War is War? The Utility of Cyberspace Operations in the Contemporary Operational Environment. Workshop Initial Impressions

The United States Army War College in partnership with The SecDev Group conducted a workshop examining cyberspace operations from the warfighter's perspective. The workshop was held 26-28 January 2010 at the Collins Center for Strategic Leadership, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) defines cyberspace operations as "the employment of cyber capabilities where the primary purpose is to achieve military objectives or effects in or through cyberspace." Cyberspace emerged as a national-level concern through several recent events of geo-strategic significance. Estonian infrastructure was attacked in the spring of 2007, allegedly by Russian hackers. In August 2008, Russia again allegedly conducted cyber attacks, this time in a coordinated and synchronized kinetic and non-kinetic campaign against Georgia. It is plausible that such complex excursions may become the norm in future warfare among nation-states having the capabilities to conduct them. Much has been written about the issues of cyberspace at the national strategic level: lack of attribution and the applicability of the law of armed conflict and of international treaties, and the determination of criminality vice acts of war. But the current body of knowledge does not inform us about how the concept of cyberspace operations impacts and will be adapted by warfighting commanders in the contemporary and future operational environments. The workshop examined this issue and used the Russia-Georgia case study to draw lessons to apply to current and future warfare. The workshop centered on three challenges. The first challenge considered conducting a campaign where cyberspace is contested/constrained and the impact on U.S. warfighting concepts and practices.