SOF in Competition

Beyond Lethality: The Primacy of Influence in Cognitive Warfare

Dr. Joseph LongJanuary 11, 2026

img:is([sizes=auto i],[sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px}:root{--wp-block-synced-color:#7a00df;--wp-block-synced-color--rgb:122,0,223;--wp-bound-block-color:var(--wp-block-synced-color);--wp-editor-canvas-background:#ddd;--wp-admin-theme-color:#007cba;--wp-admin-theme-color--rgb:0,124,186;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-10:#006ba1;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-10--rgb:0,107,160.5;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-20:#005a87;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-20--rgb:0,90,135;--wp-admin-border-width-focus:2px}@media (min-resolution:192dpi){:root{--wp-admin-border-width-focus:1.5px}}.wp-element-button{cursor:pointer}:root .has-very-light-gray-background-color{background-color:#eee}:root .has-very-dark-gray-background-color{background-color:#313131}:root .has-very-light-gray-color{color:#eee}:root .has-very-dark-gray-color{color:#313131}:root .has-vivid-green-cyan-to-vivid-cyan-blue-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#00d084,#0693e3)}:root .has-purple-crush-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#34e2e4,#4721fb 50%,#ab1dfe)}:root .has-hazy-dawn-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#faaca8,#dad0ec)}:root .has-subdued-olive-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#fafae1,#67a671)}:root .has-atomic-cream-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#fdd79a,#004a59)}:root .has-nightshade-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#330968,#31cdcf)}:root .has-midnight-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381,#2874fc)}:root{--wp--preset--font-size--normal:16px;--wp--preset--font-size--huge:42px}.has-regular-font-size{font-size:1em}.has-larger-font-size{font-size:2.625em}.has-normal-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--normal)}.has-huge-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--huge)}.has-text-align-center{text-align:center}.has-text-align-left{text-align:left}.has-text-align-right{text-align:right}.has-fit-text{white-space:nowrap !important}#end-resizable-editor-section{display:none}.aligncenter{clear:both}.items-justified-left{justify-content:flex-start}.items-justified-center{justify-content:center}.items-justified-right{justify-content:flex-end}.items-justified-space-between{justify-content:space-between}.screen-reader-text{border:0;clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px;word-wrap:normal !important}.screen-reader-text:focus{background-color:#ddd;clip-path:none;color:#444;display:block;font-size:1em;height:auto;left:5px;line-height:normal;padding:15px 23px 14px;text-decoration:none;top:5px;width:auto;z-index:100000}html :where(.has-border-color){border-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-top-color]){border-top-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-right-color]){border-right-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-bottom-color]){border-bottom-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-left-color]){border-left-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-width]){border-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-top-width]){border-top-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-right-width]){border-right-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-bottom-width]){border-bottom-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-left-width]){border-left-style:solid}html :where(img[class*=wp-image-]){height:auto;max-width:100%}:where(figure){margin:0 0 1em}html :where(.is-position-sticky){--wp-admin--admin-bar--position-offset:var(--wp-admin--admin-bar--height,0px)}@media screen and (max-width:600px){html :where(.is-position-sticky){--wp-admin--admin-bar--position-offset:0px}}:root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square:1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3:4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4:3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2:3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3:2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9:16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16:9/16;--wp--preset--color--black:#000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray:#abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white:#fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink:#f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red:#cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange:#ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber:#fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan:#7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan:#00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue:#8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue:#0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple:#9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#0693e3 