Many people envision information-age warfare as precise, antiseptic, elegantly woven operations.
After all, lasers, satellite communications and digital command promise commanders broader perspective, deeper insight, more time and clearer judgment. New technologies even connect dislocated forces through reachback, remotely piloted vehicles and long-range fire support. But if it is war, someone somewhere will still die, and even live video footage cannot fully capture the terror and confusion at the tip of the spear. Information superiority may enhance effectiveness but, at best, only reduces the killing. Like all technologies, these new weapons and systems harness tremendous power and saddle users with vulnerabilities predictable and unforeseen.