Obama Declares Global Cyberwar
by Stephen Lendman
Global Research
February 6, 2013
Throughout his tenure, Obama governed lawlessly for the monied interests that own him. He’s waged no-holds-barred war on humanity.
Strategy includes homeland tyranny, fear-mongering, saber rattling, hot wars, proxy ones, drone ones, domestic political ones, geopolitical ones, financial ones, anti-populist ones, sanctions, subversion, sabotage, targeted assassinations, mass murder, cyberwar, and more.
In May 2009, Obama prioritized cybersecurity. He called cyber-threats “one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation.”
“America’s economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cybersecurity.”
He ordered a top-to-bottom review. A Cyberspace Policy Review report followed. He waged cyberwar on Iran. He did so cooperatively with Israel.
In spring 2010, Iranian intelligence discovered Stuxnet malware contamination. The computer virus infected its Bushehr nuclear facility. At the time, operations were halted indefinitely.
Israel was blamed. Washington was involved. Had the facility gone online infected, Iran’s entire electrical power grid could have been shut down.
A more destructive virus called Flame malware is known. Internet security experts say it’s 20 times more harmful than Stuxnet. Iran’s military-industrial complex is targeted. So is its nuclear program. Maximum disruption is planned.
Obama supports draconian cybersecurity bills. Passage threatens constitutional freedoms.
Targeted assassinations eliminate America’s enemies. Lawless domestic spying is policy. So is warrantless wiretapping. Americans are as vulnerable as others.
Obama’s waging war on humanity. He’s doing it multiple ways. Last October, he signed an executive order. It expanded military authority. It authorized cyberattacks. It redefined defense. Doing so lawlessly legitimizes aggression.
In November, Presidential Policy Directive 20 followed. It’s secret. It set guidelines for confronting cyberspace threats.
Last fall, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned of a “cyber Pearl Harbor.” It could “cause physical destruction and loss of life,” he said. It could “paralyze and shock the nation and create a new profound sense of vulnerability.”
US officials never lack for hyperbole. Fear-mongering is longstanding policy. So are Big Lies, false flags, and other pretexts for wars, other military actions, and disruptive ones.
Cyberwar capability adds to America’s arsenal. Preemption adds another dirty tactic.
In early February, US media reports headlined stepped-up cyberwar. Preemption is prioritized. Nation states, organizations, and individuals are fair game.
US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) has full operational control. It’s a cyber hit squad. It’s part of the US Strategic Command.
It’s based at Fort Meade, MD. General Keith Alexander serves as National Security Agency (NSA) director and US Cyber Command head.
The New York Times cited a secret legal review. It affords Obama sweeping preemptive cyberattack powers.
It permits him “to order a preemptive strike if the United States detects (allegedly) credible evidence of a major digital attack looming from abroad.”
His word alone is policy. Corroborating evidence isn’t needed. Efforts to protect classified and proprietary information are increasing.
The Washington Post said wireless and technology giants are battling over a plan to create super Wi-Fi networks.
The Wall Street Journal said Google, Microsoft and Amazon are competing to control cloud computing business.
The Christian Science Monitor said preemptive cyberwar entered America’s arsenal. It “nugded up along side other” approved tactics and techniques.
New policies govern how intelligence agencies work. They’ve been unrestrained before. They’ll have greater powers now.
The New York Times said they’ll be able to “carry out searches of faraway computer networks for signs of potential attacks on the United States and, if the president approves, attack adversaries by injecting them with destructive code – even if there is no declared war.”
Rules of engagement are classified. Effectively there are none. Cyber-warriors are freewheeling. They’re unrestrained.
They’ll operate anywhere globally. China is a target of choice. It’s America’s main economic and geopolitical competitor.
An unnamed US official said new cyberwar strategy is “far more aggressive than anything” used or recommended before. The gloves are off. Anything goes.
Major disruptions can occur without firing a shot. Military and/or civilian power grids can be crippled. So can financial systems and communications networks.
Another unnamed US official said cyberweapons are so powerful that “they should be unleashed only by” presidential order. Exceptions would be tactical strikes.
Examples include disabling command and control as well as ground radar ahead of conventional strikes. At the same time, most cyberoperations are presidential prerogatives.
Expect Obama to take full advantage. Extrajudicial operations are prioritized. Rule of law principles are spurned. Operational procedures have been in development for over two years.
They’re headlined now. They coming out when cyberattacks more often target US companies and critical infrastructure. An unnamed US power station was crippled for weeks.
The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal reported cyberattacks. Obama prioritizes preemption. Doing so has no legal standing. Self-defense alone is justified. Acting on suspicions without evidence is aggression.
New rules serve Washington. Lawyers get marching orders. They’re well paid to subvert accepted legal standards. Doing so doesn’t change them.
What constitutes “reasonable and proportionate force” resides in the eye of the aggressor. New guidelines exclude the Pentagon from defending US companies or individuals without presidential authority.
Doing so is Homeland Security’s prerogative. The FBI has investigatory authority. Cybersecurity legislation remains stalled in Congress. Expect stepped up efforts for passage.
Doing so will more greatly comprise freedom. Full-blown tyranny approaches. It’s a hair’s breadth away. Whistleblowers are targeted. Dissent is endangered.
There’s no place to hide. Big Brother’s expanding exponentially. Cyber-preemption adds greater police state power.
On February 3, a Washington Post editorial headlined “Cyberwar, out of the shadows,” saying:
US Cyber Command is expanding exponentially. Doing so “is indicative of how conflict is moving toward center stage for the military, a domain similar to land, sea, air and outer space.”
It’s heading America toward unchallenged dominance.
