The Cognitive Crucible

#225 Austin Branch, Dave Pitts, and Joe Miller on Cognitive Warfare and the Gray Zone

May 27, 2025
Austin Branch, founder of Crescent Bridge, Dave Pitts, a former CIA executive, and Joe Miller, Deputy Commander for Support at the US Army Special Operations Command, dive into the intricacies of cognitive warfare and the gray zone. They discuss how Russia and China employ manipulative tactics that impact U.S. policy and national security. The conversation highlights the critical role of collaboration between public and private sectors in countering these threats. They also explore the importance of storytelling and strategic narratives in shaping perceptions in modern conflicts.
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INSIGHT

Evolution of Great Power Competition

  • Great power competition has evolved from direct conflict to maneuvering in non-kinetic domains like cognitive warfare.
  • Adversaries exploit vulnerabilities in cognition and societal cohesion for advantage without open warfare.
INSIGHT

Defining Cognitive Warfare

  • Cognitive warfare is a comprehensive assault on human cognition beyond spreading false information.
  • It targets how people think, decide, and their resolve to influence strategic outcomes.
ADVICE

Align Against Common Threats

  • Stop focusing on turf wars over resource control in information operations.
  • Orient efforts collectively toward understanding and countering the adversary's cognitive and information threats.
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