ABSTRACT
Throughout the course of human history knowledge and information have always been considered to be tantamount to power (Kuehl 2004: 118). In contrast with the past, where the notion of power was thought to comprise solely military, economic and diplomatic factors, the current advent of the ‘information revolution’ has made it evident that another vital, and perhaps the most vital element of power is, and has always been, information. Information has always historically been a force multiplier. However modern rapid advances in computer technology and especially in networking have instigated a major as well as fundamental shift in national security affairs and have irreversibly ushered the world community into a new era in which information warfare is the most prominent of powers (Joint Command Control and Information Warfare School 2003: 118). As a direct consequence, the ability offered by modern technology to states to incorporate the full spectrum of information warfare tools and techniques in their respective arsenals, is currently affecting to an ever growing degree the means by which they would be going about their military as well as their civilian affairs in the new millennium (Joint Command Control and Information Warfare School 2003: 118).
