A key problem in waging war at the information level is that the truth or falsity of the stories may make no difference. They will be taken as true or false as suits the predilection of the audience. Take, for example, today’s Telegraph story reporting shouting matches between Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and Gen. David Petraeus. The story has been denied outright by the MNF-1 Public Affairs office. Who to believe?
The answer is: it makes no difference. The harm is already done.
The only ways I can think of to eliminate such problems categorically aren’t particularly appealing.
