Pentagon: The internet needs to be dealt with as if it were an enemy
"weapons system".
By Brent Jessop
Global Research, February 2, 2008
Knowledge Driven Revolution.com - 2007-11-19
Information Operation Roadmap Part 3
The Pentagon's Information Operations Roadmap is blunt about the fact that
an internet, with the potential for free speech, is in direct opposition to
their goals. The internet needs to be dealt with as if it were an enemy
"weapons system".
The 2003 Pentagon document entitled the Information Operation Roadmap was
released to the public after a Freedom of Information Request by the
National Security Archive at George Washington University in 2006. A
detailed explanation of the major thrust of this document and the
significance of information operations or information warfare was described
by me here.
Computer Network Attack
From the Information Operation Roadmap:
"When implemented the recommendations of this report will effectively
jumpstart a rapid improvement of CNA [Computer Network Attack]
capability." - 7
"Enhanced IO [information operations] capabilities for the warfighter,
including: ... A robust offensive suite of capabilities to include
full-range electronic and computer network attack..." [emphasis mine] - 7
Would the Pentagon use its computer network attack capabilities on the
Internet?
Fighting the Net
"We Must Fight the Net. DoD [Department of Defense] is building an
information-centric force. Networks are increasingly the operational center
of gravity, and the Department must be prepared to "fight the net." "
[emphasis mine] - 6
"DoD's "Defense in Depth" strategy should operate on the premise that the
Department will "fight the net" as it would a weapons system." [emphasis
mine] - 13
It should come as no surprise that the Pentagon would aggressively attack
the "information highway" in their attempt to achieve dominance in
information warfare. Donald Rumsfeld's involvement in the Project for a New
American Century sheds more light on the need and desire to control
information.
PNAC Dominating Cyberspace
The Project for a New American Century (PNAC) was founded in 1997 with many
members that later became the nucleus of the George W. Bush administration.
The list includes: Jeb Bush, Dick Cheney, I. Lewis Libby, Donald Rumsfeld,
and Paul Wolfowitz among many other powerful but less well know names. Their
stated purpose was to use a hugely expanded U.S. military to project
"American global leadership." In September of 2000, PNAC published a now
infamous document entitled Rebuilding America's Defences. This document has
a very similar theme as the Pentagon's Information Operations Roadmap which
was signed by then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
From Rebuilding America's Defenses:
"It is now commonly understood that information and other new
technologies... are creating a dynamic that may threaten America's ability
to exercise its dominant military power." [emphasis mine] - 4
"Control of space and cyberspace. Much as control of the high seas - and the
protection of international commerce - defined global powers in the past, so
will control of the new "international commons" be a key to world power in
the future. An America incapable of protecting its interests or that of its
allies in space or the "infosphere" will find it difficult to exert global
political leadership." [emphasis mine] - 51
"Although it may take several decades for the process of transformation to
unfold, in time, the art of warfare on air, land, and sea will be vastly
different than it is today, and "combat" likely will take place in new
dimensions: in space, "cyber-space," and perhaps the world of microbes."
[emphasis mine] - 60
For more on Rebuilding America's Defences read this.
Internet 2
Part of the Information Operation Roadmap's plans for the internet are to
"ensure the graceful degradation of the network rather than its collapse."
(pg 45) This is presented in "defensive" terms, but presumably, it is as
exclusively defensive as the Department of Defense.
As far as the Pentagon is concerned the internet is not all bad, after all,
it was the Department of Defense through DARPA that gave us the internet in
the first place. The internet is useful not only as a business tool but also
is excellent for monitoring and tracking users, acclimatizing people to a
virtual world, and developing detailed psychological profiles of every user,
among many other Pentagon positives. But, one problem with the current
internet is the potential for the dissemination of ideas and information not
consistent with US government themes and messages, commonly known as free
speech. Naturally, since the plan was to completely dominate the
"infosphere," the internet would have to be adjusted or replaced with an
upgraded and even more Pentagon friendly successor.
In an article by Paul Joseph Watson of Prison Planet.com, he describes the
emergence of Internet 2.
"The development of "Internet 2" is also designed to create an online caste
system whereby the old Internet hubs would be allowed to break down and die,
forcing people to use the new taxable, censored and regulated world wide
web. If you're struggling to comprehend exactly what the Internet will look
like in five years unless we resist this, just look at China and their
latest efforts to completely eliminate dissent and anonymity on the web."
Conclusion
The next article will examine the Pentagon's use of psychological operations
or PSYOP and the final article in this series will examine whether or not
there are any limits to using information operations on the American public
or foreign audiences.
»
a.. h.hoffman's blog
http://britanniaradio.co.uk/?q=node/7071
Posts
