Using Web 2.0 As a Weapon
By Lieutenant Randal T. Jones, U.S. Navy Reserve
An Army platoon leader has orders to enter a village in Afghanistan. Using a small mobile cellular device, he accesses Google Earth to get a better idea of the hamlet's position and layout. Really Simple Syndication (RSS) gives him up-to-date intelligence on its history and names of its elders. Text messages from his forward-reconnaissance teams keep him informed of any strange movements. His device's global positioning satellite system lets him know his exact location in relation to the reconnaissance teams. Squad leaders gather around him and look at the device as the platoon leader uses a photo-sharing application to display photos of suspected insurgents and friendly locals. Before entering the village, the platoon leader briefs the command-and-control center, located hundreds of miles away.
