From Your Bedroom to the Front Lines

Someday in the future an entire war may be fought from the comfort of one's home. Or at least... that's where the technology could be headed. The convergence of video games and the military is seen by many as an unholy marriage of home entertainment and world domination, but I choose to see it in a different light. Over the past twenty years video games have been the testing waters for remote operations for the army. It has also increasingly become the stage for training and simulations for soldiers.

The authenticity and realism of these games has allowed the armed forces to train soldiers better and help them be more prepared for what real combat is like. This means more efficient work and helps to ensure the safety of the troops in the field.

Stahl's writings speak to a slightly different note. The darker picture painted in his writings, however, are accurate. While war is still waged with guns and tanks, the major battlefield has shifted to that of deception and intelligence. And while the decrease in conventional warfare is good for citizens who might fall victim to collateral damage, the nature of this new battlefield makes the citizen a more direct target than in the past.

I find modern war both frightening and provacative. My curious nature and love of technology help me to see it in a more positive light. The major victories of the war on terror are known to very few. While the physical battle in Afghanistan went well, initially, it has since taken a turn for the worse. What remains are the triumphs of the economic shutdowns that were imposed on various funds and investments that would be used to wire and stow terrorist money. This new war of intelligence is a game that the U.S. can lead in, and I hope that with new government leadership we can revive the steadfast and resolute attitude that we had during the Cold War.