The Next World War: Computers Are the Weapons and the Front Line is Everywhere

by James Adams

Book Overview

In The Next World War, James Adams shows how a new chapter in military history is being written as the Information Age comes to the battlefield: to bigger and stronger, now add smarter.

In The Next World War, James Adams draws on impressive research as well as his lifetime of reporting on intelligence and military affairs to give us a chilling scenario of how wars will be fought in the new millennium -- and how much closer...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743223802
• ISBN13: 9780743223805
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Wide Ranging Review of Information Warfare

This book covers the myriad of areas of Information Warfare. Mr. Adams goes into detail on the perception management areas of IW as well as the more expected computer areas. He covers much material and sometimes he jumps around but I appreciate the wide-ranging discussions. He even covers the Russian view of IW as well as Chinese operations. He reviews the defensive IW element of counterintelligence and includes economic espionage. He also talks about the morality and legality of the use of IW. He is not afraid to offer his personal opinions in this book. Overall a detailed treatment of IW while still being entertaining.

Infrastructure beware

My shelves are littered with books that pretend to describe the threats in cyberspace. Recent lightweights take an apocalyptic approach - perhaps to scare readers into buying their books. Most of these cyber-scare books blur the line between fact and fantasy; they lose track of the difference between information in warfare and Information Warfare. This book is substantially different, however. It provides factual information and well grounded opinions. Ever since Charles Colson wrote Kingdoms in Conflict we have become familiar with fictional White House dramas in the first chapter of nonfiction books. The first pages of Adams' book are very different, however. His White House sketch describes something that could very well happen next week in international cyberspace.The book's setting is international; every chapter presents thoughtful issues that affect the global environment that security managers operate in. Using conventional wars as a background the author describes our defeat in Somalia, messy involvement in Haiti and limited victory in Iraq. It transitions to next generation warfare by describing non-lethal weaponry. This isn't cyberspace but it will be of general interest to thoughtful managers. According to Adams corporate security can expect little cybercop help from the government. "As a rule they have almost no computer security experience". The political forces that assign responsibility for detection of computer crimes have also dropped the ball. The presidential decision directive centralizing responsibility for defending gave responsibility to the "Neanderthal" FBI and Department of Justice.The author's first hand sources in the US and foreign intelligence services make this book an interesting read. His clearheaded view of encryption technology and politics frame factual discussions. I strongly recommend it for security managers who would like to see the future threat to their organizations as well as the national infrastructure.[adapted from a review published in Security Management. All rights reserved by the author]

The way it will happen

James Adams' book is a crisp, insightful look at how the next world war will be fought, and who might be the winners and losers. It's a wake-up call for anyone interested in infrastructure defense and for anyone interested in information security. It's a compelling read, gripping because it is so real, so informed.

A well-written, superbly researched and documented study.

The World War is not only about military events, history and technology, but encompasses a vast range of subject including economic competition and espionage, privacy and government policies. The author clearly and intelligently reports on the explosive and often uncontrolled growth of issues relating not just to information warfare as viewed or shaped by the military, but also on the pervasive intrusion of technology into all aspects of contemporary life. This book is important not only to those interested in military history and issues, but should also be read and studied by business leaders and futurists. An excellent work.

Gripping, but thorough and careful. Chilling.

This well-paced, careful book merits careful attention from policymakers and the general public alike. At times it reads like a novel, but it is very serious stuff indeed.