Between our extraordinary social network and extended network, we can totally do this. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to let it go to the usual gang at Halliburton.

Interested? Terrified? A little of both? What if we turned this whole exercise on it’s head with a KickStarter project to make this happen? Could such a key strategic national and global security capability be developed via Open Source? What would Paul Baran say and do?

Social Media in Strategic Communication (SMISC)
Solicitation Number: DARPA-BAA-11-64
Notice Type: Presolicitation
Synopsis:
Added: Jul 14, 2011 2:48 pm
DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of social media in strategic communication. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice. See the full DARPA-BAA-11-64 document attached. [Ed: also, amendment1]

Proposal Due Date:
Initial Closing: August 30, 2011, 12:00 noon (ET)
Final Closing: October 11, 2011, 12:00 noon (ET)
Industry Day: Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Time’s a ticking!

“All this is about stewardship.” – Harry Hellenbrand, Cal State Provost.