Synopses & Reviews
""Fast becoming a classic in the shadowy world of trigger pullers and three-letter agencies. ""Brave New War."" . . is simply the single best available source on how to avoid losing this global struggle.""
--Thomas P. M. Barnett, ""Esquire""
""For my money, John Robb, a former Air Force officer and tech guru, is the futurists' futurist. Robb is convinced that technology will empower the little guy. The difference is that Robb thinks the little guy is just as likely to wear a mask and carry a Kalashnikov as he is to make home-brewed beer.""
--""Slate""
In this groundbreaking book, controversial terrorism expert John Robb explains how the same technology that enabled globalization allows small, ad hoc bands of insurgents and criminals to wage a chaotic global war against larger adversaries. With chilling, real-world examples, he shows how terrorists can carry out inexpensive actions--like sabotaging an oil pipeline or knocking out a power grid--that disrupt vital systems and generate a huge return. Robb details how combating the shutdown of the world's oil, high-tech, and financial markets could cost us the thing we've come to value the most--global economic and cultural integration--and explains what we must do now to safeguard against this new method of global guerrilla warfare.
Review
""a fast, thought-sparking book."" (""The New York Times"", May 18, 2007)
Synopsis
For my money, John Robb, a former Air Force officer and tech guru, is the futurists' futurist.-Slate
In Brave New War, controversial terrorism expert John Robb argues that the shift from state-against-state conflicts to wars against small, ad-hoc bands of like-minded insurgents will lead to a world with as many tiny armies as there are causes to fight for. Our new enemy will be looking for gaps in the system where a small, cheap action-on an oil pipeline or the power grid-will generate a huge return. Taking steps to combat the shutdown of the world's oil, high-tech, and financial markets could cost us the thing we've come to value the most: worldwide economic and cultural integration. Brave New War makes the debate-changing argument we can't afford to ignore.
John Robb (Boston, MA) is a former U.S. counterterrorism operation planner and commander who now advises corporations on the future of terrorism, infrastructure, and markets. His writings on war have appeared in the New York Times and Fast Company.
Synopsis
""For my money, John Robb, a former Air Force officer and tech guru, is the futurists' futurist.""
--""Slate""
The counterterrorism expert John Robb reveals how the same technology that has enabled globalization also allows terrorists and criminals to join forces against larger adversaries with relative ease and to carry out small, inexpensive actions--like sabotaging an oil pipeline--that generate a huge return. He shows how combating the shutdown of the world's oil, high-tech, and financial markets could cost us the thing we've come to value the most--worldwide economic and cultural integration--and what we must do now to safeguard against this new method of warfare.
Synopsis
For my money, John Robb, a former Air Force officer and tech guru, is the futurists' futurist.
--Slate
The counterterrorism expert John Robb reveals how the same technology that has enabled globalization also allows terrorists and criminals to join forces against larger adversaries with relative ease and to carry out small, inexpensive actions--like sabotaging an oil pipeline--that generate a huge return. He shows how combating the shutdown of the world's oil, high-tech, and financial markets could cost us the thing we've come to value the most--worldwide economic and cultural integration--and what we must do now to safeguard against this new method of warfare.
About the Author
John Robb, a former U.S. counterterrorism operation commander and high-tech entrepreneur who now advises corporations, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Intelligence Council on the future intersection of terrorism, infrastructure, and markets. He is a graduate of Yale University and the Air Force Academy. His writings on war have appeared in thw ""New York Times"" and ""Fast Company.""
Table of Contents
Foreword by James Fallows.
Preface.
Part I: THE FUTURE OF WAR IS NOW.
1 The Superempowered Competition.
2 Disorder on the Doorstep.
3 A New Strategic Weapon.
Part II: GLOBAL GUERRILLAS.
4 The Long Tail of Warfare Emerges.
5 Systems Disruption.
6 Open-Source Warfare.
Part III: HOW GLOBALIZATION WILL PUT AN END TO GLOBALIZATION.
7 Guerrilla Entrepreneurs.
8 Rethinking Security.
9 A Brittle Security Breakdown.
Notes.
Further Reading.
Index.