The War of Ideas: An Abandoned Front in the Global War on Terror
Abstract
This paper argues that the United States is losing the "war of ideas." The U.S. Department of State is the lead agency for strategic communications in the war of ideas, as distinguished from the U.S. Department of Defense, which leads the physical struggle. Key statements made by U.S. spokespeople are reviewed to identify the State Department's communications strategy, and polling data is reviewed to demonstrate the Department's performance. The State Department's lackluster track record in the war of ideas is linked to three problem areas: resources, organization, and strategy. Each problem area has contributed to a precariously weak wartime posture. Recommendations that can help resolve these issues include the following: (1) a study to better determine the enemy's propaganda expenditures; (2) an approximate three-fold increase in resources (funding and personnel) for the State Department's public diplomacy activities; (2) an organizational architecture that provides unity of command, centralized control, decentralized execution, interagency coordination, and implicit communications across the chain of command; and (4) the development of a new communications strategy that aims more directly at the underlying source or cause of terrorism.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA476278
Entities
People
- Joseph A. Allegretti
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College