I'm yet to read the Knowledge but I don't see much about skills needed to kill other people. One thing I've noticed is that in any emergency that is large enough, people often turn on themselves; Katrina, Fires in stadiums etc (cause more death by crushing than the fire), financial crises (causes looting/murder), famine etc.
I agree with you that Civilization will contract. I am Australian and a soldier but my father was born in Normandy 2 kms from Omaha beach in the early 50's and my mother was born in Yugoslavia inside a Russian forced labour camp. I know what people are capable of doing to each other, when our civilization contracts, there will be alot of people who try to bring you down with them. How much of the book holds information on basic nomanculture/psychology of war/assassination techniques and combat theory?
I can help with this if needed.
Great website guys!