Even though U.S. intelligence indicates hostile military intent by the aggressor, there is still no solid information on who is behind the events that have undermined the country's ability to respond to the threats. Waging information war is relatively cheap. Unlike traditional weapon technologies, acquiring information weapons does not require vast financial resources or state sponsorship. Computer expertise and access to major networks may be the only prerequisites. Boundaries are blurred in cyberspace.
Opportunities abound to manipulate perception in cyberspace.
Political action groups and other nongovernment organizations can utilize the Internet to galvanize political support, as the Chiapas of Mexico were able to do. Information war has no front line. Potential battlefields are anywhere networked systems allow access. Current trends suggest that the U.S. economy will increasingly rely on complex, interconnected network control systems for such necessities as oil and gas pipelines, electric grids, etc. The vulnerability of these systems is currently poorly understood.