The use of information-related tools to support military operations and to
help shape their outcome is discussed in a newly updated Army manual on
what are now called "Inform and Influence Activities."

Inform and influence activities (or IIA) refers to "the integration of
designated information-related capabilities in order to synchronize themes,
messages, and actions with operations to inform United States and global
audiences, influence foreign audiences, and affect adversary and enemy
decisionmaking."

In some circumstances, the manual says, information operations can play a
decisive role.

"Activities occurring in, through, or by means of the information
environment have a consequential effect on an operational environment and
can impact military operations and outcomes. Therefore, commanders and
their staffs must understand their operational environments completely.
This understanding includes the information environment and the potential
impacts it can have on current and planned military operations."

But the effectiveness of such activities is naturally limited by the
realities of the military engagement.

"Soldiers' actions powerfully influence the credibility of IIA. Visible
actions coordinated with carefully chosen, credible words influence
audiences more than uncoordinated or contradictory actions and words. All
audiences--local and regional as well as adversary and enemy--compare the
friendly force's message with its actions. Consistency contributes to the
success of friendly operations by building trust and credibility.
Conversely, if actions and messages are inconsistent, friendly forces lose
credibility. Loss of credibility makes land forces vulnerable to enemy and
adversary information or countermessaging and places Army forces at a
disadvantage."

"Aligning information-related capabilities with the overall operation
ensures that messages are consistent with the forces' actions to amplify
the credibility of those messages. It is paramount that inform and
influence efforts complement not contradict. Failing to do so jeopardizes
credibility."

The updated Army manual replaces a 2003 document titled "Information
Operations."

"The publication does not address every information-related capability
commanders can use to help shape their complex operational environments. It
should, however, generate introspection and provide just enough guidance to
facilitate flexibility and innovative approaches for commanders to execute
the art of command to inform and influence."

See "Inform and Influence Activities," U.S. Army Field Manual 3-13,
January 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-13.pdf

AFTERMATH OF DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL, AND MORE FROM CRS

New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service which
Congress has not made publicly available include the following.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Recent Activities and Ongoing Developments,
January 31, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42942.pdf

The Unemployed and Job Openings: A Data Primer, January 31, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42943.pdf

Congressional Redistricting and the Voting Rights Act: A Legal Overview,
January 31, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42482.pdf

Health Insurance Exchanges Under the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act (ACA), January 31, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42663.pdf

Medicare Primer, January 31, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40425.pdf

U.S. Government Agencies Involved in Export Promotion: Overview and Issues
for Congress, January 31, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41495.pdf

Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies: Overview and Issues for Congress,
January 31, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41838.pdf

Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy, January 31, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33460.pdf

United Nations Regular Budget Contributions: Members Compared, 1990-2010,
January 15, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL30605.pdf

U.S. and South Korean Cooperation in the World Nuclear Energy Market:
Major Policy Considerations, January 28, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41032.pdf

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Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
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