Will the Pentagon defend its information warfare plans - this time?

The Pentagon’s evolving information warfare strategy is coming under attack again – from one of the same New York Times reporters whose falsehood-laced story killed the nascent Office of Strategic Influence (OSI) last February.

This time, the question must be asked: Will the Department of Defense, and particularly its office of public affairs, defend this vital aspect of next-generation warfare?

Disloyal political appointees and undisciplined careerists spun the OSI out of existence by lying to journalists that the short-lived office was considering planting disinformation in the press. A DoD General Counsel investigation found no truth to the allegations. But the ensuing media outrage was enough to force OSI to be killed.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced that he wanted the OSI’s mission – a slice of the full information warfare spectrum – to continue. Press reports indicate that he has been true to his word, and that DoD is producing proposals on waging information warfare as a key component of America’s arsenal. The far Left, led by columnist Bill Arkin, began the campaign to cripple Rumsfeld’s intended plan. Now, one of the same New York Times writers whose misleading report sabotaged OSI is back on the story.

The bottom line is: Information warfare is a vital part of our nation’s ability to defeat our enemies. Will the Pentagon public affairs office do its job this time?