Managed Information Dissemination
Abstract
The Task Force determined that U.S. civilian and military information dissemination capabilities are powerful assets vital to national security. They can create diplomatic opportunities, lessen tensions that might lead to war, help contain conflicts, and address nontraditional threats to America's interests. In the information age, no diplomatic or military strategy can succeed without them. Yet America's political and military leaders too often appreciate their value only during a crisis or in retrospect when hostilities are concluded. Despite the positive benefits that accrue from a robust information dissemination program, the Task Force determined that the U.S. Governments's information dissemination organizations today are understaffed and underfunded. They suffer from poor coordination, and they are not integrated into the national security planning and implementation process. Therefore, the United States needs a sustained, coordinated capability to understand, inform, and influence foreign publics that is rooted in the information age. It should be multi-agency and multi-service, adequately funded and adequately staffed. Its communications channels must be highly differentiated; its technologies state-of-the-art. Products and messages must be credible, consistent, and tailored to different audiences in different cultures. America's leaders need to give information dissemination a much higher priority and be willing to use it to communicate effectively to foreign publics. It is a critical element in all policy planning and implementation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA396312
Entities
People
- Vincent Vitto
Organizations
- Defense Science Board