Ideas as Weapons - Influence and Perception in Modern Warfare

The United States has struggled to define its approach to what has been termed the 'information battlefield' since the dawn of the information era. Yet with the outbreak of the war on terrorism, the United States is being violently challenged to take a position and react to militants' use of emerging information technology. Ideological demigods operating against the United States now have unprecedented channels by which to disseminate their message to those uncertain, sympathetic, or actively engaged in their philosophy. From the caves of southeastern Afghanistan to the streets of Baghdad, 'the message' has dominated the thinking of those who perpetrate horrific acts of violence, whether in the name of ideology, ethnic and sectarian partisanship, or religion. This book seeks to illuminate the uses of information in armed conflict by juxtaposing the views of those who engage in manipulating information against the historic context. The anthology is divided into four sections: geopolitical, strategic, operational, and tactical. The geopolitical perspective is that dominated by world politics, diplomacy, and the elements of national power excluding military force. The strategic view examines where the violence has begun and the military element of power that has become a major contributing factor. The operational perspective handles the campaigns to accomplish a specific purpose on the world stage - for example, the Iraq campaign. Finally, the tactical level takes into account the individual and the individual clashes within the campaigns at issue. Because the nexus of information conflict is most easily viewed in the world's contemporary violent confrontations, this anthology is heavily weighted toward military personnel who have managed these difficult issues.Table of ContentList of Illustrations; Foreword; Acknowledgments; U.S. Military Ranks; Introduction; Part I: Geopolitical; Part II: Strategic; Part III: Operational; Part IV: Tactical; Conclusion: Information in Conflict; Notes; Index; About the Editors and Contributors.Review Quote"Never has information - the lifeblood of ideas, perceptions, emotions, decisions - been more a factor in success or failure than in the post-9/11 world. It has taken us far too long to comprehend fully the implications of use and denial of information. We were experts at it once - now it's time to get renewed and recharged. This anthology provides a vital first step in this renewal. The rest is up to us. Thanks to these smart, tough professionals, we have a guide." - BGen Tom Draude, USMC (Ret.), president, Marine Corps University Foundation "Captures many of the tactical information operations that ensured our success during Operation Al-Fajr in Fallujah. Kudos to the contributors to Ideas as Weapons who shed a light on what IO is all about." - Lt.Gen Richard F. Natonski, USMC "Current Army and Marine Corps doctrine, documented in FM 3-24, points out those information operations may often be the decisive line of operation in counterinsurgency. Ideas as Weapons underscores the critical role of information in modern conflict and reveals the efforts of numerous serving officers to apply that doctrine under real-world conditions. Perceptions extend to influence, and in our battle of competing narratives with the enemy, we must learn how to persuasively communicate our message. This compilation will appeal to anyone interested in this underappreciated and understudied component of war." - Gen James N. Mattis, USMC "While there remains much doctrinal confusion on information operations, this anthology brings clarity to a range of issues and provides practical, relevant, and recent examples from the field, emphasizing the critical role of intelligence in driving operations." - BGen Richard M. Lake, USMC "Ideas as Weapons provides a rich menu of expert contributors, important topics, and careful assessment that will be of immense value to scholars in national security studies, to policymakers who must grapple with the 'war of ideas,' and to military leaders who must plan and conduct wars both conventional and irregular." - Stephen J. Cimbala, distinguished professor of political science, Penn State University - Brandywine "Just what we were looking for - a book on information warfare that centers on people, not machines." - Martin van Creveld"Biographical NoteMAJ G. J. DAVID JR., USMC, has years of field experience in the operating forces, with the Joint Staff, National Intelligence Agencies, and military services of the United States and other nations. He resides in Arlington, Virginia. T. R. MCKELDIN III began his service as a Marine combat engineer officer and is now an intelligence officer and a Marine Reserve lieutenant colonel. He has served in operations in Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Somalia, South Korea, and Kosovo, among other countries. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, he now teaches intelligence strategy, policy, and collections at the National Defense Intelligence College in Washington, D.C.