Speed Limits on the Information Superhighway

Since the events of 11 September 2001, homeland defense of the United States has increased as a vital mission for the Department of Defense (DoD). One aspect of homeland defense that continues to take on a greater role is Information Operations (IO). Although IO is not a relatively new concept in warfare, it continues to grow in scope and importance. Traditionally, military commanders have depended on treaties, laws, and conventions to ensure their actions in peace and war are legal and ethical. However, most of these treaties, laws, and conventions came into being when military action consisted mainly of force-on-force conflicts on a definable battlefield.