About abstract wars like the War on Terror

[IronLionZion]

My Computer Crime professor said the following about Information Warfare in relation to the War on Terror.

In an abstract war like the Information War or the War on Terror; who is the enemy?

The enemy is not outside our gates; the enemy is within our gates. The enemy is here right now. The enemy is human nature. Because we are all capable of crime, murder, and terror. We can all be bought if the price is right and we can all be corrupted. We can all be labeled as terrorists at any time by the fact that we all cause fear at some point.

So how can we win an abstract war?

We can only do our best to reduce crime or terror or poverty. We can NEVER win an abstract war! Not without killing every human being on this planet!

(This guy also feels that the most catastrophic way to attack America is by going after our computer systems in Defense, Business, Power plants, etc.)

Discuss:

[Goldom]

1. Hmm...

I believe I said the nearly same thing when I first heard the term. "Terror? Where's that?" You can't go bombing terror, declaring war on terror... doesn't work... might as well try to kill evil. Oh wait, we're trying to do that too...

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Goldom!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mikehiggins]

2. You want a catastrophe?

Three guys with Uzis and handgrenades at the Mall of the Americas on December 26th.

That would be a catastrophe.

There are a dozen right-wing groups in our own nation that could pull something like that off. It wouldn't even have to be OBL's crew.

And what would happen to our Constitutional rights then?

We live on a razor's edge.

[IronLionZion]

4. I don't want a catastrophe

even a small suicide bomb in any mall in America will terrorize the hell out of people and cause panic. Bush will have to take away all our freedoms to protect our freedom.

[AliceWonderland]

3. The War on Terror [tm]

is a concept that's a mendacious scam. The very phrase gets on my nerves. It is impossible to "wage war" on an abstract concept like "drugs," "poverty," or "terror." You can develop policies to deal with specific problems involving these issues, but that's not nearly so sexy for the masses as A WAR ON TERROR. One of the most amusing things I ever read about this phrase was an essay saying "you might as well have a War on Flanking Manouvers as a War on Terror." It's just a method of fighting. I believe in calling a spade a spade. Hey, call it a War on the Bill of Rights. Or a War on Ragheads. Or a War on the Doctrine of War as Self-Defense. At least these are more descriptive and more accurate.

[IronLionZion]

5. I go to RIT by the way

and the lectures I hear from our outstanding faculty is worth every penny of tuition.

This professor was formerly a top Computer Crime expert in Washington and was often consulted by Congress. His name is Sam McQuade.

[Martin Eden]

6. War against terror -- an oxymoron

Terror by definition is extreme mental and physical suffering. Victims in any war are terrorized by fear, anguish, mutilation, and death -- whether they are blown up by a suicide bomber or bombs dropped from American planes is a distinction lost on the victims in their moment of terror.

Launching a war against terror -- an actual war with bombs and bullets -- is an oxymoron. And in the case of Iraq, it was ordered by a moron.

[AliceWonderland]

7. Yeah, that too

Well put.

[IronLionZion]

8. yes, absolutely

it's propaganda for the people who like tough talk.

[Cleita]

9. I always thought the war on poverty to be more winnable

and less lethal.

[IronLionZion]

10. It feels right in our hearts

but I don't think it can happen. Human nature will keep it from happening. Communist and Socialist countries have poor people too.

[Orangeone]

11. I Know you can't

Have a war against a tactic. It's like a war on Carpet bombing.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Orangeone!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Orangeone]

14. Hi

Thanks!

[Iverson]

15. In the classroom, I declared war ...

... on symmetry. The brighter students got it instantly.