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Cyberspace is a human space, as dynamic and uncertain as human nature. No longer simply a technical abstraction or man-made domain unto itself,01 Cyberspace is a growing facet of every-day life that increasingly cuts across all aspects of Special Operations. Cyber is a dynamic space, a global commons of human practice, which embodies the actions, behaviors and decisions of man. Cyber is also an uncertain space; and although, its future impact to our national security is yet to be determined, it is clearly a space where United States Special Operations Forces have an increasing role in shaping the final outcome. Ultimately, Cyber is a human enterprise that empowers and entangles countless global interactions,DZ and is rapidly becoming a preeminent space where human conflicts, and thus USSOF, must play a part.
CYBERSPACE
The enigma of Cyberspace is in its contradictions. Cyber is both everywhere and nowhere at the same time, casting an invisible, yet powerful influence, which brings both comfort and stress to everyday life. On one hand, Cyberspace helps foster human prosperity by flattening opportunities and improving quality of life. On the other hand, Cyberspace inflames ethnic and religious tensions, sows dissent and causes suffering. It is in these contradictions where Cyberspace is most like human nature, and it is in these same spaces, both challenges and opportunities exist for USSOF.
Cloaking their roles and obscuring their actions, adversaries are increasingly exploiting the shadows of Cyberspace to attack U.S. national security interests. Ranging from lone Cyber-terrorists, to state-sponsored Cyber-units, adversaries use Cyberspace's low barriers of entry, difficult attribution,and lack of clear borders for battle03 to conceal their reckless ambitions. Fortunately, while adversaries may exploit Cyber to strike from the shadows, it is in these same shadows USSOF must pursue, to help illuminate, uncover and counter the growing array of technologically-savvy threats plaguing our nation.
NATIONAL CYBER ROLES
The Commander of the United States Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency, Admiral Mike Rogers, recently wrote that "No single entity has all the necessary insight, authorities, capabilities or resources to protect and defend U.S. and allied interests in Cyberspace."04 Cyberspace is not just an intelligence or communications thing; it is an 'everybody thing.' This includes the way in which we marshal the talent and...