Ideas as Weapons: Influence and Perception in Modern Warfare
"I recommendIdeas as Weaponsto military leaders searching for a single source that covers a wide range of topics related to information warfare. . . . The contributing authors areIdeas as Weapons'primary strength. . . . [This book] is an excellent opportunity to begin learning about information warfare or expanding intermediate knowledge of the subject. The articles will provoke valuable thought and discussion."“A book that should be high on the reading list of every American commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, from the theater level down through company.”"[A] must for both military and college-level political science collections."“Having just completed an assignment at the Pentagon, assisting with the research for, and staffing of, a 'Principles of Strategic Communication Guide,' I can safely say that there is no issue that we should strive to learn more about than how we can effectively and successfully wage a ‘war of ideas.’  Balancing the roles played by public affairs, information operations, public diplomacy, and visual information is certainly no easy task; however, if harmony and collaboration between these four elements cannot be attained, in the words of John Paul Jones, we will still have 'not yet begun to fight' the war against radical Islamic extremism.”“Never has information—the lifeblood of ideas, perceptions, emotions, decisions—been more a factor in success or failure than in the post-9/11 world. It has taken us far too long to comprehend fully the implications of use and denial of information. We were experts at it once—now it’s time to get renewed and recharged. This anthology provides a vital first step in this renewal. The rest is up to us. Thanks to these smart, tough professionals, we have a guide.”“Captures many of the tactical information operations that ensured our success during Operation al-Fajr in Fallujah. Kudos to the contributors toIdeas As Weaponswho shed a light on what IO is all about."“Current Army and Marine Corps doctrine, documented in FM 3-24, points out that information operations may often be the decisive line of operation in counterinsurgency.Ideas as Weaponsunderscores the critical role of information in modern conflict and reveals the efforts of numerous serving officers to apply that doctrine under real-world conditions. Perceptions extend to influence, and in our battle of competing narratives with a medieval-thinking enemy, we must learn how to persuasively communicate our message. This compilation will appeal to anyone interested in this underappreciated and understudied component of war.”“While there remains much doctrinal confusion on information operations, this anthology brings clarity to a range of issues and provides practical, relevant, and recent examples from the field, emphasizing the critical role of intelligence in driving operations.”“Ideas as Weaponsprovides a rich menu of expert contributors, important topics, and careful assessment that will be of immense value to scholars in national security studies, to policymakers who must grapple with the ‘war of ideas,’ and to military leaders who must plan and conduct wars both conventional and irregular."“Just what we were looking for—a book on information warfare that centers on people, not machines.”--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.