The InfoWar BattleSpace: Some Thoughts

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This is part of the trend toward a Total War environment, where everyone can participate, or have their words used in the ongoing war effort by either (or both) side(s). This is where opponents of the war have the unintended effect of making the conflict last longer by giving aid and moral comfort to the enemy.

One of the things that I wonder about is what would this look like if there was a shooting war in America between two (or more) factions? Don't laugh---I know people who say it is unavoidable, and are making preparations for it now. I am making Defensive Preparations only, as I don't intend to go hunting people if the balloon goes up.


Below is the article that set me to thinking...

The media has increasingly become a battlefield in the war on terror. In the past two months, the Iraqi hostiles have increased their efforts to shoot down helicopters. Such attacks, which can kill as many as a dozen Americans in a single attack, are intended to make a big media splash. The enemy has sought to generate media coverage in order to weaken the will of the American people. This is what happened with the crashed helicopters in Somalia after the 1993 firefight. The media coverage of two shot-down Blackhawk helicopters, and dead American troops being dragged through Somalian streets, was what forced the pullout. In reality, the American troops had won a tactical victory in the 18-hour firefight.

One recent example of what has led to this frustration with the media coverage from Iraq is the latest tape from Ayman al Zawahiri, the number two man in al Qaeda. Zawahiri's tape not only carried personal shots at President Bush, it also had comments directed towards the Democrats, reminding them of their opposition to American efforts in Iraq. The fact that Zawahiri is calling out the Democrats does indicate a sense of nervousness about the American " surge" (21,000 additional troops in Iraq) and changes in the rules of engagement. At the same time, the media seems to be glossing over this fact.

The tape by Zawahiri leads to another question: Are the changes in the rules of engagement and the deployment of additional troops working? Again, reports ignored by the mainstream media can answer the question. Moqtada al Sadr. and senior elements of his Mahdi militia, have apparently fled to Iran to avoid capture or being killed. Also largely ignored is the fact that many people in Baghdad have welcomed the surge. One would think that much of this would be relevant to the recent debate over the non-binding resolution in Congress. But it doesn't appear, and is ignored, as many other signs of progress have been over the nearly four years since the start of the war.

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