I thought this was interesting...

[i_kender]

The UK's Ministry of Defense recently released a report. It covers projections for the year 2035. Read more here.

Warning for the more sensitive of you: May induce fear, loathing, or rage.

" 'An electromagnetic pulse will probably become operational by 2035 able to destroy all communications systems in a selected area or be used against a "world city" such as an international business service hub. The development of neutron weapons which destroy living organs but not buildings "might make a weapon of choice for extreme ethnic cleansing in an increasingly populated world'.  "

Comments

[verdandiweaves.livejournal.com]

MoD reports are always fun. It's more interesing when you look at what they predicted fifty years ago for today. I can't remember many details, but I'm sure I saw some cuttings from the 50s which were, shall we say, less than accurate.
However, fiction is also a good predictor of change - as in the global consciousness we do generally have a sense of where we're heading.... is that a wicker handle I see above my head?
Remember what you are reading is being released in the public arena - and secondly the MoD has to argue for its budget like any other government department.
I did think the comment on unemployed youth and urbanisation of the west was spot on. I thought the bit about fundamentalists targeting China was a bit on the opptimistic side - look, look, at them, you want to be mean to them not us - kind of thing.
Over all, I guess I'm saying I try not to buy into the climate of fear.

[i_kender]

Yeah I know... chips in people's brains? In 18 years? I doubt it. But a fun read nonetheless.

"Err, you don't want to mess with us. Look over there! See, it's China! They hate you and they don't believe in God! GASP! Go and get 'em!"

[mingmerciless.livejournal.com]

I don't know... a few years back I attended a talk by a lawyer who specialised in helping Western companies set up in China and her view was that while Tibet might generate all the headlines in the West, the PRC government's chief fear on the separatist front was from Muslim fundamentalism in the Western provinces.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

But... I thought we already had EMP weapons and neutron bombs? They developed those in the 80s.

[mingmerciless.livejournal.com]

AIUI, the neutron bomb aka enhanced radiation weapon was more a nuclear bomb with especially high levels of radiation produced than a "kill people but leave buildings intact" weapon - it could be that the weapons being referred to here are refinements which minimise the nuclear blast part?

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Good point. I know the Americans have been researching bigger and better neutron bombs, so perhaps they are looking at some sort of non-nuclear neutron bomb. I think I read something that they wanted a version that would leave no radiation contamination at all.

Kill people and leave buildings intact... more like kill people and leave oil drilling installations intact.