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FOREWORD
This book explores the impact of the Cyber Age on military thinking
and operations worldwide. Four issues are examined: the contrast between the
concept of “cyber operations” used by civilians, including criminals and
terrorists, and the concept of “information operations” used by armed forces;
the differences in information operations (IO) theory among the US, Russian,
and Chinese militaries; the manner in which militaries use information
operations in peace and in war; and the impact of cyber and information
processes on the mind, the military machine, and their interface.
Of special interest are the challenges that the author presents to
American IO experts regarding their terminology and methodology. He clearly
believes that IO terminology is inadequate as it stands and that its “core
capabilities and supporting elements” need to be reevaluated. Mr. Thomas has
been studying foreign IO for nearly ten years so he has an interesting
perspective to offer. He has IO templates from other countries against which to
make his comparison, a perspective possessed by very few Americans. Further,
the author has recognized how cyber processes have allowed criminals and
insurgents/terrorists to practice guerilla warfare tactics and illegal or extremist
activities online. He contends that the subjective nature of war has changed
again and now has a social context unlike any other time in history.
The military reader and security specialist should enjoy this perspective
about the impact of cyber and information processes on our lives. They will
especially enjoy the discussion of the tension between the two perspectives at
the start of the twenty-first century. This work will lead to a better
understanding of the complexity of our digitized lives, will offer new ideas for
US armed forces to consider, and will help analysts identify potential danger
zones.
Jacob W. Kipp
Director, Foreign Military Studies Office
September 2005
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