Also, ideologically motivated groups can and will do more on a shoestring- note the World Trade Center and OKC bombings as examples. The fragmentation of nations and the political, ethnic or religious factionalization of groups of people make tensions more likely to result in violence. Given the increasing weight of urban areas as centers of gravity, urban combat is increasingly likely. Strategic and heavy conventional arsenals can provide little or no deterrent to prevent substate entities from mounting significant attacks since they cannot be brought to bear successfully on targets impossible to identify or separate from the surrounding population of innocents. A developing interest in nonlethal or less than lethal technologies is a direct result of this problem.
Infowar threats are increasingly visible, possible and some significant attacks are happening now.
Since this is a relatively cheap and often nearly invisible method of attack, with good potential for success if mounted correctly, it is bound to continue and grow more popular. In addition, the Internet is increasingly being used as a vehicle for garnering political support and spreading propaganda as well. Casualty avoidance has become a major though seldom addressed issue. Searing images of American casualties dragged through the streets have an impact on the American public that heretofore has not come into play to such a degree. The public at home can see disturbing battlefield images with unprecedented rapidity, approaching real- time.