Future War: Preparing for the New Global Battlefield Kindle Edition

by Robert H. Latiff (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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ISBN-13: 978-1101947609

ISBN-10: 1101947608

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An urgent, prescient, and expert look at how future technology will change virtually every aspect of war as we know it and how we can respond to the serious national security challenges ahead.

Future war is almost here: battles fought in cyberspace; biologically enhanced soldiers; autonomous systems that can process information and strike violently before a human being can blink.
     A leading expert on the place of technology in war and intelligence, Robert H. Latiff, now teaching at the University of Notre Dame, has spent a career in the military researching and developing new combat technologies, observing the cost of our unquestioning embrace of innovation. At its best, advanced technology acts faster than ever to save the lives of soldiers; at its worst, the deployment of insufficiently considered new technology can have devastating unintended or long-term consequences. The question of whether we can is followed, all too infrequently, by the question of whether we should.
     In Future War, Latiff maps out the changing ways of war and the weapons technologies we will use to fight them, seeking to describe the ramifications of those changes and what it will mean in the future to be a soldier. He also recognizes that the fortunes of a nation are inextricably linked with its national defense, and how its citizens understand the importance of when, how, and according to what rules we fight. What will war mean to the average American? Are our leaders sufficiently sensitized to the implications of the new ways of fighting? How are the attitudes of individuals and civilian institutions shaped by the wars we fight and the means we use to fight them? And, of key importance: How will soldiers themselves think about war and their roles within it?
     The evolving, complex world of conflict and technology demands that we pay more attention to the issues that will confront us, before it is too late to control them. Decrying what he describes as a "broken" relationship between the military and the public it serves, Latiff issues a bold wake-up call to military planners and weapons technologists, decision makers, and the nation as a whole as we prepare for a very different future.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“[Robert H. Latiff’s] background as a weapons expert and trained philosopher gives him unique skills to examine the subject of war, technology, and ethics. . . . Readers interested in the future of warfare and evolving technologies will relish this thought-provoking account.” —Library Journal

“A cautionary and chilling consideration of how wars will be conducted in the near future.” —Booklist (starred review)

“A thoughtful and thought-provoking book that addresses a range of political and sociological issues beyond what the title Future War infers. It comports with the highest tradition of ‘truth to power.’ A compelling book.” —Honorable James R. Clapper, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence

“In a lucid and powerful volume, Robert Latiff outlines what is coming in the conduct of global conflict—from cyber to bioengineering, from artificial intelligence to stealth. His vision is clear and his message chilling: a must read for strategists and military practitioners.” —Adm. James Stavridis, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander

“Future War is a cri de coeur by an eminently qualified author urgently calling us to our senses to recognize the leaching of ethics and humanity from an increasingly autonomic and remote form of warfare. A must read.” —Vint Cerf, co-inventor of the Internet

“'Our nation has a serious problem,' Robert Latiff writes in Future War. 'Technology is moving so fast that few can understand it.' This is the core challenge to which the author brings his valuable twin perspective as an Air Force general and a teacher on ethics and values. His book is a useful guide to weighing the many dilemmas that won’t go away anytime soon, the moral implications of our changing weapons and changing wars." —P. W. Singer, author of Ghost Fleet

About the Author

DR. ROBERT H. LATIFF retired from the U.S. Air Force as a major general in 2006. He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Notre Dame and is the director of Intelligence Community Programs at George Mason University's School of Engineering. Latiff is a member of the Air Force Studies Board and the Intelligence Community Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He lives in Alexandria, VA. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N6TTSXT
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage (September 26, 2017)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 26, 2017
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1818 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 181 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #888,162 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #161 in Military Policy (Kindle Store)
- #471 in Military Policy (Books)
- #771 in Military Science History

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Robert H. Latiff

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Robert H. Latiff grew up in rural southeastern Kentucky. He attended the University of Notre Dame on an Army scholarship and received a bachelors degree in physics. Offered a research grant by the National Science Foundation, he stayed at Notre Dame to receive masters and doctoral degrees in materials science. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Major General in 2006 and is now a consultant, providing advice on advanced technology matters to corporate and government clients and to universities. Dr. Latiff is an Adjunct Faculty Member and chairs the external advisory board of the Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values at the University of Notre Dame and is also a Research Professor at George Mason University. He is a member of the Intelligence Community Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Latiff teaches, and speaks and writes frequently about issues of technology and war. Major General Latiff’s last active duty assignment was at the National Reconnaissance Office where he directed advanced research, development, and engineering. He has also served as the commander of the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. While in the U.S. Army, General Latiff served both in the infantry branch and the ordnance corps, where he commanded an Army tactical nuclear weapons unit. He is a graduate of the National Security Fellows Program at Harvard’s JFK School of Government. General Latiff is a recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

Customer reviews

5 star		68%
4 star		12%
3 star		10%
2 star		6%
1 star		4%

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Tess Collins Ph.D.

