By Eric Blair | Activist Post | Dec. 18, 2011
Just when you thought the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) couldn't possibly be more dangerous than has already been exposed with its declaration of global war, Martial Law, legalized bestiality, indefinite detention of Americans, and the $662 billion more spent; it has now been revealed that it also serves as a declaration of offensive cyber war.
Buried in the recently passed NDAA is a provision, perhaps just as dangerous as its other transgressions, that permits the Pentagon to wage an offensive cyberwar "to defend our Nation, Allies and interests."
Section 954 of the NDAA titled Military Activities in Cyberspace received no debate in Congress as well as in the media. The section states clearly:
Congress affirms that the Department of Defense has the capability, and upon direction by the President may conduct offensive operations in cyberspace to defend our Nation, Allies and interests.
Even though there was virtually no debate about this provision by Congress or the press, the intention of action was expected. In July of this year, the Pentagon announced their strategy to treat cyberspace as an "operational domain" in their Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace.
"The United States reserves the right, under the laws of armed conflict, to respond to serious cyber attacks with a proportional and justified military response at the time and place of our choosing," said Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn at a speech announcing the new strategy.
The Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace (PDF) claims that "Hackers and foreign governments are increasingly able to launch sophisticated intrusions into the networks and systems that control critical civilian infrastructure."
Yet, Wired correctly points out that "Despite mainstream news accounts, there’s been no documented hacking attacks on U.S. infrastructure designed to cripple it. A recent report from a post-9/11 intelligence fusion center that a water pump in Illinois had been destroyed by Russian hackers turned out to be baseless."
Indeed, we first reported that the alleged hack attack on the Illinois water plant was propaganda from the beginning to end. Four days later the Federal government admitted it was not a cyber attack after the cyber scare was sold to the public.
If we've learned one thing from the recent past, the U.S. government doesn't need real evidence or a real enemy to wage war. So what can we expect from this new authorization for the Pentagon to wage offensive war on the Internet?
Department of Defense outlines five strategic initiatives which are just organizational in nature: "The United States reserves the right, under the laws of armed conflict, to respond to serious cyber attacks with a proportional and justified military response at the time and place of our choosing," said Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn at a speech announcing the new strategy.
The Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace (PDF) claims that "Hackers and foreign governments are increasingly able to launch sophisticated intrusions into the networks and systems that control critical civilian infrastructure."
Yet, Wired correctly points out that "Despite mainstream news accounts, there’s been no documented hacking attacks on U.S. infrastructure designed to cripple it. A recent report from a post-9/11 intelligence fusion center that a water pump in Illinois had been destroyed by Russian hackers turned out to be baseless."
Indeed, we first reported that the alleged hack attack on the Illinois water plant was propaganda from the beginning to end. Four days later the Federal government admitted it was not a cyber attack after the cyber scare was sold to the public.
If we've learned one thing from the recent past, the U.S. government doesn't need real evidence or a real enemy to wage war. So what can we expect from this new authorization for the Pentagon to wage offensive war on the Internet?
Department of Defense outlines five strategic initiatives which are just organizational in nature: