The normalization of evil.

[Wes]

So, I really believe and think the evidence shows, that gay math geeks, (along with other geeks in general) have more to do with winning a modern war then the people with guns.

That's just rediculous.

No, no it isn't. Winning a modern war is not the same as winning a bar fight. Can you even conceive of the logistics that has to happen to move a bunch of people and guns around the world? And then put them into a position where they can do some good?

In a war, both sides have plenty of brave people with guns to go at it on the front, but the side that has the best geeks will win. Look at gulf war I - the technology that the US had totally negated the Iraqi army (which was full of brave men with guns). Our intelligence advantage was overwhelming, and thus allowed a somewhat risky strategy with the ground war to succeed.

This doesn't mean that you don't need people with guns, it just means that from a overall strategic point of view, they are not as vital to winning as having really smart people in the back rooms.

[L Day]

One does you little good without the other.

[Wes]

One does you little good without the other.

True, but the geeks will give you a greater advantage. Seriously, look at WWII and the fact that the allied generals had nearly daily updates on the german and japanese plans, to the point where they had to be careful how much they used the data. Only now - cryptography is much tougher to crack, so we probably wouldn't have that advantage again.

BTW, IT war is already starting - look at some of the recent Russian tactics in the baltic states. And look at the success of (mostly) russian hackers have had against our banks - stealing millions at a time. Now imagine what would happen in a war, where even the people *safely* at home had their lives tossed upside down by hacking banks, phones, cell towers, electric, etc. And, all those all important logistics could be tossed into total disarray by a couple geeks in a room across the globe. Hope your AK and stock of ammo can heat your house in the winter.

[Crankmas]

I'm with wes on this, why is the Chinese military hitting the U.S. with computer hackers and soo interested in space- technology today is the key to the ageless maxim of get there first-ist with the most-ist, sure it will remain difficult to recon the underside of a bridge but pilotless-drones can sure tell you whats on top- when everyone carries a suitcase it might be nice to have the technology to be able to tell which of the ten million has the nuke inside besides its way sexy baby!

[krampus]

Hope your AK and stock of ammo can heat your house in the winter.

It can if my neighbor has some propane.

[L Day]

No doubt we'd better be serious about hardening our systems. Future wars start with an IT attack. The Russians and the Chinese are practicing their chops. I hope Wes's geeks are working even harder and smarter.

[the lurkist]

prof Mcrib- one question... Wasn't W.H. Auden gay?

[mcrib]

Sure was.

[the lurkist]

J Edgar Hoover was gay.

[mcrib]

and scary.