Disinformation is Necessary
We may draw a parallel if we assume that the purpose of “counter-information” is to establish information superiority. Through offensive counter-information, it is possible to penetrate an adversary’s “information space” and exploit it to specific advantage.
In both Air Warfare and Information Warfare this means operating within a specified realm to attain specified objectives. Air Warfare exploits control of the air by means of strategic attack, interdiction, and close air support. Information Warfare likewise exploits control of information to attack an adversary. (Cornerstones, 1995).
In the information realm this means controlling essential information to the extent that your adversary is incapable of making effective decisions. The current view of Information Warfare sees this as the “paralysis of the adversary’s observation, orientation, decision, action loop.” (Stein, p. 33) An opponent’s ability to observe is either flooded or very slightly and subtly assaulted by contradictory information and data. The opponent’s ability to orient is degraded by an assault on the very possibility of objective reasoning. The enemy’s known universe is replaced with an alternative reality. The enemy’s decisions respond increasingly to a fictive or virtual universe and military actions within the enemy’s strategic structures become increasingly paralyzed because there is no rational relationship of means to ends.