Richard Clarke on Cyberterrorism and Iraq

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."

Comments

Is SPAM about impending war a war crime?

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Your average Iraqi soldier had email?

[Skyshadow]

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.

Dud3 0mG!!!

[djcreamy]

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

How about an ASCII movie instead?

[orthogonal]

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.

Forgot the reply

[y2imm]

"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."

Re:Body Bags Don't Win a War.

[jd]

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