WASHINGTON-A declassified report quietly released by the Navy in August concludes Russia, China, India and Cuba have formal information warfare policies and identifies rogue states-such as North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Syria-as being potential cyber threats.
“Navy Strategic Planning Guidance,” which was issued internally in April, said many other nations, including France, Japan and Germany, are cyber warfare players and potential proliferators of information warfare capabilities to other states.
The report’s findings come as Congress and the Clinton administration struggle to fashion a defense (as well as an offense) against outside threats to critical national infrastructure, such as wireline and wireless telecom networks.
The United States, given its high-tech superiority as well as its heavy dependence on information networks, is seen as particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks from nations lacking this country’s military muscle.
“As we continue to build a Navy for the Information Age, it is imperative that we remain focused on both our enduring role of forward presence and our transformation to a network-centric and knowledge superior force,” said Admiral Jay L. Johnson, chief of Naval operations.
After cyber attacks earlier this year, President Clinton called on high-tech leaders, civil liberties groups and others to work together to improve electronic security. Clinton also asked for a $9 million budget supplement for fiscal 2000, which ends on Sept. 30.
The president is seeking $2 billion from Congress for cyber security for fiscal 2001. With most government appropriations bills still pending, it is unclear how much of that funding request will be approved by lawmakers before they adjourn for the year next month.
