A must-read article by Ethan Zuckerman on the "cyberwar" against Georgia.

What's frightening about the online attacks against Georgia is not that they're organized by shadowy Krelmin forces, but that they're coming from a loosely organized group of individuals...

The shift from a world where power comes solely from governments and militaries to one where power can come from loosely organized, adhoc groups is a hard one to grasp. It's easy to understand why the press and the military would misunderstand the situation in Georgia as a new type of military attack. The truth may be more intriguing and frightening - we've entered an era where individuals can organize their own "cyberwar" campaigns online, in concert with or in opposition to their governments.

He cites Clay Shirky's adage that the net allows "ridiculously easy group formation," adding, "Once formed, these groups can organize potluck dinners or spread propoganda."

Instapundit blogger Glenn Reynolds titled his book about empowered individuals and web-assembled groups "An Army of Davids." It's worth remembering that from certain perspectives, your country or your company might be the one that looks like Goliath.