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Technology Leveling The Playing Field In Modern War

Posted by Zonk on from the to-the-detriment-of-the-armed-forces dept.

The IEEE spectrum site has up an article written by the author Robert N. Charette describing the 'empowerment of the individual to conduct war' through technology. In the piece, entitled Open-Source Warfare, Charette describes the cheap, inexpensive, but clever ways that militants are adapting to modern warfare. "As events are making painfully clear, [counterterrorism expert John Robb] says, warfare is being transformed from a closed, state-sponsored affair to one where the means and the know-how to do battle are readily found on the Internet and at your local RadioShack. This open global access to increasingly powerful technological tools, he says, is in effect allowing 'small groups to...declare war on nations.' Need a missile-guidance system? Buy yourself a Sony PlayStation 2. Need more capability? Just upgrade to a PS3."

4 of 304 comments (clear)

  1. Microsofts marketing by 4play · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can see Microsoft's new marketing campaign now. "PS3's are for terrorists"

  2. Oh, I'm sorry... by cp.tar · · Score: 4, Funny

    the cheap, inexpensive, but clever ways that militants are adapting to modern warfare.

    I'd thought guerrilla wasn't exactly a new concept...

    /* BTW inexpensive == cheap */

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  3. Re:Pitchforks anyone? by cp.tar · · Score: 4, Funny

    exactly. It's like my friend (a vet) says, he walks in to a diner and sees weapons everywhere,

    Wow.

    I didn't know veterinarians were so militant.

    Though I can see the rationale... if you're going to spay (or bathe) a cat, you'd better be learned in the arts of war.

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  4. Re:Those open source terrorists! by 3waygeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    Given their extremist political views, I'd think they'd use Subversion instead of CVS.