0%,#9b51e0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan:linear-gradient(135deg,#7adcb4 0%,#00d082 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange:linear-gradient(135deg,#fcb900 0%,#ff6900 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red:linear-gradient(135deg,#ff6900 0%,#cf2e2e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray:linear-gradient(135deg,#eee 0%,#a9b8c3 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum:linear-gradient(135deg,#4aeadc 0%,#9778d1 20%,#cf2aba 40%,#ee2c82 60%,#fb6962 80%,#fef84c 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffceec 0%,#9896f0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux:linear-gradient(135deg,#fecda5 0%,#fe2d2d 50%,#6b003e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffcb70 0%,#c751c0 50%,#4158d0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff5cb 0%,#b6e3d4 50%,#33a7b5 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass:linear-gradient(135deg,#caf880 0%,#71ce7e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381 0%,#2874fc 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small:13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large:36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large:42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20:.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30:.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40:1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50:1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60:2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70:3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80:5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural:6px 6px 9px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep:12px 12px 50px rgba(0,0,0,.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp:6px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined:6px 6px 0px -3px #fff,6px 6px #000;--wp--preset--shadow--crisp:6px 6px 0px #000}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap:.5em}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap:.5em}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin:0}body .is-layout-grid{display:grid}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin:0}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important}.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}.infinite-scroll .woocommerce-pagination{display:none}.woocommerce form .form-row .required{visibility:visible}.xoo-wsc-sp-left-col img,.xoo-wsc-sp-left-col{max-width:80px}.xoo-wsc-sp-right-col{font-size:14px}.xoo-wsc-sp-container,.xoo-wsc-dr-sp{background-color:#eee}.xoo-wsc-footer{background-color:#fff;color:#000;padding:10px 20px;box-shadow:11px 4px 10px rgba(0,0,0,.1)}.xoo-wsc-footer,.xoo-wsc-footer a,.xoo-wsc-footer .amount{font-size:15px}.xoo-wsc-ft-buttons-cont{grid-template-columns:auto}.xoo-wsc-basket{bottom:12px;right:0px;background-color:#fff;color:#000;box-shadow:0 1px 4px 0;border-radius:50%;display:none;width:60px;height:60px}.xoo-wsc-bki{font-size:30px}.xoo-wsc-items-count{top:-10px;left:-10px}.xoo-wsc-items-count,.xoo-wsch-items-count,.xoo-wsch-save-count{background-color:#000;color:#fff}.xoo-wsc-container,.xoo-wsc-slider,.xoo-wsc-drawer{max-width:300px;right:-300px;top:0;bottom:0;bottom:0}.xoo-wsc-drawer{max-width:350px}.xoo-wsc-cart-active .xoo-wsc-container,.xoo-wsc-slider-active .xoo-wsc-slider{right:0}.xoo-wsc-drawer-active .xoo-wsc-drawer{right:300px}.xoo-wsc-drawer{right:0}.xoo-wsc-cart-active .xoo-wsc-basket{right:300px}span.xoo-wsch-icon{font-size:26px}.xoo-wsch-text,.xoo-wsc-sl-heading,.xoo-wsc-drawer-header{font-size:22px}.xoo-wsc-header,.xoo-wsc-drawer-header,.xoo-wsc-sl-heading{color:#000;background-color:#fff;border-bottom:2px solid #eee;padding:15px 15px}.xoo-wsc-body{background-color:#fff}.xoo-wsc-body,.xoo-wsc-body span.amount,.xoo-wsc-body a{font-size:16px;color:#000}.xoo-wsc-product,.xoo-wsc-sp-product,.xoo-wsc-savl-product{padding:20px 15px;margin:10px 15px;border-radius:5px;box-shadow:0 2px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.02);background-color:#fff}.xoo-wsc-body .xoo-wsc-ft-totals{padding:20px 15px;margin:10px 15px}.xoo-wsc-product-cont{padding:10px 10px}.xoo-wsc-products:not(.xoo-wsc-pattern-card) .xoo-wsc-img-col{width:25%}.xoo-wsc-pattern-card .xoo-wsc-img-col img{max-width:100%;height:auto}.xoo-wsc-products:not(.xoo-wsc-pattern-card) .xoo-wsc-sum-col{width:75%}.xoo-wsc-pattern-card .xoo-wsc-product-cont{width:50%}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.xoo-wsc-pattern-card .xoo-wsc-product-cont{width:50%}}.xoo-wsc-pattern-card .xoo-wsc-product{border:0;box-shadow:0px 10px 15px -12px rgba(0,0,0,.1)}.xoo-wsc-sm-front,.xoo-wsc-card-actionbar > *{background-color:#eee}.xoo-wsc-pattern-card,.xoo-wsc-sm-front{border-bottom-left-radius:5px;border-bottom-right-radius:5px}.xoo-wsc-pattern-card,.xoo-wsc-img-col img,.xoo-wsc-img-col,.xoo-wsc-sm-back-cont{border-top-left-radius:5px;border-top-right-radius:5px}.xoo-wsc-sm-back{background-color:#fff}.xoo-wsc-pattern-card,.xoo-wsc-pattern-card a,.xoo-wsc-pattern-card .amount{font-size:16px}.xoo-wsc-body .xoo-wsc-sm-front,.xoo-wsc-body .xoo-wsc-sm-front a,.xoo-wsc-body .xoo-wsc-sm-front .amount,.xoo-wsc-card-actionbar{color:#000}.xoo-wsc-sm-back,.xoo-wsc-sm-back a,.xoo-wsc-sm-back .amount{color:#000}.magictime{animation-duration:.5s}.xoo-wsc-sum-col{justify-content:center}.xoo-wsc-qty-box{max-width:75px}.xoo-wsc-qty-box.xoo-wsc-qtb-square{border-color:#000}input[type="number"].xoo-wsc-qty{border-color:#000;background-color:#fff;color:#000;height:28px;line-height:28px}input[type="number"].xoo-wsc-qty,.xoo-wsc-qtb-square{border-width:1px;border-style:solid}.xoo-wsc-chng{background-color:#fff;color:#000;width:20px}.xoo-wsc-qtb-circle .xoo-wsc-chng{height:20px;line-height:20px}.xoo-wsc-sc-count{background-color:#000;color:#fff}.xoo-wsc-sc-bki{font-size:28px;color:#000}.xoo-wsc-sc-cont{color:#000}.xoo-wsc-sp-column li.xoo-wsc-sp-prod-cont{width:50%}span.xoo-wsc-dtg-icon{right:calc(100% - 11px)}.xoo-wsc-sp-product{background-color:#fff}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.xoo-wsc-basket{width:40px;height:40px}.xoo-wsc-bki{font-size:20px}span.xoo-wsc-items-count{width:17px;height:17px;line-height:17px;top:-7px;left:-7px}}.xoo-wsc-markup dl.variation{display:block}span.xoo-wsc-gift-ban{background-color:#fff;color:#000}.xoo-wsc-sl-savelater .xoo-wsc-sl-body{background-color:#eee}.xoo-wsc-savl-left-col img,.xoo-wsc-savl-left-col{max-width:80px}.xoo-wsc-savl-column li.xoo-wsc-savl-prod-cont{width:50%}.xoo-wsc-savl-product{background-color:#fff}.xoo-wsc-savl-column .xoo-wsc-savl-prod-cont{width:50%}.xoo-wsc-savl-right-col,.xoo-wsc-savl-right-col .amount,.xoo-wsc-savl-right-col a{font-size:16px;color:#000}.xoo-wsc-tooltip{background-color:#fff;color:#000;border:2px solid #000;border-width:1px}.xoo-wsc-save,.xoo-wsc-smr-del{font-size:16px}.xoo-wsc-sm-sales{background-color:#f8f9fa;color:#000;border:1px solid #c4c4c4}.xoo-wsc-bar-icons i{font-size:12px;width:30px;height:30px;line-height:30px}.xoo-wsc-bar-cont,.xoo-wsc-bar-cont .amount{font-size:15px}:root{--hjs-mobile-menu-button-bg-color:#948d3f;--hjs-mobile-menu-button-text-color:#fff;--hjs-mobile-menu-button-border-radius:10px;--hjs-mobile-menu-container-bg-color:#000;--hjs-mobile-menu-item-text-color:#fff;--hjs-mobile-menu-item-hover-bg-color:#948d3f;--hjs-mobile-menu-item-hover-text-color:#fff}img#wpstats{display:none}.site-title a,.site-title a:hover,.site-title a:focus{background:url("https://cdn-ilcmmgf.nitrocdn.com/JkYPHHQIKHnYUbvsrGuHlAlyxiHWnaCl/assets/images/optimized/rev-ec04c4b/irregularwarfare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IWI-logo.png") no-repeat;background-size:100%}.site-title a.nitro-lazy,.site-title a:hover.nitro-lazy,.site-title a:focus.nitro-lazy{background:none !important}.blog-search-wrap{margin-bottom:-50px;position:relative;z-index:9;padding:0;float:right}.content-sidebar .blog-search-wrap{margin-bottom:20px;max-width:25%}.author .blog-search-wrap{margin:-25px 0 20px}.blog-search-wrap .wrap{padding:0}.blog-search-wrap .search-form input[type="submit"]{margin:0 0 0 10px}.blog-search-wrap .search-form{display:flex}@media only screen and (max-width: 1023px){.content-sidebar .blog-search-wrap{margin-bottom:-50px;max-width:340px}}@media only screen and (max-width: 739px){.blog-search-wrap,.content-sidebar .blog-search-wrap{margin:0 auto 20px;float:none;max-width:100%}}@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){.blog-search-wrap input{float:left;width:63%;padding:8px}.blog-search-wrap .search-form input[type="submit"]{width:35%;padding:15px 0;float:left;margin-left:2%}}.site-footer .web-design-by{background:url("https://cdn-ilcmmgf.nitrocdn.com/JkYPHHQIKHnYUbvsrGuHlAlyxiHWnaCl/assets/images/source/rev-ec04c4b/hirejordansmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/hjs-footer-logo.svg") no-repeat;width:262px;height:51px;display:block;margin:0 auto;text-indent:-9999em}.site-footer .web-design-by.nitro-lazy{background:none !important}.googlesitekit-sign-in-with-google__frontend-output-button{max-width:320px}