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Richard Clarke on Cyberterrorism and Iraq

Posted by samzenpus on from the spam-and-awe dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Richard Clarke, former counter terrorism advisor to the US National Security Council, has revealed that before invading Iraq, the U.S. government used the Internet to communicate directly with Iraqi soldiers by sending them personalised messages saying, "We're about to invade. We're going to overwhelm you and if you resist us we're going to kill you. But we don't want to do that. So really the best thing for you to do when we invade is to go home." He said the soldiers got the message and most of them went home. Clarke, who many will remember for publicly criticizing the Bush administration, also emphasized the importance of cybersecurity. "Just because it doesn't create a lot of body bags, doesn't mean it's not important. It's vitally important for our economies," Clarke said."

19 of 592 comments (clear)

  1. Is SPAM about impending war a war crime? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or would they argue in the Hague that the personalized nature of the death threat made it okay?

  2. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  3. What about the ringtones? by MooseByte · · Score: 4, Funny

    "the U.S. government used the Internet to communicate directly with Iraqi soldiers by sending them personalised messages"

    But were they able to get the "Darth Vader Boards The Rebel Cruiser" ringtone to work at the same time? Now THAT would've been cool.

  4. Your average Iraqi soldier had email? by Skyshadow · · Score: 5, Funny
    Wait, so he's suggesting that your average Iraqi soldier on the front lines was reading his email on his Blackberry that morning and found this email among the herbal viagra and fake rolex spam?

    Why does that not seem likely to me? I mean, I was under the impression that most of these guys were lucky to have water or guns that worked.

    --
    Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
  5. Dud3 0mG!!! by djcreamy · · Score: 5, Funny

    teh Bush i5 c0m1ng, 4ll ur b453 r b3l0ng 2 U.S.!!!!!!

  6. How about an ASCII movie instead? by orthogonal · · Score: 5, Funny

    before invading Iraq, the U.S. government used the Internet to communicate directly with Iraqi soldiers by sending them personalised messages saying, "We're about to invade. We're going to overwhelm you and if you resist us we're going to kill you...."

    Before we invade Iran and Syria, maybe they should send this instead.

    --
    Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
  7. They got a 65% defection rate... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...and a 35% request for penis lengthening rate.

  8. Forgot the reply by y2imm · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Ok, you have us convinced, my pals and I are going home. But on the way, we're going to stop at the local Al-Kmart and do a little shopping, maybe stock up on RPGs and high explosives.

    So have fun in Baghdad. Do some sightseeing. Check out Saddams palaces. And watch your backs, because we're going to be bombing and sniping and kidnapping your asses until hell freezes over. Your pal, an Iraqi soldier."

  9. The real message actually read... by TiggertheMad · · Score: 3, Funny

    We @r3 7eet! i @m g01ng t0 sn1p3 j00! LOL!LOL! F@gg0t flag camp3rs! u r g@y, @nd u suxx0r at CS. J00 @re pr0bily us1ng @n @iming scr1pt f0r y0ur @rt1llery! LOL! W3 w1ll tk u unt1l u @re ded! LOL! F@ggotz! LOL!

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
  10. Impossible! by slcdb · · Score: 4, Funny

    But the US is known for it's evilness and it's desire to kill as many people as possible. It can't possibly be true that they did anything that probably saved countless lives.</sarcasm>

    --
    Despite what EULAs say, most software is sold, not licensed.
  11. script kiddie by MadFarmAnimalz · · Score: 4, Funny

    They e-mailed the iraqi army telling them to give up?

    WTF?

    That just reminds me so much trash-talking other script kiddies back when I discovered things like winnuke and mailbombing.

    HAHA look say I am a stupid bitch NOW or I will *nuke your lame arse! LOL

    Err. I never used those things. Just saying...

    --
    Blearf. Blearf, I say.
  12. Dick Clark by aardwolf64 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Since when did Dick Clark stop shooting $100,000 Pyramid and get into politics??? :P

  13. I wonder if... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Osama sent the same kind of email to the white house before 9-11. That would help explain a lot of things...

  14. Iraqi inbox by geg81 · · Score: 4, Funny
    $ Mail
    Subject: Achieve powerful e__e_r_ct|ons in seconds
    Subject: Cheap Som@, X(a)n@x, ValX(u)m, Viagr@ Di3t Pills
    Subject: laUnch ur missil ov luv
    Subject: Improves kidney function
    Subject: US gonna kill you dead
    Subject: Anti-aging
    Subject: Dynamite d*ck exploding
    Subject: The Med To Cure Ur Illness
    Subject: S_u_per V|@grg@
    Subject: Give your partner more pleasure
    -- 137 more messages (hit q to stop) --
    I'm sure that really scared them.
  15. I received a similar message last month... by mogrify · · Score: 4, Funny

    Attention leftist activists and intelligentsia! The solidification of our power is imminent. Although you could stay and fight, it would really be much better if you just left. Please accept these Novia Scotia brochures and a complimentary copy of Hockey for Dummies! Remember, if it's not Right, it's Wrong!

    --
    perl -e 'foreach(values %SIG){$_="IGNORE";}while(){}'
    1. Re:I received a similar message last month... by Elias+Israel · · Score: 2, Funny

      Then why haven't you left?

      I mean honestly, you may think it's all champagne and dancing girls here in the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, but I have to tell you it's just grueling, grinding work.

      Have you got any idea how much work it is, all day long, crushing dissent, stealing votes, infiltrating Kerry's inner circle, sabotaging his campaign (thanks Teresa!), suppressing turnout, and faking the results?

      And now that the election is over, its rape and pillage, rape and pillage, crush the poor, slaughter the weak, and force Christianity on anyone who resists.

      It's tiring; I'll tell you that for free.

      And, frankly, you would be doing us a great favor if you would just accept the inevitability of the new Bushitler Hegemony, take your hemp jewelry and your Che Guevarra t-shirts and just move to somewhere nice and Socialist like Canada where you can stay safe until the apocalypse arrives.

      Warning: If you do not recognize the preceding message as sarcasm and satire, then seek professional help immediately.

  16. Re:Body Bags Don't Win a War. by jd · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Texas border is unguarded??? You mean more of them Texans might reach Washington DC??? Recall the troops now!!!

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  17. Re:No, it was like by Bombcar · · Score: 1, Funny

    Thank you for your service. I hope that Iraq quickly becomes the next outsourcing destination. :)

    --
    Fellowship 9/11
  18. Uber-nerd by p4ul13 · · Score: 2, Funny
    I first read the headline as "Richard Clarke on Cybertron and Iraq". To which I said "Uhhh whut?".

    --
    Paul Lenhart writes words!