Information Operations—Doctrine and Practice — Praeger Security International

Information Operations—Doctrine and Practice A Reference Handbook

Christopher Paul

Book Code: C9591

ISBN: 0-275-99591-7

ISBN-13: 978-0-275-99591-1

DOI:

192 pages

Praeger Publishers

Publication Date: 3/30/2008

List Price: $55.00 (UK Sterling Price: £37.95)

Availability: In Stock

Media Type: Hardcover

Also Available: Ebook

Subjects:

Series Title: Contemporary Military, Strategic, and Security Issues

Reviews:

"The volume is an excellent source of information and is well presented."
—ARBA

Description: A no-nonsense treatment of information operations, this handbook makes clear what does and does not fall under information operations, how the military plans and executes such efforts, and what the role of IO ought to be in the war of ideas. Paul provides detailed accounts of the doctrine and practice of the five core information operations capabilities (psychological operations, military deception, operations security, electronic warfare, and computer network operations) and the three related capabilities (public affairs, civil-military operations, and military support to public diplomacy). The discussion of each capability includes historical examples, explanations of tools and forces available, and current challenges faced by that community. An appendix of selected excerpts from military doctrine ties the work firmly to the military theory behind information operations.

Paul argues that contemporary IO's mixing of capabilities focused on information content with those focused on information systems conflates apples with the apple carts. This important study concludes that information operations would be better poised to contribute to the war of ideas if IO were reorganized, separating content capabilities from systems capabilities and separating the employment of black (deceptive or falsely attributed) information from white (wholly truthful and correctly attributed) information.

Table of Contents:

Foreword
Preface
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Chapter One The History of Information Operations and the Broader War of Ideas as Context
Chapter Two Contemporary Information Operations
Chapter Three Information Content Psychological Operations (PSYOP), Deception (MILDEC) and Operations Security (OPSEC)
Chapter Four Information Systems Electronic Warfare (EW) and Computer Network Operations (CNO)
Chapter Five Related Military Capabilities Public Affairs (PA), Civil-Military Operations (CMO), Military Support to Public Diplomacy (MSPD)
Chapter Six The future of IO
Appendix
Glossary
Endnotes