Air University Student Research Paper 2000
Title: Air War Over Serbia: It Is Important To Win The
Information War
Subject: This paper is a result of the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff's direction to study the air war portion of Operation
Allied Force.
Author(s): Robin F. Grantham,
DTIC Keywords:
Abstract: An examination of the public affairs strategy of the
Air War Over Serbia (part of the NATO Operation Allied Force), reveals
that tactics were well understood, but strategic guidance was missing.
The research involved looking at the archive of information gathered primarily
in theater which related to the conflict. While it is as important to
win the information war as it is to win the physical war, both campaigns
need an overall game plan, a sense of direction, and a way to assess the
results. The information campaign was a shotgun approach, lacking in concentration
of forces or effort. Just as the operations effort must take into account,
the public information portion of a conflict must assess the enemy threat
and be prepared to counter asymmetric warfare-in this case blatant propaganda
and control of media access-and be prepared to launch a credible offense.
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