Bush authorised cyber-attack on Iraq

The Daily Telegraph ^ | February 7, 2003 | The Daily Telegraph

[MadIvan]

George W. Bush has backed plans to launch a cyber-attack on Iraqi computer networks if war breaks out, while raising the US terror alert to 'high'.

George W Bush: the US is resolved to act

The US president signed a secret directive last July ordering the Government to develop guidelines to determine when and how to disrupt enemy computer systems, a strategy which military analysts believe could dramatically reduce war causalities.

Invading foreign computer networks could enable the military to shut down radars and electrical plants, and to disrupt phone lines without firing a shot.

The news came as the US terror alert was raised from elevated to high for only the second time since September 11 2002.

Mr Bush ordered the increase after he received "specific" information corroborated by "multiple sources", which pointed to a possible terror strike in mid-February, during the Muslim holy period of Hajj.

The alert now stands at orange, the second highest code behind "severe".

Today Mr Bush urged world leaders to remain resolute and demanded quick action to disarm Iraq. "The game is over," he said. "Saddam Hussein will be stopped."

He said he would be open to a second UN resolution on Iraq, following up one approved last November, but only if it led to prompt disarmament.

Russia said that it would oppose a second resolution. Igor Ivanov, the foreign minister, said: "It is very possible to solve the problem of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq through political means."

He called for UN weapons inspections to continue, and urged Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president, to improve cooperation with inspectors if he wanted to avoid war.

Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, said that Iraq did appear to be "making an effort" to meet demands for increased cooperation in response to Mr Bush's threat to Iraq today that "the game is over."

Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, said that diplomatic efforts to get Iraq to disarm had failed and that a war, if it happened, would last "six days, maybe six weeks" but certainly less than six months.

[MadIvan]

I didn't realise there was that much in Iraq to hack. Still, we could stop Saddam from downloading goat porn, I imagine.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Trust but Verify]

Our daughter came home from college today fit-to-be-tied over a 'debate' that took place in her political science class. Apparently it was her(she's 18) and an older, married, male student against a bunch of Kumbayah types. Of course, they had no facts to back up their anti-war rhetoric, so they resorted to personal attacks and name-calling against Kelli and The President.

[Miss Marple]

And now, the Iraqis have to wonder exactly when, or if, various systems were compromised. Will missiles launch properrly? Will trajectories for artillery be calculated properly? Should they push the button on the system or not?

Bringing to mind the line from the old Clint Eastwood movie: "Do you feel lucky, sucker? Well, do you?"

[Miss Marple]

Well, you tell her we are all proud of her here. She is right, and she is armed with the truth. Good for her!

[Snowy]

I thought this was standard. When we go to war, we mess with their computer and communication systems.

[goodnesswins]

YOUR daughter is BRAVE.....tell her NOT to give up....THEY are in the minority....just the majority on college campuses, where the last bastion of communism/socialism seems to remain. (Here in the US, anyway.)

[Trust but Verify]

I told her to sit back and watch them all dig themselves a deeper hole, just like the Dems in Washington are doing. The semester lasts until May and I'm sure she'll have the last laugh.

But you should hear the message she left on my voice mail at work! She told me to call her if I want to, but she wouldn't recommend it because "I'm freaking out!" She's wound a little tight over this kind of stuff!

[Trust but Verify]

She is brave, and she is smart. And most of all, she's a College Republican. Rubs a lot of people on campus the wrong way.

[Snowy]

But you should hear the message she left on my voice mail at work! She told me to call her if I want to, but she wouldn't recommend it because "I'm freaking out!" She's wound a little tight over this kind of stuff!

Tell her not to go to the Oprah message boards. I almost had a seizure over there. I was embarassed to be a woman!

[Miss Marple]

Much credit for her to be standing up under peer pressure. I remember being 18 (many moons ago) and peer scorn is really hard on one's nerves. You should be very proud of her.

[Trust but Verify]

LOL. She only visits FR boards. This is where we have gotten some of our best ammunition to counter-attack these idiots.

[Madame Dufarge]

Rubs a lot of people on campus the wrong way.

So she must know she's on the winning side.

Good for her!

(And you, too.)

[cgbg]

The interesting question is--"What did the professor have to say about all this?"

The professor's role, at a minimum, should be to point out specific facts and challenge the students to provide evidence in support of their position (perhaps as a homework assignment). They should emphasize that it is the quality and depth of argument that gets good grades in their class regardless of the position taken in the debate, and that ad hominem or other fallacious debating techniques will not be tolerated.

The fact that the debate got out of hand suggests the professor dosen't know how to control the class _or_ that he (she/it) ;-) wants those with differing opinions (from his) to be intimidated.

A good rule of life is never to debate politics or religion with people you don't know very very well. It probably isn't a great idea to debate either subject even with those people. ;-)

What you can do, though, is probe. Make a simple verifiable point here, maybe another one there, and watch for the reaction. If they get freaky on you then you know their minds have been contaminated with leftist toxic waste and you better keep your distance.

For a professor to demand unstructured opinions (better known as "feelings") on a contentious topic in a group setting is unprofessional and could be dangerous.

[tubebender]

Our daughter came home from college today fit-to-be-tied over a 'debate' that took place in her political science class.

Tell her to remain loyal to her convictions no matter what they spew.

[Poohbah]

We probably gave every email address we could find the .IQ domain to the most annoying and obnoxious spammers out there.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

It's "Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?" :)

[nocommies]

typical college liberal experience. i have a friend with a daughter and her hubby who have gone to germany to live for 4 years for his job, and they tell people there that theyre from canada! daughter and hubby are flaming liberals, and now that theyve renounced their citizenship, do you think theyll continue to vote democrat? they are utter scum, and weak kneed and spineless as it gets. hey, liberals just dont get it, thats all. they "think" with their hearts, not their brains.

[deport]

Will missiles launch properrly?

---

From pictures I've seen of their missile launchers, I'm not sure the compertures will have much impact upon whether they launch properly or not. Just a guess from looking at the photos.

[rwfromkansas]

Tell her to be proud. I am a freshman in college as well. My college is a Presbyterian school and pretty conservative (much more conservative than the actual mainline Presby denomination it is affiliated with (the branch that is battling over gays); kids who are members of the PCA and other VERY conservative Presbyterian denominations come here). Anyway, though it is pretty conservative, there are some liberals here. It feels good to usually be on the majority when I say something about politics.

However, something can also be said for being in the minority and being PROUD of that fact. In high school, sometimes I was in the minority. Even on certain doctrinal issues (predestination especially), I have arrows of fire thrown at me from all directions here at college. But you know what, it doesn't bother me. It enboldens me that people dislike some of my views so much as to resort to personal attacks; it leads me to be more confident in MY beliefs and their foundation. I admit, at first, it can be frustrating having people disagree with you since you want to fit in. After a period of time, defending your position as a minority becomes a source of strength if you allow it. I hope she will not let her desire to fit in compromise her beliefs and I don't believe she will. She should draw strength from the attacks.