In the Internet era, conflict is constant, invisible, and deadlier than ever. No longer is the country with the biggest army or most missiles the most powerful — instead, those wielding the best algorithm can dominate, says foreign policy strategist David Rothkopf.

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In 2010 the U.S. Army Special Operations Command created Cultural Support Teams, a pilot program to put women on the battlefield in Afghanistan. In this excerpt from her book, Ashley’s War, writer Gayle Tzemach Lemmon shares the background that led to this game-changing decision.