Allies in the Shadows: Why We Need Operational Deception
Abstract
This paper is aimed at convincing the joint task force commander that deception offers distinct advantages to even today's military that relies upon the idea of overwhelming combined arms force to achieve objectives. The joint task force commander should expand the current scope of deception, treat it as an offensive weapon, and fully integrate it into theater plans because it does three things: it helps create the illusion of strengths where weaknesses exist in the commander's forces; it can manipulate the enemy into a position of disadvantage at the time and place of the commander's choosing; and it can lead to the element of surprise, even at the theater strategic level. Historical case studies indicate that deception is a tool that can create an exploitable imbalance in forces, to the theater commander's advantage, by manipulating an adversary's actions in time and space. Possibly by such modest means as education, training, and reforms to staff structures we could better exploit the advantages that deception brings to the commander. Even in the modern, sensor-rich environment, deception is an economical, proven, and powerful weapon that the joint force commander must use, and guard against, by employing the talents of a dedicated and discrete team of deception professionals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 18, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA426011
Entities
People
- Rem B. Edwards Iii
Organizations
- Naval War College