Lessons on the Value of a Military Fellowship, North Korea & Iran's Nuclear Pursuits, and the Evolving Cyberspace Domain

Abstract

This paper captures the thoughts of an Air Force fellow appointed by the International Security Program of Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs during the 2012–2013 academic timeframe. While events on the world stage during that time provided a military fellow with numerous opportunities for reflection and study, the paper briefly covers three topics of interest—a description of the author's fellowship and its value, how nuclear weapons are still "game changers" on the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and how the cyberspace domain is reshaping military activities and doctrine in the 21st Century.

The paper delves deeper into each topic and adds to an international relations dialogue by providing diplomatic, information, military, and economic considerations for dealing with North Korea's duplicitous yet credible nuclear threat and outlining incongruities in Iran's nuclear enrichment program and the dilemmas they present to the international community. Additionally in the cyberspace chapter, the author adds to an academic discourse by characterizing the cyber domain and key items of interest during the 2012–2013 period, especially enhanced Chinese cyber activities. In an effort to add to a military doctrinal discourse, the Principles of Joint Operations—Objective, Mass, Offensive, Maneuver, Economy of Force, Unity of Command, Security, Surprise, Simplicity, Perseverance, Restraint, and Legitimacy—are linked to cyber operations. Lastly, the paper emphasizes the "people element"—the most significant factor that will define the success of a cyberspace revolution in military affairs.