E-Bombs: Technology Update

vaderhelmet writes "'In these media-fueled times, when war is a television spectacle and wiping out large numbers of civilians is generally frowned upon, the perfect weapon would literally stop an enemy in his tracks, yet harm neither hide nor hair. Such a weapon might shut down telecommunications networks, disrupt power supplies, and fry an adversary's countless computers and electronic gadgets, yet still leave buildings, bridges, and highways intact. It would strike with precision, in an instant, and leave behind no trace of where it came from.' (Story from IEEE Spectrum Online)"

Comments

Re:But still they don't get it

[starseeker]

Exactly. I view this as perhaps the most fundamental mindset mistake of the US - we assume once the technological problem is solved, we are done and the problem is over. We deal in technology and discount people. This is true even in our regular society - our business culture, for example, is not know for it's awareness or sympathy for the human condition. Television replaces human contact (says the slashdot geek :-/). As a consequence, we forget what human beings are capable of even without technology. 9/11 was a wakeup call, but I expect everything but the horror and hate of the crime was lost on US. The lesson that people always have some power to impact the world around them wasn't and isn't likely to be heeded, because it makes us less powerful. It makes us vulnerable. We don't like the feelings, and thus ignore the truth.

Part of the problem is peace is an inherantly fragile condition. We want a peaceful society, but there is a line from the Lord of the Rings I've always liked that sums up the facts well: "We learned long ago that those without swords can still die upon them." The US hasn't learned this. We have tried to create the concepts of civilian and soldier, but when you get right down to it we are all a part of this civilization, and if someone wants to do damage to the civilization they won't hit the strong points first. The concept of civilian is a luxury - in the ultimate scenario of doom, we all must either fight or die. Our thinking and strategy militarily has always centered around repeling a conqueroring invasion. That is no longer a possibility, thanks to the nuclear deterrant. But the conventional thinking then assumes because enemies can't conqueror, they will give up. Coming to terms with the different reality is not something we appear to be ready to do. People fighting hopeless fights is something we seem to have forgotten, or assumed that the bad guys won't do.

The truth that we can't do anything about certain threats is a bitter one, but not recognizing it leads to things like the Patriot Act. We must accept the vulnerability of being human and peaceful, or give it up and accept a police state. People have long said that democracy is worth dynig for, but the context has always been war or battle. I think it has to be taken beyond that - democracy is worth dying in a terrorist attack for. If we can't make that decision, we can't maintain a reasonably open society. Right now we're on the fence, hoping we won't have to decide. Certain of the political elements are salivating at the power of a police state, and they are also very dangerous. I would rather die as a consequence of our being an open, free society than see the US become something other than the last, best hope of mankind. If someone wishes to kill there is no way of peace, but I would prefer we keep trying than become another closed, fearful, government controlled footnote in world history.

The War on Terror isn't the only war

[sielwolf]

The military must prepare for The Next Enemy, whomever that may be. That's how you stay ahead of the curve and assured your not blindsided by something (say Sputnik and the possibility of living under a Commie Moon). Most nations out there have a varied mix of irregular and regular land, sea, and air branches. Predicting their national government, culture and outlook (and their possible hostility towards us and our friends) 40 years into the future is the domain of the State Department and think tanks.

So, yeah, an e-bomb might just gather dust... now. But in 10 years when it's in production? 20? Back in 1983 could anyone here predict the path of events that lead us to now?

Politicians start wars. Armies finish them. The military is just preparing for any contigency our governments decide to point and click them towards.