Asymmetrical Threats: A Vital Relevancy for Information Operations
Abstract
The end of the Cold War resulted in significant realignments of alliances and an increase in regional instabilities. The former Soviet Union, once the predominant threat to American security, has been supplanted by rogue and failed states and nonstate networks and actors. These entities attempt to avoid confrontation with our conventional military capabilities by striking weak points in our Nation's social, economic and political structures, or by taking advantage of perceived U.S. military vulnerabilities. Adversaries increasingly respond to U.S. military dominance by pursuing indirect, unorthodox or surprising approaches, and using the capabilities of information technology, especially the Internet, as a tool of asymmetric warfare. Because of this, Information Operations has emerged as a critical component of the Army's operational readiness. Information Operations is defined as, "the integrated employment of the core capabilities of electronic warfare, computer network operations, psychological operations, military deception and operations security, in concert with specified supporting and related capabilities, to influence, disrupt, corrupt or usurp adversarial human and automated decision-making while protecting our own." Space professionals, by their access to and understanding of the relationships between the core Information Operations capabilities, are particularly well qualified to support Information Operations against asymmetric threats.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA518865
Entities
People
- Kevin T. Campbell
Organizations
- United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command