Currently, more than 34 million people have been unable to return to their homes, more than 20 million are internally displaced, and 14.5 million are refugees. In Liberia and Sierra Leone civil conflicts have created a critical situation. Fighting continues between Hutu insurgents and the government of Burundi, and tensions with Rwanda persist which may be aggravated by the genocide prosecutions now underway. These humanitarian crises do nothing to stabilize these regions or lessen the concerns expressed previously. Finally, on the information warfare front, there are evolving issues concerning national security.
Information warfare can encompass everything from electronic jamming to psychological operations.
The focus here, however, is defense against the deliberate exploitation of information systems inherent vulnerabilities in a manner that affects national security. Cyberwar requires a small capital investment in computers, can be carried out remotely, and allows for dispersion of operatives around the world. Targets threatened by information warfare include domestic infrastructure, such as air traffic control, power plants, banks, and international commerce, funds transfer, transportation, and communications. Illegal electronic intrusion into computer networks is a rapidly escalating crime and security problem. The tremendous growth in communications technology is shrinking distances and weakening barriers to the flow of information.