Marines


Marine Corps University Press

Marine Corps University Press logo
Marine Corps University
Quantico, Virginia

Appendix D

Targeting Hyperthreat Enablers

Elizabeth G. Boulton, PhD

 

Table D-1. Targeting the three key hyperthreat enablers

Line of effort (LOE) Method
Make the hyperthreat visible and knowable
  • Incorporate information about the hyperthreat into state intelligence functions and expand early warning.
  • Operation Visibility and Knowability (OP VAK). Create partnerships with such fields as communications, multimedia, arts, and humanities.
  • Develop “bottom-up” sense-making via hyperconversations.
  • Develop a “tracking harm” capability to address subterfuge.
Reduce hyperthreat freedom of action
  • Operation New Net (OP NewNet). Build zero-carbon, ecologically viable infrastructure, settlements, and human material security systems (including food and water supplies).
  • At the international relations- and international organization-level, reconfigure to create a permissive, supportive, and secure environment for a hyper-response and less so for hyperthreat-enabling activities.
  • Create specialist economic, legal, information technology, and investigative capabilities to support a safe and fair economic transition to a clean economy (the point force). This must be capable and powerful enough to counter “dirty money” networks and hyperthreat-related corruption.
  • Reduce social license, with support from OP VAK and tracking harm.
Achieve mass and speed of response
  • Leverage the large global population. The world’s human population is often considered a liability due to its large ecological footprint. However, in the context in which an enormous amount of work must be done in a decade, it is an asset if it can be leveraged properly. Many people, doing small amounts, could have a seismic impact. This can be achieved through a layered approach to mobilization, including mobilization-in-place, soft mobilization, structured employment via the hyper-response force, veteran care and transition, employment as peace-building, an Earth citizenship program; the home force group; and mesh interventions, in which small activities are undertaken widely.
  • Address hesitation, fear, and starting difficulties.
  • Support phases 1 and 2 with a well-resourced and very strong “hand-holding” capacity to help people overcome fear, uncertainty, hesitation, and frustration with new processes.
  • Build people’s confidence by developing ecotrainers and ecocoaches assigned to local areas, companies, and institutions; by creating transition teams that support organizations, communities, and households with transition; and by pursuing OP WideWings, with a commitment to exceptional disaster response, to provide deep affective security.
  • Strengthen, inspire, and energize the population through OP Sapiens Star, OP Beauty, OP VAK, and hyperconversations.

Source: courtesy of the author, adapted by MCUP.