Afghanistan - An IO Strategy

As the complexity of Afghanistan is forcing a relook at the strategy, I think it is time to review our Information Operations (IO) effort.

As with combat, we need to rethink and realign our efforts. I am proposing the following three point strategy:

1. We need to have a strategy that operates at the National level, an effort to move the current government toward legitimacy. This includes the reduction of corruption, a main issue with the rural population.

2. We need to have a strategy that operates at the village/district level, one that is designed to stabilize the rural population and allow redevelopment efforts to bear fruit.

3. We need to have a strategy that operates at the operational level, one designed to target the "Taliban".

This three pronged effort must be synchronized across the spectrum and must move forward quickly or it may be impossible to reverse the tide of events within Afghanistan.

The Future of Information Operations

As we begin to look at the sun set on military efforts in South Asia and the Middle East, the question of what comes next arises. For the Information Operations community, the Regional Commands have already transitioned to self support, with limited outside help from the Services. The former Joint support capability is not as necessary for the day to day operations as was in the past. There was a time limit on this capability and its time is short.

Does that mean there is no need for a Joint capability? The answer is NO. It is time for the Joint capability to mature and evolve. It must shed its apron strings to the operational aspect of Information Operations and begin to provide guidance for the future. What is the state of affairs in South Asia after Afghanistan? What is the impact of the Somali insurgents renewing their ties to Al Qaida? Where is Burma going?

These are just a small fraction of questions that must be addressed by Global Commands as well as the Regional Commands. Who is currently doing this? No one. It needs to be done if we are to plan for the future. Information Operations must also be integrated at the Inter-Agency level.

The most logical step would be the creation of a Joint Inter-Agency Planning Center, a think tank with a small footprint that task organizes to address emerging issues.