Information Warfare

Speaker: Farwell, J. (The Farwell Group)

Date: 21 January 2021

Speaker Session Summary

SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Mr. James Farwell (The Farwell Group), as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series.

Mr. Farwell’s brief focused on strategic views of information warfare and the impact that it is having. He began by stating that communication strategy and information warfare are about shaping and changing behavior, as well as managing expectations, using language, action, images, or symbols to achieve a desired effect or end-state. There is no formula for information warfare, however, Mr. Farwell emphasized. He also cautioned the US government (USG) to not let definitions become diversions, as the process of defining terms is often counterproductive. He added that information has always been a feature of warfare; modern technology has just altered how we use it. Information warfare is more common in the operating environment today, however, it will only continue to become more common. In some cases, Mr. Farwell argued, kinetic operations will require priority. In others, information will. He used Ukraine and the 2006 Lebanon War as case studies.

Mr. Farwell then stated that information is important in understanding goals and strategies, and it determines success. In our highly connected world, the internet has transformed the use of communication, blurring boundaries between war and politics and elevating the importance of communication. Furthermore, in our highly connected world, where “every living room can be a battlespace,” information can play a role equal to or superior to kinetic action, Mr. Farwell argued. He stated that strategy requires understanding the power of networks and how to capitalize on them. A major challenge, however, is moving faster than the competition.

Next, Mr. Farwell highlighted that information is “central to the National Defense Strategy’s acknowledgement that we live in a complex global security environment characterized by long-term strategic competition between nations to influence global audiences.” He also stated that successful information warfare requires that you define what constitutes winning or the desired end-state. From that comes strategy, operations, tactics, and metrics. Clear definitions of the obstacles to success are also required, according to Mr. Farwell. He stressed that one must also understand the strategic realities and dynamics on the ground. He used Operation Vigilant Resolve in Fallujah, Iraq in April 2004 and Custer’s attack at Little Big Horn as examples of the disconnect between political leadership at home’s understanding of a situation and that of troops on the ground.

Mr. Farwell then emphasized that the US needs to know its enemy through target audience appreciation. Communication strategy requires dependable intelligence about what the enemy is doing and how it will react when its society faces changes that lead to catastrophe, according to Mr. Farwell. He added that the US must also understand both the potential for information operations and the liability for failure. He used President Lincoln’s approach to the Civil War, President Roosevelt’s approach to World War II, and Putin’s approach to Syria as examples.

To conclude, Mr. Farwell provided a series of quick recommendations. The US must 1) gain local stakeholder support; 2) ensure that its public affairs and information operations work cohesively; 3) inspire support by showing that it will win; 4) encourage local leaders to take the lead as it launches operations; 5) achieve information dominance; 6) deny the enemy opportunities to spread false propaganda; 7) develop a message that resonates with the local population and secure buy-in from local leaders; and 8) let the media tell the story, rather than the government.

Speaker Session Recording

Note: We are aware that many government IT providers have blocked access to YouTube from government machines during the pandemic in response to bandwidth limitations. We recommend viewing the recording on YouTube from a non-government computer or listening to the audio file (below), if you are in this position.

Download Briefing Materials

To access Mr. Farwell’s book for free, please visit https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/InfoWarfare_Web_1.pdf.