CIAO DATE: 02/2014
January 2014
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's warning that "the next Pearl Harbor" might arrive via the internet has captured considerable attention. The internet is said to be revolutionary because it is a leveler—reducing Western military advantages—and because dependence on the internet makes developed countries more vulnerable to attack. The conviction that the internet is an Achilles' heel for the existing world order is based on narrow conceptions of the potential for harm. The internet cannot perform functions traditionally assigned to military force. To the contrary, cyberwar creates another advantage for powerful status quo nations and interests.
Resource link: Making Sense of Cyberwar [PDF] - 328K