Growing Debate in US over Preferred Cyber Strategy: Defense or Offence?

In the wake of a new report (NAS Report) from the US National Academy of Sciences, The New York Times has recently run a series of articles on what strategies the US could or should follow in the evolving world of cyberwarfare. Coming hard on the heels of Canada's own brush with cyberwarfare (E-TIPS® Vol 7, No 20, April 8, 2009 "Ghostnet Electronic Spying Links Canada, China and Tibet"), it is clear that what may have formerly been thought to be of academic interest, is assuming a more critical role in government planning. The NAS Report, which took three years to prepare, has the somewhat cumbersome title of "Technology, Policy, Law and Ethics Regarding US Acquisition and Use of Cyberattack Capabilities". In its full text, it comprises a 376-page paperback; however, a 25-page Executive Summary and additional information is freely available from the National Academies Press site. Its list of co-authors includes a former Vice-Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a former Deputy Director of the CIA and a number of prominent scientists and cyberspecialists. The NAS Report claims to be the first comprehensive effort to look at the military use of computer technologies as offensive weapons. It concludes that the US should create a public national policy regarding cyberattacks, based on an open debate on the issues. Running through the news reports noted below is a sense that the new US Administration will be giving this topic greatly enhanced attention, which should have important implications for all aspects of the IT sector. For two recent articles in The New York Times on policy issues in the cybersecurity field, see: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/us/28cyber.html (April 28, 2009); and http://tinyurl.com/c25fst (April 30, 2009) Summary by: The Editor