The Cost of a Tweet?

Odd thoughts occur in that hazy span of time from fully awake to initial caffeination; today was no different.

There will not be much referenced material for this one – that is your warning, for those readers who actually follow sources used. My reasoning for this is that there is a time limit of quiet and a certain momentum I need to maintain.  

When it comes to weapons systems, the basic cost for operational use distills to one thing: price per round. This basic and recurring cost is what often drives the practicality of a weapon on the battlefield. Is the round affordable for the volume and application intended?

Another consideration is the price involved with the training for the use of such weapons. How can one effectively employ such systems in the tactical and strategic environment to ensure the desired immediate and long-term results?

Logistics plays an important, if not often overlooked, part in factoring the overall efficiency of a weapon system. Can it be supported with the expediency and ease needed in an often dynamic and changing battlefield? How long and complex are the transportation requirements from the factory to the end user?

Research and development, based upon the overall initial organizational goals and the input from field experience guides the evolution of a weapon system and related munitions; along with this consideration, the reaction time for critical changes to be implemented is another subcomponent of weapon/munition development.

Countermeasures – what can defeat, jam, or neutralize a munition also is vital in both development and use. How can the intended target protect a potential target from the the weapon and its direct and indirect effects?

Finally, and most importantly, the question of how long it would take to recover from, repair, or replace those wounded, incapacitated, or damaged as a result of one specific weapon?

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Of course, I am writing about the individual soldier, vehicle, or vessel in terms of what we understand as the implements of warfare. While specific rounds or munitions came to mind as I typed this, I am keeping the distinction broad and vague intentionally; whether one has a 9mm FMJ round in mind or a Trident II, the factors remain essentially the same in principle – only the level of control, complexity, severity, and potential for collateral damage changes.

Now… let me pose one question:

What is the cost of a Tweet?

Individually, the cost of a Tweet could be viewed as a function of the overall price of the device with which it was composed upon – whether it be a limping Nokia or the latest redundancy of iPhone or Mac currently on the market. This factor also provides overlap in part of the logistics, with the only consumable consideration to be how the electricity is generated for its use and the available access to the telecommunications grid/internet.

Training? As evident in the abysmal grammar, punctuation, and syntax often seen in Tweets, it could be suggested that there are very little training requirements needed for the creation of a Tweet.

Research and development is also covered in the development of the device from which the Tweet was sent, the physical infrastructure of transmission, and the creation of the software programs. These considerations are not really significant factors as, unlike weapons and weapon systems, they are created for a wide variety of applications and not single use for times of kinetic conflict.

However, Tweets differ from purpose-designed weapons systems for several key elements…

Near instantaneous arrival on battlefield – In information warfare, the lack of a traditional “front line,” along with global telecommunications networks brings Tweets anywhere and anytime, with the only limiting factor being the accessibility to the internet.

Adaptability – Tweets afford the individual or nation state the ability to rapidly shift lines of influence based upon effectiveness and usage policy; with the added benefit of easily assessing the effectiveness of engagement and scope, changes and levels of pressure can be near instantaneous and greatly reducing the traditional “battle damage assessment” efforts from the past.

Countermeasure effectiveness – How does one counter malicious social media campaigns? Seriously, I am asking because – given the last five years, specifically, we haven’t seemed to be able to come up with much more than “encourage critical thinking” or “denounce as misinformation/propaganda” and that has helped so much.

Recovery – This is the most insidious aspect of the weaponization of social media, and one we have not seriously considered as much as we should have from the first post/Tweet. The social, emotional, national, and credibility wounds from social media will require much longer times to heal with more serious implications in the strategic long-term view because of one simple fact:

Physical wounds heal faster.

To consolidate this thread, my Medic from the 2006-07 deployment solidified an internal concern I have been mulling over for the last few weeks. A quick discussion about our kids and their future service found us both sharing similar reservations that the Army (and military as a whole) has changed greatly from what we remember, and not for the better.

This will be problematic.

Military families often view service as a tradition and legacy. Civic responsibility shared from one generation to the next. Sometimes it isn’t a matter of “if” the next generation will serve, but “how” as in what branch will afford the best opportunities and experiences.

That being the case, I have a hard time with the idea of my son serving in what my perception the military has become. Other veterans I have spoken with have expressed similar concerns and thoughts. As a result, it would appear that recruiting may/will be a long-term failure of our inability to assess and react properly to an information/psychological warfare campaign.

…All because no one asked what the cost of a Tweet was.

Originally, this post was going to be titled “Cost Benefit Analysis of Psychological Operations” but I think you understand that the hook was more important than the description… and this is something that you probably have never noticed in headlines before.

Take note… pay attention… think… because the costs – financial, societal, and total – are going up each day.