Information Operations in Bosnia

FA Journal, Nov-Dec, 2001 by Captain Timothy D. LaBahn

During Stabilization Force (SFOR) 9 in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Operation Joint Forge), the American-led Multi-National Division (North), as abbreviated MND(N),used information operations (IO) to accomplish its mission. The division's mission was to maintain a safe and secure environment and implement the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in Bosnia.

We conducted IO to modify the attitudes, perceptions and behavior of key Bosnian decision-makers, groups and populations in a manner favorable to achieving the objectives of the SFOR and international community. IO generally tried to mitigate ethnic tensions left from the civil war and the poor state of the Bosnian economy and solve problems created by the return of displaced persons to their homes. IO involved engaging formal and informal Bosnian leaders at local, regional and national levels to both maintain a general dialogue and shape their behaviors and perceptions.

This article examines the structure of IO in MND(N) as well as how IO activities were planned, executed and assessed during SFOR 9. The division's IO cell planned, coordinated and synchronized IO while the Division's IO working group (IOWG) executed the operations. The military decision-making process (MDMP) and targeting methodology were integral to planning and synchronizing IO to achieve the desired effects.

IO Organization. The forthcoming FM 3-13 Information Operations, replacing FM 100-16, states that doctrinally, IO is composed of the 12 elements and two related activities shown in Figure 1. Due to the nature of its peacekeeping mission, the MND(N) did not integrate all the doctrinal elements of IO during SFOR 9, but the related activities of civil affairs (CA) and public affairs (PA) became primary components of the division's IO. CA, PA and psychological operations (PSYOP) were the "big guns" of IO.

Proponency for some of the elements of IO fell outside the the purview of the MND(N) IO cell. Elements such as operational security (OPSEC) counterintelligence and electronic warfare (EW) belonged to the G2. Information assurance was under the G6.

MND(N) IO integrated the elements of counterpropaganda, PSYOP, CA and PA with the actions of maneuver forces to influence and modify the attitudes,perceptions and behaviors of key decision-makers and groups. Counterdeception, physical destruction and computer network attack were not practiced in Bosnia.

IO Cell. The MND(N) IO cell was the staff agency responsible for planning, coordinating and synchronizing IO at the division level. The IO cell was structured around the 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized) fire support element (FSE) (-). A lieutenant colonel served as the chief of IO. The cell included current operations, plans, special projects/targeting, and intelligence sections.

The current operations section had two captains responsible for day-to-day operations, liaison with other division staff agencies, production of the division's monthly television show and synchronization of the IO cell's operations with other staff agencies and subordinate units.

The IO NCO-in-charge (NCOIC) and clerk (a corporal) fell under the current operations section and coordinated all logistical and administrative support for the IO cell. The NCOIC was responsible for maintaining the IO portion of MND(N) tactical web site (TACWEB) computer Internet. TACWEB was the division's conduit for staff agencies to share information classified up to Secret.

Each staff section maintained a home page. The IO cell maintained the critical "action tracker" on its home page, which essentially was the IO "fire support" matrix into which subordinate units input planned IO events and assessments of those events upon completion. Notes from division IO meetings were posted weekly as was IO-related intelligence information, including key Bosnian leader biographies.

The IO plans officer, a captain, worked with the division plans group to integrate IO into plans and orders. This included planning for the use of PSYOP, PA and coalition press information center (CPIC) assets. He was the critical link that enabled the IO cell to turn IO plans developed by the IOWG into division-level operations orders.

The IO cell's special projects and targeting section contained a captain and a chief warrant officer two. The special projects and targeting officer prepared and facilitated the weekly IO targeting meeting. The special projects officer and intelligence officer drafted bilateral ("Bilat") meeting preparation packets, defining the purpose and desired endstate of the meetings and containing talking points, themes and messages to be delivered by members of the division command group to Bosnian leaders. The special projects officer drafted IO concepts to support specific problem sets faced by the division. These included goals and supporting objectives, themes, messages, talking points and a scheme of execution.

The special projects warrant officer prepared and facilitated weekly IOWG meetings where the division's monthly IO strategy was developed. He produced monthly IO implementing instructions in the operation orders (OPORDs) format that communicated the IO plan developed by the IOWG for the upcoming month. He produced monthly "smart cards" containing talking points on various high-profile or routine issues about which SFOR soldiers and leaders on patrol or more senior leaders might be questioned by civilians or the media.