Free Republic

This month, the U.S. Army is installing new software in Iraq that allows troops to search over two dozen databases containing information on hostile Iraqis. Many units have developed databases to assist in finding Iraqis who are attacking, or planning to attack, coalition forces. The new "Horizontal Fusion" software can search through all the databases for relevant information, and show duplicate and conflicting information as well. The Internet based software will work with existing secure (cut off from the public Internet) networks used in Iraq. The individual databases have been a big help in figuring out who the enemy is,...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2003 -- The Defense Department's unquenchable quest to make troops less vulnerable and more lethal has led to a concept called "horizontal fusion." Horizontal fusion is a DoD transformation initiative focused on enabling "net- centric" warfare. DoD officials said net-centric warfare is a concept of operations with information superiority and the ability to make sense of that information as its foundation. The idea is to increase combat power by utilizing all assets in the field and at home to link decision makers and shooters electronically. With access to the same information at the same time, they achieve...