Influence Operations

<p>The first part of the paper helps detail the argument for why an effective influence organization is required. The second part of the paper examines successes and failures of the US information influence and propaganda machine in previous conflicts and possible lessons learned. The third part of the paper outlines a recommended organization to meet the requirement detailed in part one. The research method used for this paper is the problem/solution method. The paper examines the problem of the United States Government's lack of an effective organization to enable unity of effort in countering propaganda by VEOs. This paper explores a solution to maximize efficiency and improve the United States Government's ability to counter VEO influence. The United States Government needs to create an organization dedicated to influence operations with the necessary authorities manpower and budget to perform operations at the appropriate attribution levels to effectively win the information component of the Global War on Terror. Significant unclassified documentation exists regarding the execution of information operations in both current and past operations. Primary sources for this paper included Air University Library textbooks and magazines as well as material from online resources such as EBSCOhost ProQuest and LexisNexis. References included PME based research papers professional journals and various geopolitical websites. Additionally the author conducted interviews with information operations experts via phone and email.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>