In May 2000, the Pentagon’s Joint Vision 2020 called for “full spectrum dominance” over all land, surface and sub-surface sea, air, space, electromagnetic spectrum and information systems with enough overwhelming power to fight and win global wars against any adversary.
Doing so includes nuclear weapons use preemptively. Non-nuclear countries and adversaries are fair game.
Cyber Command includes:
(1) “Combat mission forces” cooperatively with military units.
(2) “Protection forces” to defend Pentagon networks.
(3) “National mission forces” to head off threats to critical infrastructure. They’ll operate outside America. They’ll function anywhere if authorized. They’ll strike US adversaries preemptively.
Targeting cuts both ways. Incoming attacks can precede or follow US ones. Secrecy is prioritized but compromised. Spies have clever ways of doing it.
Rules of engagement aren’t clear. Public information is limited. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Policy need generous doses.
“If conflict in cyberspace is underway,” said the Post, “then it is important to sustain support for the resources and decisions to fight it, and that will require more candor.”
Expect little forthcoming from the most secretive administration in US history. Obama’s first term prioritized homeland repression and lawless aggression. Imagine what he has in mind for term two.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled “Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
http://www.dailycensored.com/obama-declares-global-cyberwar/
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Henningsen on RT: ‘Mali is Key Foothold in 21st Century Resource Wars in Africa’ [video]
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The French military, assisted by local militia, has taken the city of Kidal – the last major city still controlled by Islamist militants. Meanwhile, warplanes have continued striking the remaining militant hideouts in the far north of the country. The French foreign minister has hinted that the operation may be over as early as March. But while the advance has been swift, the conflict is already taking its toll on the civilians. Geopolitical analyst Patrick Henningsen believes the war on terror is just a pretext used by Western powers to tighten their grip on Africa – in the ‘New Cold War’ for resources in the 21st century..
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BREAKING: Tunisian Opposition Leader Shokri Belaid shot dead. Mass Rallies against Islamist Government expected
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(nsnbc, RT & agencies) The leader of the Tunisian opposition, Shokri Belaid, who had recently formed an opposition coalition against the Islamist Government under Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali was shot dead in front of his home today. More than 1000 Tunisians are protesting in front of the Interior Ministry, accusing the government for the death of Shokri Belaid, and demanding that the government should fall.
Not yet confirmed eyewitness reports are claiming that live ammunition has been used against protesters. Security forces are cordoning off the area around the Interior Ministry.
Shokri Balaid had recently succeeded at forming a coalition of opposition parties against the government of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. The assassination of Shokri Balaid is widely be expected to be a politically motivated murder and an attempt to silence the emerging coalition alliance.
Belaid, the leader of Tunisia´s Democratic Patriotic Party, had recently begun speaking out against alleged attacks by a group of Islamist Enhada mercenaries and Salafists against the parties and opposition activists last Saturday.
The opposition leader was killed as he was leaving his home in Tunisia´s capital Tunis. Belaid was hit by four bullets to his chest and head. Reportedly, Belaid had recently received death threats. The French 24 TV channel reported that three men in a black vehicle had been present at the scene.
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U.S.-Canada Harmonizing Border Security and Immigration Measures
by Dana Gabriel
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The U.S. and Canada have made significant progress in advancing the Beyond the Border deal and continue to implement various perimeter security initiatives. Without much fanfare, they have signed an immigration agreement that would allow them to share biographic and at a later date, biometric information. As part of a North American security perimeter, both countries are further harmonizing border security and immigration measures. Canada is further taking on U.S. security priorities and this could include a bigger role in the war on terrorism.
It’s been over a year since Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama announced the Beyond the Border and the Regulatory Cooperation Council action plans. On December 14, 2012, the U.S. and Canada issued the Beyond the Border implementation report that highlights the objectives that were achieved over the past year and the work that has yet to be done. It explained that moving forward, “Key future initiatives include harmonizing our trusted trader programs, making significant infrastructure investments at our key land border crossings, fully implementing an entry/exit program at the land border, expanding preclearance operations to the land, rail, and marine domains.” The report also acknowledged challenges facing the Next-Generation pilot project which would permit teams of cross-designated officers to operate on both sides of the border. It was originally scheduled to begin last summer. While steady progress has been made, a lot more work is needed to meet the goals of the Beyond the Border action plan. Over the next several years, other aspects of the deal will be phased-in incrementally with specific deliverables due this year, in 2014 and also in 2015.
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In December of last year, the U.S. and Canada signed the Immigration Information Sharing Treaty which is tied to the Beyond the Border deal. Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney stated that the, “agreement builds on our countries’ mutual efforts to protect our common borders and the surrounding perimeter, through improved screening of immigrants and visitors.” He went on to say, “Enhanced information sharing of foreign nationals will protect the safety and security of Canadians by helping us prevent terrorists, violent criminals, and others, who pose a risk, from entering Canada or the United States.” Under the treaty, Canada and the U.S. will share biographic information from third country nationals who apply for a visa, a travel permit or claim asylum. In 2014, it will also include the sharing of biometric information. There are privacy concerns on how far-reaching the data collected will be shared. This threatens the sovereignty of Canada with regards to retaining control over information at its own borders.
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:
Merging U.S.-Canada Arctic Foreign Policy
U.S.-Canada Integrated Cybersecurity Agenda
Shaping the Future of North American Integration
Taking the U.S.-Canada Partnership to the Next Level
Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at Be Your Own Leader
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On my lunch I spotted Paul Dewar at a SYRIA protest, I decided ask him some questions about foreign fighters and the petition we sent him which is sitting in his office regarding a new 9/11 investigation signed by 1400 Canadians. The other day we heard back from his office that he would not read and just submit it to the Prime Ministers office.
Links below [at the youtube comments section] are videos of my previous encounters with Paul Dewar discussing the 9/11 issue.
PN 