Over the years the role accorded to technology has rarely been in doubt as it has featured prominently in the lives of the ordinary people as well as in the military, mostly in a positive light as a means of enhancing on the development of technologies helping bridge the gap between different nations. But the same technologies can be utilised for mysterious and unorthodox warfare strategies. One of the most shocking and shocking evolutions relates to the use of pagers, solar panels and walkie-talkies as weapons.
Pagers: Converting Communication to Explosive Device
Beepers or pagers, which were once widely used means of communication especially in 1980’s and the early 1990’s have now become relics. But despite the advancement of technology, there are some militant groups who have given the conventional technology purpose again. Through incorporation of explosive components in pagers, the attackers are able to cause fatal consequences in the attacks. These devices are usually disregarded because they are considered outmoded; this gives them advantage of anonymity in their attack.
In Lebanon there had been an incident where the attackers used pagers as explosives and the explosion caused thousands of injuries, 3,000 to be precise. Hezbollah has accused Israel of masterminding this unconventional attack thus shifting tactics in ways by which ordinary items are weaponized. The tactic is a good example of how such technologies as the use of WWW I equipment can still be useful in contemporary wars.
Solar Panels: So the idea of a new type of attack is powered by this factor.
People have described the use of the sun as a way of obtaining energy for residential and commercial purposes hence termed as solar energy. But in regions of conflict, the solar panel has been used to serve destructive ends, these are; Terrorists have been said to harness power in solar panels so as to power IEDs while also powering equipment that can interfere with communication and surveillance.
These attacks raise the question on the duality of the uses of solar panels especially in conflicts. This technology that was introduced to ensure energy security and lower an emission has in some instances turned into a strategic implement in the hands of rebellion and terrorist organizations.
Walkie-Talkies: Communication and Sabotage
Mobile radios have, for many years been employed in military and civilian communication purposes. In the war context, they are very useful means of sharing and planning an operation. But these devices are also easy targets for interception of signals and the signals can also be easily manipulated. As a result of modern development in communication devices, enemies can easily decode walkers talky devices or even interfere with the signals making it hard for the military forces to coordinate their strategies.
Still worse is the possibility of walkie-talkies being booby-trapped to contain explosives or tracking installations which would enable the attackers to easily locate officials or stage destructive inconspicuous operations. This makes them not only the media through which communication takes place but also a possible weapon of confrontation.
This is a discussion of the concept of unconventional warfare, the rise of the threat and its impact on states as well as the international systemic level.
As for the means of attacks, the importance should be paid to the usage of pagers, solar panels, and walkie-talkies which can be regarded as the signs of the shift to the new paradigm of warfare. But in recent years as more and more conventional warfare strategies become easier to counter, and predict, the enemies adopt less conventional and more low-profile strategies using technologies available to them.
This growing threat puts new challenges to the international security forces as it gets rather intricate to predict the time, place and manner of the next attack. Innocent and useless items of daily use as well as relics have been turned into deadly tools, and therefore intelligence agencies need to adapt to this new tactic by identifying and countering them.
Conclusion
Warfare reflects the trends that are characteristic to the given period, based on the advancements in technology. While pagers, solar panels and walkie-talkies might not be thought of as weapons, they have recently been employed in conflicts which is why one should be extremely cautious and inventive when it comes to preventing such threats. Boundaries between the civilian and military domain have become increasingly obscure and as result, unconventional warfare is a reality that is here to stay and will be a source of constant challenge to the global security system.
