demonstrating the potential strategic effects of information weapons employment and conceptualizing both offensive and defensive information campaigns, highlighting shortfalls in present policies by suggesting accessibility of U.S. centers of gravity and limitations of protecting against employment of information weapons. It recommends that certain information systems, as strategic national security assets, require protection and demonstrates how strategic warfare's scope expands into the broader information dimension of conflict. Information assurance should be the theme for US defensive grand strategy, giving priority to the systems most essential to our national information infrastructure and systems that permit command and control and employment of military forces. A strategic plan for information assurance is offered.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 12, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA311158
Entities
People
- Arne J. Nelson
- Bruce M. Lawlor
- Kevin J. Kennedy
Organizations
- United States Army War College