Slashdot Mirror


How Tech Almost Lost the War

An anonymous reader writes "Blame the geeks for the mess in Iraq? Wired says so. Networked troops were supposed to be so efficient, it'd take just a few of 'em to wipe out their enemies. But the Pentagon got their network theory all wrong, with too few nodes and a closed architecture. Besides, a more efficient killing machine is the last thing you want in an insurgency like Iraq."

10 of 679 comments (clear)

  1. Actually.... by cyberon22 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Republicans are to blame for this one.

    1. Re:Actually.... by OECD · · Score: 3, Funny
      It's more banal than that. I see this every day. We have to design a newsletter? Use Excel, it works great in accounting!

      Only difference is that lives aren't at stake ( but how I wish they were...)

      --
      One man's -1 Flamebait is another man's +5 Funny.
    2. Re:Actually.... by sqrt(2) · · Score: 5, Funny

      When the only tool you have is Excel, every problem starts looking like a spreadsheet.

      --
      If you build it, nerds will come. Soylentnews.org
    3. Re:Actually.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      When the only tool you have is Windows, every problem starts looking like malware.

    4. Re:Actually.... by iluvcapra · · Score: 3, Funny

      ....Ahem

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
    5. Re:Actually.... by CastrTroy · · Score: 3, Funny

      My dad uses excel for just about everything. Once you learn how to use it, it's quite powerful, and you can do a lot of stuff with it. He designed his deck by making square cells and using that to map out the floor plan. Which is even more impressive, because it's not just a square deck.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  2. Story moderation by michaelmalak · · Score: 3, Funny

    Can we moderate this story "Troll"?

  3. Don't be silly by Leuf · · Score: 3, Funny

    Being a leader means never having to take responsibility for anything until someone further up than you tosses you to the lions to cover their own ass.

  4. Geeks are to blame. by Travoltus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Going by the same logic that says geeks are at fault for this...

    I say let's outsource these jobs to Iran.

    --
    --- Grow a pair, liberals... stop letting the Republicans bully you!
  5. Almost lost the war? by mrbluze · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since when has the US won the war? It's over? *slaps forehead* I better go check the newspaper.

    --
    Do it yourself, because no one else will do it yourself. [beta blockade 10-17 Feb]