Information Warfare: Chaos on the Electronic Superhighway by Winn Schwartau. Thunder's Mouth Press, 632 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, New York, 10012. 432 pages. $22.95.
The United States is at war! The Cold War is over and the next war has already begun. This undeclared, unrecognized conflict is for economic dominance and is shaping up between three trading blocks--North America, Europe, and the Asian Pacific Rim. Winn Schwartau is sounding a call to arms for Americans. Like Paul Revere riding through the countryside crying "The British are coming, the British are coming! Mr Schwartau is crying out "The Info Warrior is coming, the Info Warrior is coming!
As I write, the United States is leading the world into an age of a globally networked society, an Information Age where, Schwartau argues, information and economic value have "become nearly synonymous." A major part of our multi-trillion dollar domestic economy relies upon the continued reliable operation of the more than 125 million computers which, even today, tie us together. In his view, information is "a strategic asset worthy of conquest or destruction" and the Information War's electronic conflict has already begun. "Computers and other communications and information systems become attractive first-strike targets" in this new world war. This vision of the present and future contends that Information Warfare is fundamentally about money. If this is true, then those who control information, have power and thus control the money. But, that's not all--its also about fear--the fear that "the Bank of New York felt when it found itself $23 billion short of cash in only one day." It is also about international politics, national survival, defiance and disenfranchisement. But above all, it is about the control of information.
Information Warfare was written to suggest how we citizens of the United States must come to terms with the new electronic destiny of Cyberspace, and take our place as the leaders in the new Information Age of the twenty-first century. Schwartau has attempted to paint with broad brush strokes a picture of where the Untied States (and incidentally the world) is today, where we are headed on the information superhighway, and some of the issues that must be confronted if we intend to "design our future, [and] not be consumed by it."
Schwartau begins with a discussion of the economic-political aspects of Information Warfare, delves into the ubiquitous presence of the computer and American "binary schizophrenia," and then touches upon how Information Warfare is conducted. It is in these seven chapters on the weapons of Information Warfare where he is at his best. Influenza, malicious software, sniffers, Mr. Van Eck's radiation, cryptography, chipping, HERF guns and EMP/T bombs are all diligently examined before Schwartau begins his discussion of what he has labeled the three classes of information warfare--personal, corporate, and global.
The book is almost an apocalyptic vision of the future, but like the prophets of old, Schwartau also has the "solution that allows us to take control of our electronic destiny." A National Information Policy--a "Constitution for Cyberspace."
This book is sure to stir up controversy--if not from those who will think that the weapons he describes are the stuff of science fiction, to those who will most certainly scream that his suggestion of a National Information Policy is the realization of Orwell's "Big Brother is watching." Schwartau is convincing, this is an easy to read, non-geek look at the newest craze--Information Warfare. Is it worthwhile? Absolutely! Was it convincing? To a great degree. Am I a believer in the view inherent in Information Warfare that this is something totally, unfathomably new? No! Absolutely not! As a historian (who also has an advanced degree in business), most of the claims of newness for Information Warfare are in the technologies now available. For example, Schwartau attempts to make the argument that in the information age the "strategies by which businesses use information become critical elements of their success or failure." I would argue that has always been the single most important element in the business world--whether you are a Florentine banker buying Popes during the Renaissance, or a twentieth century broker trying to leverage a buyout. Information, its control, and exploitation, was, is, and always will be, the single most important factor. The failure to exploit information properly led us to December 7, 1941. When Schwartau stays within his area of expertise, he is convincing, but when he strays outside of it, he tends to make errors (such as suggesting at one point that the U.S. Navy flies F-15s off of carriers) which detract from the believability of his argument. Am I convinced of the dangers of Information Warfare--yes! Do I recommend Information warfare: Chaos on the Electronic Superhighway? Emphatically--yes! We must understand the impact of computers and cyberspace on the new world order--only then can we "design our future, [and] not be its victim."
Major M.J. Petersen, USAF
Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
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