The Pentagon's Cyber Command: Civilian Infrastructure is a "Legitimate" Target

The Pentagon's Cyber Command: Civilian Infrastructure is a "Legitimate" Target

by Tom Burghardt , April 18, 2010 Antfascist Calling...


When U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates launched Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) last June, the memorandum authorizing its stand-up specified it as a new "subordinate unified command" under U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), one that "must be capable of synchronizing warfighting effects across the global security environment as well as providing support to civil authorities and international partners."

As Antifascist Calling reported at the time, Gates chose Lt. General Keith Alexander, the current Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), to lead the new DOD entity. The agency would be based in Ft. Meade, Maryland, where NSA headquarters are located and the general would direct both organizations.

In that piece I pointed out that STRATCOM is the successor organization to Strategic Air Command (SAC). One of ten Unified Combatant Commands, STRATCOM's brief includes space operations (military satellites), information warfare, missile defense, global command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as global strike and strategic deterrence, America's first-strike nuclear arsenal.

Designating CYBERCOM a STRATCOM branch all but guarantees an aggressive posture. As an organization that will unify all military cyber operations from various service branches under one roof, CYBERCOM will coordinate for example, Air Force development of technologies to deliver what are called "D5 effects" (deceive, deny, disrupt, degrade and destroy).

Ostensibly launched to protect military networks against malicious attacks, the command's offensive nature is underlined by its role as STRATCOM's operational cyber wing. In addition to a defensive brief to "harden" the "dot-mil" domain, the Pentagon plan calls for an offensive capacity, one that will deploy cyber weapons against imperialism's adversaries.

As a leading growth sector in the already-massive Military-Industrial-Security-Complex, the cyberwar market is hitting the corporate "sweet spot" as the Pentagon shifts resources from Cold War "legacy" weapons' systems into what are perceived as "over-the-horizon" offensive capabilities.

In association with STRATCOM, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), will hold a Cyberspace Symposium, "Ensuring Commanders' Freedom of Action in Cyberspace," May 26-27 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Chock-a-block with heavy-hitters in the defense and security world such as Lockheed Martin, HP, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, Cisco, CSC, General Dynamics, QinetiQ, Raytheon and the spooky MITRE Corporation, the symposium seeks to foster "innovation and collaboration between the private sector and government to delve into tough cyber issues." The shin-dig promises to "feature defense contractors and government agencies showcasing their solutions to cyberspace and cyber warfare issues."

During pro forma hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) April 15, Alexander's testimony was short on specifics, as were his written responses to "Advance Questions" submitted to the general by the SASC.

During Thursday's testimony, Alexander told the Senate panel that the command "isn't about efforts to militarize cyberspace," but rather "is about safeguarding the integrity of our military's critical information systems."

"If confirmed" Alexander averred, "I will operate within applicable laws, policies and authorities. I will also identify any gaps in doctrine, policy and law that may prevent national objectives from being fully realized or executed."

What those "national objectives" are and how they might be "executed" are not publicly spelled out, but can be inferred from a wealth of documents and statements from leading cyberwar proponents.

As we will explore below, despite hyperbole to the contrary, CYBERCOM represents long-standing Pentagon plans to militarize cyberspace as part of its so-called "Revolution in Military Affairs" and transform the internet into an offensive weapon for waging aggressive war.

more here

Global Research

Views: 54

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

tjdavis posted a video

In 1994, He Exposed Their Entire System… and Predicted 2026 Perfectly. | Jordan Maxwell

In 1994, He Exposed Their Entire System… and Predicted 2026 Perfectly. | Jordan Maxwell#jordanmaxwell #knowledge #technology #history #facts✅ Explore Jordan ...
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Halloween Story No. 4 “The Curse”

 Arnold Yates had spent 20 years in big city law enforcement. Ten years as a Cop and 10 years as an…See More
yesterday
tjdavis favorited cheeki kea's photo
Saturday
tjdavis posted a video

Rock Hudson - " Seconds " Trailer - 1966

Along "Giant" , "Seconds" remained one of Rock's favorite of his movies.The film was based on David Ely' s novel.Rock was finding himself pigeonhelded in co...
Saturday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Thursday
tjdavis posted a video

A Disturbing Pattern Happened Again... Explain This

#strange #video #strangevideos #scary #scaryvideos #creepy In this video we dig into strange, disturbing, and odd stories that sit just outside nor...
Thursday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Halloween Story Number Three- “They Came from the Sky!"

 Werner was from Westphalia, Germany-the Northwest Region. He had been in America for a few months…See More
Wednesday
Sandy posted a video

🚨 THEY SILENCED HIM! Barrie Jennings' SHOCKING 9/11 Testimony… Then He MYSTERIOUSLY DIED! (RIP)

‼️ WARNING: This Story Will Make You Question Everything…Barry Jennings was a key witness to the UNEXPLAINED explosions inside WTC Building 7 on 9/11—long be...
Oct 20
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

message approved

"Yip damn right. t"
Oct 20
cheeki kea posted a photo
Oct 20
cheeki kea favorited Doc Vega's blog post The Fantasy Clown World I Wake Up to Everyday
Oct 20
tjdavis posted a video

NAZA Official Trailer | Mongrel Media

The trailer for NAZA, a new documentary from Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, two of the Oscar®-winning filmmakers behind NO OTHER LAND.Shot at night on the ro...
Oct 17
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Oct 17
Sandy posted a video

Pentagon's LifeLog vs. Facebook: Same Day Shutdown? #shorts

LifeLog, the Pentagon's ambitious data collection program, was shut down by DARPA on February 4th, 2004. Coincidentally, Facebook was registered as a busines...
Oct 16
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Fantasy Clown World I Wake Up to Everyday

 I never could have seen this coming before I was awakened by all the BS that I became aware of…See More
Oct 15
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Why Was the Movie “The Bedford Incident” Such a Threat?

 With wars looming in the Middle East and Vladimir Putin making more threats of using nuclear…See More
Oct 14
Doc Vega posted a blog post
Oct 13
tjdavis posted videos
Oct 12
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

Oil News ( not good )

"~ Amendment. New hope on the horizon. Quick updates. Diesel sanctions on Russia Lifted ! by…"
Oct 10
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Death Doll-Halloween Story Two

 Retired Major Lionel Eldridge was browsing items in a bazaar of relics, antiques, and curios when…See More
Oct 9

© 2026   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted