Marine Corps Maj Ryan Ratcliffe discusses national security challenges, cognitive warfare, and information maneuver. Topics include crisis in Okinawa, impact of TikTok ban, historical analogy, information maneuver, and the future of brain implants.
The challenges of cognitive warfare involve the convergence of cyber attacks and precision-targeted disinformation, creating potential nonlinear effects and strategic redefinitions.
A holistic understanding of the cognitive dimension is crucial for addressing national security challenges at the intersection of technology and cognition, including the clash between the private sector's pursuit of capital and the government's responsibility to security.
Deep dives
The Growing Complication and Complexity of the Strategic Landscape
The strategic landscape is becoming increasingly complex and complicated due to technological advancements, scientific breakthroughs, and the interconnectedness of various elements. This complexity is further exacerbated by the rapid pace of change. The podcast highlights the challenges posed by peer competitors like China, conflicts in Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, and the Middle East, and the intersection of technology and capital. These challenges are converging at the level of individual cognition, which is explored in the article on cognitive warfare discussed in the podcast.
The Fictional Crisis in Okinawa and Cognitive Warfare
The podcast episode introduces a fictional crisis in Okinawa, Japan, where a cyber attack targets critical infrastructure and communications. The attack is accompanied by precision-targeted disinformation, which exploits existing tensions, deepens divides, and harms the US-Japanese relationship. This scenario serves as an example of cognitive warfare, where the challenges of cyber attacks and disinformation converge, highlighting the potential nonlinear effects and strategic redefinition that such attacks can have.
The Need to Address the Intersection of Technology and Cognition
The podcast emphasizes that the United States, along with other free societies, is falling behind in addressing national security challenges at the intersection of technology and cognition. The article suggests that a holistic understanding of the cognitive dimension is essential for developing capabilities that operate from tactical to strategic levels. It discusses the challenge posed by platforms like TikTok, where the private sector's pursuit of capital and the government's responsibility to security clash, leading to limitations in addressing mis and disinformation campaigns. To ensure effective operations in the information environment, a comprehensive approach is needed to uphold truth and reliability while navigating rapidly evolving technological advancements.
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.
During this episode, Marine Corps Maj Ryan Ratcliffe discusses his recent article entitled: Cognitive Warfare: Maneuvering in the Human Dimension. Our discussion covers national security challenges at the intersection of technology and cognition, information maneuver, and emerging offensive/defensive needs.
Guest Bio: Major Ratcliffe is an EA-6B electronic warfare officer and joint terminal attack controller assigned to the office of the chief of naval operations staff. Previously, he served in the office of the Deputy Commandant for Information, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. He holds a master of international public policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.
For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.