This presentation discusses enabling successful information operations (IO) in coalition settings from an Australian perspective. It reviews recent coalition operations and the role of IO within them to derive principles for success. The contemporary security environment and characteristics of coalition operations are described, including their humanitarian focus, complexity, and coalition heterogeneity. Constraints on IO in coalitions include these complex environments, lack of multi-national IO doctrine, and sensitivity of certain IO activities. The presentation provides recommendations on political and operational issues to promote understanding and acceptance of IO and better coordinate IO in coalition settings.

1. Imperatives for Successful
Information Operations in a Coalition
Setting - An Australian Perspective
Captain Jeff Malone
Directorate of Joint Plans
Strategic Command Division
Department of Defence
Presentation to the 5th International CCRTS
Canberra, 25th October 2000

2. This presentation is
UNCLASSIFIED

3. Caveats
 The views contained herein are those of the author
and should not be construed as representing the
official position of the Department of Defence or
the Australian Defence Force
 The presentation represents AN Australian view,
not THE Australian view

4. Objectives
 Review recent coalition operations and the role of
Information Operations within them
 Derive principles for success for IO in a coalition
setting

5. Content
 The Contemporary Global Security environment
 Characteristics of Contemporary Coalition Operations
 The Nature of Information Operations
 Constraints imposed on Information Operations by the
Coalition Setting
 Information Operations against Coalitions
 Enabling Information Operations in a Coalition Setting

6. The Contemporary Global
Security Environment
 The New Interventionism
 The Peace Dividend (?)
 The Information Revolution
 Pervasive Global Electronic Media
 Sensitivity to Casualties

7. Characteristics of Contemporary
Coalition Operations
 Primarily Peace or Humanitarian Operations
 Complex operational environment
 Legitimacy as a Centre of Gravity
 Coalition Heterogeneity
 Non-core Security Issues
 Trade-offs between operational efficiency and
coalition cohesion

8. The Nature of Information
Operations
 Coordinated Actions in the Information Environment
to achieve Military Objectives
 Four Domains (Physical, Electromagnetic, Virtual,
Perceptual)
 Synchronisation and deconfliction between domains
 Synchronisation and deconfliction between
Information Operations and other military activities
 Involves both shaping and protective activities
 Involves both pro-active and reactive activities

9. Constraints on Information
Operations in Coalitions
 Complexity of the coalition operating environment
 Lack of multi-national Information Operations
doctrine
 Little consideration of multi-national considerations
in national Information Operations doctrine
 Non-Acceptance of Information Operations
 Poor understanding of Information Operations
 Sensitivity of Information Operations

10. Information Operations Against
Coalitions
 Perception Management Operations against
Coalitions
 Coalition Composition
 Coalition Effectiveness
 Casualties
 Other targets of Adversary Perception
Management Operations
 Other Adversary Information Operations

11. Enabling Information Operations in a
Coalition Setting - General Issues
 Implications of operating within a coalition
 Coalition operations and Information Operations
are inherently intertwined
 Adversaries will employ Information Operations
against coalitions

12. Enabling Information Operations in a
Coalition Setting - Political Issues
 Promote understanding and acceptance of
Information Operations in international and regional
organisations
 Incorporate Information Operations into bilateral
exercises and regional engagement activities
 Incorporate Information Operations considerations
into ROE lists

13. Enabling Information Operations in a
Coalition Setting - Operational Issues
 Use coalition composition to best advantage
 Use coalition coordination mechanisms to
coordinate coalition Information Operations
 Incorporate multi-national considerations into
national Information Operations doctrine

14. Conclusion