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Strategic Information Warfare Strategic Information Warfare

National Security IssuesNational Security Issues

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Interesting read:

B. Baer Arnold, Cyber war in Ukraine – business as usual for the Russian bear, Homeland Security News Wire, March 13, 2014, http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20140313-cyber-war-in-ukraine-business-as-usual-for-the-russian-bear Roger C. Molander, Peter A. Wilson, B. David Mussington, Richard Mesic: What is Strategic Information Warfare?, 1996, http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monograph_reports/2005/MR661.pdf

IW WeaponsIW Weapons Computer Viruses Worms Trojan Horses Logic Bombs Trap Doors Van Eck devices Chipping Nano machines and Microbes Electronic Jamming HERF Guns - EMP Bombs Penetration exploits and tools

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Schmitt Analysis – Schmitt Analysis – International LawInternational Law

Article 51 of the UN Charter– Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of

individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations

Article 41– The Security Council may decide what measures not involving the

use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the Members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal,telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations

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National Security and IWNational Security and IW U.S. agencies responsible for national security:

large, complex information infrastructure 1990: defense information infrastructure (DOD).

Supports – Critical war-fighting functions– Peacetime defense planning– Information for logistical support– Defense support organizations

Need proper functioning of information infrastructure

“digitized battlefield”

Information OperationsInformation Operations

Command-and-Control Warfare Intelligence-Based Warfare Electronic Warfare Psychological Warfare Hacker Warfare Economic Information Warfare Cyber Warfare

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National Security and IWNational Security and IW

Increased reliance on information infrastructure

Heavily connected to commercial infrastructure– 95% of DOD’s unclassified communication via

public networkNo boundaries, cost effectiveness,

ambiguous

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National Security and IWNational Security and IW

Vital human services– Law enforcement– Firefighters– Emergency telephone system– Federal Emergency Management Agency

Other Government Services and public utilities– Financial sector– Transportation– Communications– Power – Health system

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Information WarfareInformation Warfare

Persian Gulf War: first “information war”After the war:

– U.S. concern about own vulnerability for IW– “strategic” level of information warfare

No clear understanding of objectives, actors, and types of activities

What is IW? – Academia, national security community, intelligence

community, etc.

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Strategic WarfareStrategic Warfare

Cold War: “single class of weapons delivered at a specific range” (Rattray)– E.g., use of nuclear weapons with intercontinental

range Current: “variety of means … can create

“strategic” effects, independent of considerations of distance and range.”

Center of gravity: – Those characteristics, capabilities, or sources of power

from which a military force derives its freedom of action, physical strength, or will to fight (DOD)

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Strategic IWStrategic IW

“…means for state and non-state actors to achieve objectives through digital attacks on an adversary’s center of gravity.” (Rattray)

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SIW Operating EnvironmentSIW Operating Environment

Man-made environmentIncreased reliance on information

infrastructure new center of gravity

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Strategic Warfare vs. SIWStrategic Warfare vs. SIW

Similar challengesHistorical observation: centers of gravity

are difficult to damage because of– Resistance– Adaptation

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Dimensions of Strategic AnalysisDimensions of Strategic Analysis

Threads:– Need to engage in multiple related means to achieve

desired results– Interacting with opponent capable of independent

action Distinction between”

– “grand strategy”: achievement of political object of the war (includes economic strength and man power, financial pressure, etc.)

– “military strategy”: gain object of war (via battles as means)

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Waging Strategic WarfareWaging Strategic Warfare

Creates new battlefields and realms of conflict

Need identification of center of gravity– WWI:

German submarines: strangle U.K. economyAirplanes: tactical use: reconnaissance and artillery

spotting. Strategic use: 1915: German zeppelin: striking cities in England

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Strategic Air PowerStrategic Air Power

Targets center of gravity WWI:

– Deliver devastating strikes– Civilian morale

WWII: – U.S. targets German economic targets– Massive bombing campaigns– Crushing civilian morale– Paralyzing economy

Problems:– Difficulty to achieve general industrial collapse– Grossly overestimated the damage

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Other Weapons – Cold WarOther Weapons – Cold War

Military capacity as means to achieve political leverage through strategic attacks:– E.g., nuclear weapons, ballistic missile, satellite

capability, WMD

Massive retaliation– Ability to use is limited, e.g., 1956 Soviet

invasion of Hungary

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SW – PastSW – Past

Focused on offensive actions Largely ignored

– Interaction between adversaries difficult to determine utility of offensive action

– Defense capabilities, vulnerabilities, and commitment

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Necessary conditions for SW Necessary conditions for SW

Offensive freedom of actionSignificant vulnerability to attackProspects for effective retaliation and

escalation are minimizedVulnerabilities can be identified, targeted,

and damage can be assessed

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SIWSIW

Growing reliance new target of concernCommercial networks for crucial functionsRapid changeWidely available toolsSignificant uncertainties

– Determining political consequences– Predicting damage, including cascading effects

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SIWSIW

Complexity and openness– Weakness– Strength

Difficult to distinguish offensive from defensive

Public information – Vulnerabilities– Incentives

Next classNext class

Security Policies

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