Information operations in pursuit of terrorists
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Authors
Kirpekar, Ulhas
Subjects
Advisors
Arquilla, John
Rothstein, Hy
Date of Issue
2007-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The Global War on Terror is in its sixth year now, and the battle with the Islamist terrorists is being fought both in the physical as well as the informational domain. This research examines the relationship between terrorism and information operations keeping in view Martin Libicki?s notion of information warfare as a Mosaic of Forms. This research begins with the basics of terrorism and information operations, and proceeds to highlight the use of information operations by terrorist organizations and in particular its use by Al Qaeda. In order to compare the complete spectrum of information operations being conducted by United States-led forces in this Global War on Terror, this research includes two detailed studies on the prosecution of information operations from the perspective of both the United States-led coalitions and the anti-coalition elements in Afghanistan and Iraq. The study concludes by highlighting the relevance of Libicki?s constructs in the context of the Global War on Terror and proposes a macro strategy to pursue the Islamist terrorists in the information domain.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Electronic Warfare Systems Engineering
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xvi, 231 p. : 1 map ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.