Crisis Decision-Making: The Impact of Commercial Satellites on the Media, Military and National Leaders

摘要

Technological advances will have a significant impact on future crises. Decision-making will become more difficult and complex as the amount of information available to decision-makers and the public increases substantially. Photos from commercial satellites have just begun to have an effect on governments and their policies. The rapid increase in technology will provide capabilities to the news media that will profoundly affect the relationship among the media, military and national leaders. The old ways of doing business have change. The launching of a media satellite is certain to raise many issues that must be addressed and solved. The media's use of their own satellite will generate conflicts between first amendment rights and U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. A mediasat will also affect military strategy and tactics. This paper addresses these issues in a hypothetical scenario in an effort to generate awareness of potential problems and postulate some solutions. (KR)