Keith Alexander's answers for the record re confirmation hearnings and Cyber Command

[Dave Farber <dfarber () me com>]

Since I don't post attachments, please use URL. djf


Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Lin, Herb" <HLin () nas edu>
> Date: April 14, 2010 10:38:44 PM EDT
> To: "dfarber () me com" <dfarber () me com>
> Subject: Keith Alexander's answers for the record re confirmation hearnings and Cyber Command

> The story below is interesting.  But of much more interest than the story below is the document on which it is based 
> – Keith Alexander’s answers to written questions posed by the Senate Armed Services Committee in preparation for his 
> hearing tomorrow (Thursday).  Keith Alexander is the incoming head of US Cybercommand.  These answers are attached 
> for Dave Farber as a PDF file (and available here 
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/questions.pdf), and they provide the most detailed 
> unclassified insight to date into Adminstration and DOD thinking on the subject of cyberconflict.  There are many 
> classified answers, but it is possible to read in between the lines in some cases.
> For some background to understand the significance of the answers, see the 2009 NAS report on Cyberattack 
> (Technology, Policy, Law, and Ethics Regarding U.S. Acquisition and Use of Cyberattack Capabilities), available for 
> free at http://www.anagram.com/berson/absnrcoiw.html.
>
>  
> Herb
>  
> ________________________________
> Herb Lin 
> Chief Scientist, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board 
> The National Academies 
> (202) 334-3191 voice || (202) 334-2318 fax || hlin () nas edu 
> www.cstb.org || Where the nation turns for independent and informed assessments of computing, communications, and 
> public policy
>  
>  
>  
> ==
>  
> NSA director to testify at Senate hearing on cyber command unit
> Washington Post
> By Ellen Nakashima
> Wednesday, April 14, 2010; 6:01 PM
> Full story at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/14/AR2010041404013.html?hpid=topnews
>  
>  
> In an effort to protect the military's computer networks, the Obama administration is planning to put the leader of 
> the nation's largest electronic spying agency in charge of a new military organization capable of launching attacks 
> against enemy networks and power grids.
>  
> If confirmed by Senate, Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, would take charge of the 
> Pentagon's newly formed cyber command and preside over a virtual army of computer technicians and network warfare 
> specialists.
>  
> But even as the Obama administration presses the importance of cybersecurity and hails its nominee as an aggressive 
> and innovative military intelligence officer, Alexander's confirmation has been delayed for nearly six months. 
> Lawmakers have questioned whether the head of the NSA should lead a military unit and what, exactly, that new unit 
> will be empowered to do.
>  
> Alexander is set to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday but has already provided written 
> responses to questions from lawmakers.
>  
> Among other things, he stated that, faced with a cyber attack, the military must be able to respond in kind. It is 
> "reasonable to assume that returning fire in cyberspace" is lawful, as long as any actions comply with the laws of 
> war, he said in a 32-page document.
>  
> At issue is how military and intelligence authorities guide the operations of any new cyber command. U.S. policies 
> governing cyber attacks and counterattacks lag behind the military's ability to conduct them.
>  
>  
> ________________________________
>  
> Herb Lin
> Chief Scientist, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board
> The National Academies
> (202) 334-3191 voice || (202) 334-2318 fax || hlin () nas edu
> www.cstb.org <file:///\\www.cstb.org\>  || Where the nation turns for independent and informed assessments of 
> computing, communications, and public policy
>  
>  
>  
> <Alexander-answers to 2010 confirmation hearing questions.pdf>



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