15 April 2010

CyberWar Laws Need to Catch Up With Reality?

The general nominated to head the cyberspace/cyberwar command has warned Congress that the military's capabilities exceed the current laws.

The Army intelligence officer nominated to lead the Pentagon’s new command devoted to warfare in cyberspace has warned Congress that policy directives and legal controls over digital combat are outdated and have failed to keep pace with the military’s technical capabilities.

Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander has warned congress that computer network warfare is evolving so rapidly that there is a gap between the military’s technical capabilities and legal controls over digital combat.

The officer, Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander, wrote to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that computer network warfare was evolving so rapidly that there was a “mismatch between our technical capabilities to conduct operations and the governing laws and policies.”

As he prepared for a confirmation hearing on Thursday as the first head of the Cyber Command, he pledged that the White House and Pentagon were “working hard to resolve the mismatch.”

In a 32-page response to questions from senators, General Alexander sketched out the broad battlefield envisioned for the computer warfare command and acknowledged the kind of targets that his new headquarters could be ordered to attack.

The target list included traditional battlefield prizes — command-and-control systems at military headquarters, air defense networks and weapons systems that require computers to operate.


By: Brant

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