نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله English
نویسنده English
One of the most important steps in the process of military operations is conducting information operations, in order to assess the situation and strength of the enemy or the target. These information operations determine the commanders' next decision regarding military withdrawal, attack, etc., in which one of the most influential elements in successful completion of an information operation is cognitive operation and as a result; cognitive elements. In general, cognition is mainly formed based on the information space and can influence the opinion and assessment of the target society, including people and decision-makers, as well as the domestic society, allies, people, and also commanders. In other words, the most prominent tactic which is currently used by US is to employ cognitive elements; that failure to do, can lead to failure in providing the goals and national interests of the United States.
Also to do a successful information or cognitive operation, there is a need to make accurate decision; that won’t happen unless you be familiar with threats in operational environment. After gaining the mentioned knowledge, US tries to change the balance in the region for its own benefit through carrying out intelligence operations; taking over the information environment and also by taking advantage of the information, the cognitive, informational and physical elements and conditions of the region to meet its interests.
In this regard, one of the most important examples of military operations by the United States is the presence of this country in Iraq; the final outcome of this presence was to significantly reduce the military presence and the failure of so-called nation-building and counter terrorism operations.
Research Question:
The main questions of the current research are:
What are the cognitive elements influential in conducting US military operations?
How do these elements predict the future of the American presence in Iraq?
Research Hypothesis:
The hypothesis of the research is that failure in the successful use of cognitive elements in military intelligence operations will lead US to leave Iraq; In other words, the failure to fulfill the cognitive missions of information operations will lead to the military withdrawal of the United States from Iraq.
Methodology (and Theoretical Framework if there are):
Present article uses analytical-descriptive method combined with content analysis and library-based data collection to investigate the role of cognitive elements in conduction military operations (through information operations) by US military.
Results and discussion:
Information operations include some activities and actions, the purpose of which is to have a cognitive impact. In other words, the cognitive element is brought up through the actions and activities under information operations and through the role it has in carrying out information operations, cognitive elements influence US decision to carry out, continue or end an operation or a military campaign.
cognitive elements are present in 5 areas of information operations including Psychological Operations, Military Deception, Operations Security, Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy.
Therefore, if US is not successful in carrying out the cognitive components of an information operation campaign, this means that it did not evaluate the information environment correctly and accurately, did not create the desired effect on the domestic and the target society, and also its information operation has failed. This failure will eventually lead to an end of US military operation campaign. As mentioned before, the Cognitive elements influential on the decision to end a military campaign are Psychological Operations, Military Deception, Operations Security, Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy. In other words, current article shows that cognitive elements which will determine success or failure of a military operation are under information operations and include psychological operations, military deception, operational security, public affairs and public diplomacy; which the US has not been successful in employing and this failure will affect US military withdrawal from Iraq.
Conclusion:
It can be said that US has come to the conclusion that its cognitive information operation, which meant influencing the minds and hearts of its own people and the people of the target society on the one hand, and providing its own information on the other hand, has failed. This has clear examples not only in the minds but also in the field and the real world.
Hence, the current designed operation has failed and its natural consequence is to replace it by other military/information initiatives. Therefore, the phenomenon of reducing the direct military presence in the West Asian region, especially in Iraq, is a trend that will intensify in the coming years.
کلیدواژهها English
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