Hello from TechLahore

**TechLahore** · 11-15-2009, 12:56 AM

I've been following this forum off and on over the years. I run a blog devoted to technology, entrepreneurship and innovation in Pakistan. Often, I find myself rambling about politics, military technology and Pakistan's innovations in these areas. A few of my articles have been referenced at this forum by other members, so perhaps some of you might already be aware of techlahore.wordpress.com

I figured it was high-time I signed up and participated directly, and so, here I am!

TruthSeeker · 11-15-2009, 09:32 AM

Welcome!!

**MastanKhan** · 11-15-2009, 09:38 AM

Hi,

Welcome aboard.

abbasniazi · 11-15-2009, 10:26 AM

TOPGUN · 11-15-2009, 10:49 AM

Welcome on board!

Bushy · 11-15-2009, 10:57 AM

Hi.
Just as you, I too have been following this forum for years, but joined today.
Are you the same guy who wrote a critique on John Arquilla's incomprehensible fantasy about his cyber-squads taking care of us South Asian 'apes'?

umairp · 11-15-2009, 11:28 AM

Welcome and have a nice time at the forum!

**TechLahore** · 11-15-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bushy

Hi.
Just as you, I too have been following this forum for years, but joined today.
Are you the same guy who wrote a critique on John Arquilla's incomprehensible fantasy about his cyber-squads taking care of us South Asian 'apes'?

Yes. Guilty as charged.

amunhotep · 11-15-2009, 10:49 PM

to

enjoy your stay here

joelhar · 11-16-2009, 02:52 AM

I joined, wanting to know what was said. I've been reading John Arquilla's works for years, but I missed the reference to 'apes' and cybersquads. Tell me more?

**TechLahore** · 11-16-2009, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelhar

I joined, wanting to know what was said. I've been reading John Arquilla's works for years, but I missed the reference to 'apes' and cybersquads. Tell me more?

You can read the entire piece here:

Wired magazine makes the case for cyber war against Pakistan and India Tech Lahore

The reference to apes was our own little bit of sarcasm... Arquilla's arrogance in assuming that the US has the capability to 'take out' Pakistan and India's command and control so perfectly that a conflict would be avoided essentially implied his views of South Asian competence were less than fair.

Bushy · 11-16-2009, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelhar

I joined, wanting to know what was said. I've been reading John Arquilla's works for years, but I missed the reference to 'apes' and cybersquads. Tell me more?

Hi Joelhar,
I don't know much about John Arquilla. And the term "apes" here was added by me, Arquilla didn't use it. All I know is that he is a consultant for RAND and one of the many advisers to Donald Rumsfeld.

In one recent article published in 'Wired', he went on to propose the idea that the US military should employ a bunch of hackers to take down the command and control of India and Pakistan and prevent a nuclear war.

This is what he had to say:

Scenario: Defusing South Asia
Situation: Pakistan and India are massing armies on their shared border.
Solution: Take out the command-and-control networks on both sides before these nuclear-armed foes can go to war for a fifth time. In the 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still, Arquilla notes, a benevolent alien shuts down the machines of Earth's superpowers before they can spread nukes to other planets. Here, US- led hackers play the ET role to put the conflict on ice.