Future War is now

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2018

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The Future War that Robert H. Latiff writes about is now. Well, parts of it. This is an important book that every American should read. For far too long war has been something that happens “way over there.” The war of the future will be more on our doorsteps. Has anyone wondered what they will do when the power grid is cyber-attacked and we have no electricity for over a year? Start thinking about it because it is coming. What makes this book stand out from the sea of notional books is that Dr. Latiff asks the reader to consider what kind of world they want to live in and encourages the reader to be a part of the future decision making. Let us lead from knowledge not fear. Dr. Latiff was a major general in the U.S. Air Force and adjunct faculty member at the University of Notre Dame. His is a voice we would be wise to listen to.

7 people found this helpful

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N. Lester

The Warning Shot to wake us up

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2018

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A warning shot to wake up military and civilian community members to the harsh realities of current and near-future technology-based wars that will eventually affect every man, woman, and child. We cannot afford to try to catch up later with the accumulating mental and physical consequences of indirect and direct warfare acts inside and outside our U.S.borders. What we do today directly effects everyone's tomorrow. Our archaic mindsets of power superiority is greatly over-shadowed by cohesive community connectedness - when we are interdependent and genuinely engaged with our communities = it is the greatest, healthiest, and most enduring resiliency and sustainability!

One person found this helpful

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Arely Flores

A must read

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2018

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This should be required reading for our high school students. The author is a seasoned military man with insight into technology and the effect it will have in the future theatre of battle. It may not always be a riveting page-turner but, the insight is valuable. As civilians and soldiers living in the same space, we should know how the world is being shaped by technology. Future War even shines a light on the need for civilians to acquire a better relationship with those who serve(d) in the military. This book is a great read for anyone looking to gain insight into the integrated role of technology and the military in our society and economy.

One person found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

This is a superb work that should be required for ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2018

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This is a superb work that should be required for every practitioner of national security and student of modern war. Well written by an expert commentator and practitioner of the military arts. A must for the library of all serious military, intelligence and national security professionals.

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Harry J. Foxwell, PhD

Required reading for understanding the ethical issues of modern warfare

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2017

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Considering the endorsements this book has received, Clapper (DNI),
Stavridis (NATO), and Cerf (Internet), and the unquestionable
qualifications of its author, I can only add that it should be
required reading for those concerned about the future conduct of
warfare by us and by other countries and adversaries.

Having been a combat veteran, I am increasingly concerned about the
automation of war that Latiff warns against. He also correctly
points to the growing disconnect of the general public with the
understanding of the military, and with the conduct of modern war
and its consequences.

Latiff's discussion of the ethics of warfare is certainly
thought-provoking but leaves the reader wondering whether there
could ever be universal recognition of such principles considering the
violent terrorism seen in the world today. He suggests that the US has
"...a responsibility to demonstrate caution as an example to
others...", with respect to weapons development, quoting former
National Security Advisor John Brennan, "...if we want other nations
to use these technologies responsibly, we must use them responsibly...
we cannot expect of others what we will not do ourselves". If only
it were true that our enemies would follow our moral example.

Latiff includes many quotations and references to the issues raised
in the book, providing much additional worthwhile reading on the topic.
But his opening quote from General Omar Bradley pretty much sums up his
premise: "Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants".

4 people found this helpful

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nnj925

Disappointed

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2019

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The writer really needs to focus more on the points then trying to push his liberal agenda. Not worth the read unless you are very liberal.

One person found this helpful

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debra

Injoyment

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2019

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The book was fantastic.

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Terry Foster

Good Information On a Difficult Subject

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2019

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Interesting read.

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Top reviews from other countries

SHAUN LAMB

A helpful inflection on recent war and proposed considerations as we face a world of advancing technology.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2017

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An interesting read which raises a number of really good question for debate and thought as we face new and developing challenges. A very useful read.

Future War: Preparing for the New Global Battlefield Kindle Edition

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Robert H. Latiff

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