Column in Post Puts Spotlight on Cybersecurity
Former Representative Heather Wilson (R-NM) penned a column today for the Washington Post on cybersecurity and the rising need for investment in technologies and initiatives to combat new national security threats in cyberspace. She writes:
“Our cyber-defense capabilities must be inherently dynamic, with a close connection between system operators, intelligence analysts, and the researchers who can rapidly build and deploy tools to protect or restore vital capabilities.
Second, our intelligence on other countries’ cyber-capabilities must be strengthened. We have scores of trained experts who know the ins and outs of foreign radars and missile systems and almost none who are daily tracking cyberthreats in all their manifestations.”
In a paper published late last year by the American Security Project entitled “Defense Alternatives: Policing the New Global Commons,” ASP Adjunct Fellow Dr. James R. Blaker laid out the case for stronger defense systems in cyberspace as part of an argument for a shift in American military priorities:
“Policing space and cyberspace are less precedent-rich. But here the approach could involve similar agreements on screening out agreement-defined dangerous entities and denying access to these two commons. For example, dealing collaboratively with space and cyberspace could involve anti-satellite systems and ballistic missile defenses for policing space and virus screening technology for cyberspace.”
Read the entire report here, and be sure to check out ASP’s other papers in the “Defense Alternatives” series here.
It is simply astounding that Heather Wilson is trying to remake herself into some sort of cyber security sage.
Consider the case of Shawn Carpenter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Carpenter), a former cyber security analyst that was fired from Sandia National Laboratories in 2005 for passing information to the United States Army and the FBI after his supervisors forbade him to do anything with the information.
Carpenter uncovered a sophisticated cyber espionage ring dubbed “Titan Rain” while employed at Sandia. According to TIME Magazine and other reporting, “hundreds of military installations, government agencies (including Sandia Labs) and defense contractor networks were penetrated and sensitive information was being systematically stolen.” Piles of sensitive data were stolen and ferreted back to computer systems located in Guangdong Province in the PRC, according to reporting. The firing and resulting wrongful discharge trial was covered widely in the local and national press. Carpenter prevailed at trial, with the outraged jury awarding him almost $5 millon – most of which was punitive damages.
Heather Wilson didn’t utter a peep while she was in office about this case, even though the local media was plastered with reporting. Additionally, it is hard to miss a TIME cover article (http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1098961,00.html) that involves a national laboratory in your home state. Doing so may have offended her campaign donors (i.e. Lockheed, who operates Sandia for the government). According to news reporting, Carpenter had to go elsewhere for Congressional support, as his own Congressional Representatives in New Mexico couldn’t be bothered with his concerns.
Her quote from the oped, “Yet an important part of protecting ourselves is sharing information about what probes and compromises are found…” rings hollow. It is absolutely absurd that she is now consulting on cyber security. It is incredible that WAPO printed her self-promoting platitudes without more closely examining her background and record on cyber security. Doesn’t anyone else find this new career choice odd?
An unfortunate ad homien attack that does not do justice to the issue Ms Wilson identifies and the importance for the U.S.
Ms Wilson calls for investment in a vital area where the U.S. risks our future…and she’s right.
Let’s deal with issues and move forward.