The 26 July 2012 AP story “Pentagon still grappling with
rules of cyberwar” (see http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-still-grappling-rules-cyberwar-224538248.html)
is an intelligence indicator that if the rules of ‘conflict’ are unclear then
the Cyber PSYOP rules must be clear as mud.
We are facing a cross section of
enemies and adversaries who are very proficient in using the Internet to
further their goals and as an influence vehicle.
The notion of the ‘strategic corporal’ is real. Actions in
the street in one part of the world are spider webbed globally via the
Internet. We have also seen that Social Media are a powerful means to generate
a wide range of actions to a variety of target audiences. In addition we know
that future conflicts and hot spots will cross an incredible range of
socio-economic and geographic lines. Urban centers as well as rural AOs are
likely to be the setting for MISO during the next decade.
All of this means that it is vital to sort out the Rules of
Engagement (ROE) for Cyber Influence now before they are needed. In fact it is
probably more prudent to take diligent steps now than to sit on our hands and
watch our enemies and adversaries gain even more ground in the cyber influence
war.
Given all the above who should be the Champion of Cyber
Influence? From a DOD perspective, it seems only logical to me that USSOCOM is
the driver. According to the SOCOM website: “The Unified Command Plan assigned
USSOCOM responsibility for synchronizing Department of Defense plans against
global terrorist networks and, as directed, conducting global operations.
USSOCOM receives, reviews, coordinates and prioritizes all DoD plans that
support the global campaign against terror and then makes recommendations to
the Joint Staff regarding force and resource allocations to meet global
requirements.” (http://www.socom.mil/Pages/AboutUSSOCOM.aspx).
SOCOM should be leaning on the Army Special Operations
Command and the Army Reserve to assist by providing personnel to assist in this
vital mission. Clearly this assumes a strong linkage to the Training and
Doctrine Command so that influence operations can be mainstreamed into the
training of the “Big Army” to help soldiers prepare for their individual roles
in the on-going influence war.
Photo: Mud Pool in New Zealand: http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/947720
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