The empowerment of the individual to conduct war

[J’raxis 270145]

People often describe the gun as "the great equalizer." Looks like we have a new one: computer technology. The State's men are upset that ordinary people can now conduct warfare against them:—

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."

(Via Slashdot.)

[Lasse]

Here is John Robb's blog; almost always interesting.