USAF Considers Creation of Military Botnet

sowjetarschbajazzo writes "Air Force Col. Charles W. Williamson III believes that the United States military should maintain its own botnet, both as a deterrent towards those who would attempt to DDoS government networks, and an offensive weapon to be used against the networks of unfriendly nations, criminal groups, or terrorist organizations. "Some people would fear the possibility of botnet attacks on innocent parties. If the botnet is used in a strictly offensive manner, civilian computers may be attacked, but only if the enemy compels us. The U.S. will perform the same target preparation as for traditional targets and respect the law of armed conflict as Defense Department policy requires by analyzing necessity, proportionality and distinction among military, dual-use or civilian targets. But neither the law of armed conflict nor common sense would allow belligerents to hide behind the skirts of its civilians. If the enemy is using civilian computers in his country so as to cause us harm, then we may attack them." What does Slashdot think of this proposal?"

Comments

"All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic..."

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Chilling words. how would you like to have your Homebrew Robotics club, or DMCA activist group designated as a "Domestic Terror" organisation?

They ARE after you, Citizen!

Re:Using bots in S.American countries

[Hal_Porter]

Then why does Israel continue to give the Palestinians water and fuel? I thought that we'd stop getting fuel as soon as Gush Katif (the Zionist settlements in Gaza) were abandoned, but even now we are dependent upon them. Is it to keep us dependent? Can we not afford our own fuel? Water we have nowhere from where to get, but fuel we can buy. So why does Israel keep us dependent on them? Because they are civilised. Well, compared to the Palestinians at least.

If that offends you, imagine what Hamas/Hezbollah would do to the Jews if they were in the situation the Palestinians are in - utterly outclassed militarily. If they didn't leave, they'd all be dead in a few weeks.