The Death of Information Operations

<p>Across the Air Force Airmen agree that Information Operations (IO) is a topic worthy of our attention but few Airmen can agree on exactly what IO is. The primary source of this confusion traces back to the very label we are using. The word information in its name implies a direct and exclusive relationship between IO and Information Superiority as well as the Information Domain. Another contributing factor is the persistent confusion between influence capabilities provided by IO and influence effects the essence of all warfare. In the end reliance on information as the common denominator for this set of capabilities eventually led to IO tribalism within the Air Force and an inefficient everything is IO mindset. If Air Force IO is going to provide relevant and useful engagement options to commanders it must bring specific capabilities to the fight not already clearly defined in our air warfare space operations or mobility doctrine. The Air Force made significant progress by streamlining its version of IO in January 2005 but still did not clearly define a replacement for information as the entrance qualifier for IO doctrine. Without a common glue to bind these capabilities IO is simply a conglomeration of unrelated and otherwise orphaned mission areas. This research paper examines IO concept development over the last decade and investigates some of the problems resulting from recent Air Force IO terminology and doctrine.</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>