Piercing the Veil of Darkness? Deception and Intelligence in Warfare

Abstract

Since antiquity, the importance and versatility of deception as a key military stratagem is demonstrated by military commanders’ reliance on an array of subterfuges encompassing disinformation, covert or clandestine actions, false flags, ruses, and feints designed to deceive an adversary and degrade situational awareness of genuine intent. In parallel, commanders attempt to use intelligence for determining a potential opponent’s capabilities and getting indicators and warnings of an adversary’s intent. Better understanding of the interconnectedness between waging and countering deception provides insights into the dynamic relationship between deception and intelligence in warfare.