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Bush Orders Guidelines for Cyber-Warfare
Jeremiah writes "The pending Iraqi war promises to deliver quite the display of modern, smart technology well beyond what we saw in '91. President Bush recently ordered the development of rules for cyber engagement by the military. Beyond the numerous special forces on the ground like in Afganistan, the US will use soldiers in office chairs to disrupt Iraqi infrastructure."
In the last Gulf War the air defenses were networked, including key elements of their radar network.
That was, reportedly, reduced by allowing a contraban printer to "slip through" blockades on goods to Iraq. The printer had a virus that spread through the air defense network.
IIRC this happened in the last days before the bombing campaign began.
It was widely reported after the war, on Nightline and I think Bob Woodward mentioned it in hos book "The Commaders" too. I have not heard if it has been verified beyond that since.
Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
right after the Iraqis invaded kuwait in 90, the US got a french company that was supplying printers to Iraq to put a chip in that we supplied. The chip had a receiver that basically allowed us to remotely take out their networks using the printers attached to it.
Show me *ONE* thing that he presented that could not have been put together by some 12 year old with iMovie and Sound Forge...
Only if that 12 year old wasn't wearing his tinfoil hat so the government mind control satellite could guide his actions.
Seriously...I want some of what you are smoking.
On the Contrary, Iraq has "largest and most efficient food-distribution system of its kind in the world... employing a massive network of trucks, computers, warehouses and neighborhood distributors to provide basic sustenance for every Iraqi." This is from the Washington Post.
If Iraq uses a huge, intricate computer system to distribute food, you don't think they'd also use it for military purposes? I think, rather, that a computerized attack would be very effective.
Especially if they use Windows.
Anyone who cares about the UN (as we all should) should care about France.. they have a security council veto. Saddam Hussein isn't the only one in breach of UN resolutions. Israel is in breach of some.. with US support. Indeed USA have breached many resolutions themselves, eg illegal blockade of Cuba.
/you/ want to talk about 'hypocrisy' you ought not to be pointing the finger at France foremost.
All that aside.. I am still in favour of action against Iraq.. but if
Treaties are never intended to be "until all time," even if that is what the wording says. A country enters into a treaty because it sees a benefit to doing so. If the treaty stops being a benefit, or worse, causes a harm, that country has an OBLIGATION to withdraw from it. Remember a government is only accountable to its own citizens, not the rest of the world. That might sound unfair, but gunboat diplomacy usually works.
Another side note: if Congress empowers the President to do this, we have ALREADY backed out of that treaty. Reference the Supreme Court "Cherokee Tabacco Case". The Supreme Court ruled that laws passed by Congress supercede any previous treaties.
A damn good reason for police action
If Iraq's own citizens are treated like this, what importance do you think Iraq regards rules of engagement or international law? The U.S. invasion of Iraq is not only liberatory, but also pre-emptive. Kuwait has been under Saddam's thumb for a generation. After Kuwait, who's next -- Turkey? Egypt? And by what means -- with the chemical weapons Saddam claims not to have? Would you rather turn a blind eye while all this happens?
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From the article :
"Iraqi exile groups have accused the government of withholding food from political opponents and rewarding loyalists with extra rations. But Torben Due, the senior U.N. World Food Program official here, said his organization, which has conducted more than 1 million inspections of the system since the oil-for-food arrangement was enacted, has uncovered no significant evidence of fraud or favoritism."