[js1138]

There are no all-optical communictaions systems. The fiber will be so much useless glass after the head-end lasers and associated electronics are fried.

I'm not an expert, but I believe that an emp weapon needs long wires in the target to act as antennae. Power cords would do, but if point to point connections are glass, the electronic components can be hardened and shielded.

[Poohbah]

I'm not an expert, but I believe that an emp weapon needs long wires in the target to act as antennae.

Not true, unless your EMP is in the HF range.

[DK Zimmerman]

Nor am I an expert, but what I understand of it...

Electrical lines can cause a system outside of the 'normal' range of the weapon to be affected due to the antenna effect, just as it can funnel in a pulse sufficient to fry-through otherwise "safe" features closer in.

However, neither of those effects are required to do damage. Your Mr. Coffee, your television, and electronic ignition, all those can be fried directly.

As I mentioned before, the Army frequently resorted to protecting systems by having them disconnected and placed into a shielded case. Just unplugging them doesn't suffice.