THIRD PRIZE BLACK LIGHTS : Chaos , Complexity , and the Promise of Information Warfare

A rthur Clarke, a science fiction writer, stated that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Although his point may be quaint it bears directly on the debate over the revolution in military affairs (RMA), which is long on description and short on explanation of future military technology. This is most evident in the promised wizardry of information warfare. The magical quality of information warfare stems from a vague understanding of the nature of information itself. Since rational discussion is predicated on the explanatory power of carefully chosen conceptual terminology, the RMA debate can be furthered only to the extent that the issues are viewed from a common framework. Such a critical perspective allows one to see the true limits and powers of information warfare. At the James J. Schneider is professor of military theory in the School of Advanced Military Studies at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. 96 THIRD