Matthew Fecteau
The information environment is expansive, complex, and rapidly evolving. During contemporary conflicts, including gray zone and hybrid warfare, perception often outweighs reality. That is why artificial intelligence is critical for navigating this complex yet fluid landscape. The Department of Defense (DoD) can enhance its effectiveness within the information environment during “small wars” to achieve decision dominance, but it needs to further incorporate artificial intelligence and its respective capabilities within its doctrine and culture.
Decision dominance ensures the commander can better understand the area of operations and deprive the enemy of the ability to make timely decisions. This method emphasizes proficiencies, not physical capability. It is not simply a matter of denying the opposing forces their decision-making ability, but rather a strategy of influencing actions by offering specific choices and limiting alternatives for the opposing force. The concept of decision dominance suggests that when an opposing force is left incapable of acting—having been stripped of all practical choices—it will cease fighting, perhaps even before major combat commences.
The DoD’s performance is in a precarious state. The last war that most closely resembled a victory was the 1991 Gulf War, and even that was convoluted, as the belligerents withdrew but remained in power. In Afghanistan in 2001, the U.S. Joint Forces won the initial stages of the war. Still, the Taliban adopted insurgent tactics and used the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan to plan their return and destabilize the environment. This led to the perception that the Afghan government was unable to protect its citizens, and the Afghan military surrendered en masse despite trillions in investment. In Iraq in 2003, the U.S. Joint and Combined Forces won the initial phase of the war and fought the later part to a stalemate.
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