Thursday, April 30, 2009
In response to an unprecedented wave of attacks on the Defense Department's computer networks, and possible theft of information about U.S. weapons systems by foreign governments, the Pentagon has quietly begun sharing classified intelligence about hackers and online threats with the country's biggest defense contractors. The new intelligence partnership, which has not been previously reported, is known as the Defense Industrial Base initiative, or "the DIB."
Tomorrow’s edition of National Journal will feature this story, which has already been posted to the Web site. (Free to non-subscribers.)
Also, in light of recent press reports about cyber spies penetrating the U.S. electrical grid, I’m enclosing a link to a story we ran last year on the cover of the magazine: “Computer hackers in China, including those working on behalf of the Chinese government and military, have penetrated deeply into the information systems of U.S. companies and government agencies, stolen proprietary information from American executives in advance of their business meetings in China, and, in a few cases, gained access to electric power plants in the United States.”
Labels: Cyber War, Homeland Security, Intelligence, Technology
Full Article
Friday, December 19, 2008
The cover story of today's National Journal features a narrative about an unidentified hacker (or perhaps hackers) who compromised the computers of eight members of Congress and seven committees in the House of Representatives. Some members publicly blame China for the incident, and one calls it a case of “overseas espionage.” The story shows how House information security personnel discovered the penetration and worked to contain it.
Labels: Cyber War, Intelligence, Politics, Technology
Full Article
Friday, December 12, 2008
In today's National Journal, I have a story about the incoming Obama administration's plans for the White House Homeland Security Council. The president-elect's team is considering changes that could dramatically enhance the influence of the president's national security adviser, giving him a primary role in shaping disaster management and counter-terrorism policy within the United States.
Labels: Homeland Security, Management, Politics
Full Article
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Senior officials are making their case that the two Mikes--McConnell and Hayden--should stay at the helm of the intelligence community.
Labels: Director of National Intelligence, Intelligence, Management, Politics, Transition
Full Article
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Calls are coming in for President-elect Obama to take quick and decisive action on interrogation and detention of terrorist suspects.
Labels: Intelligence, Law, Terrorism, Transition
Full Article
Thursday, November 06, 2008
National Journal has obtained a letter from intelligence director Mike McConnell, offering some new details on how the transition of the intelligence services will proceed. It looks like officials will be working more closely with team Obama than past incoming administrations. And until recently, it appears that the Vice President Elect, Joe Biden, opted not to receive any classified intelligence briefings from the current administration.
Labels: Director of National Intelligence, Management, Politics, Transition
Full Article
Friday, October 31, 2008
Somewhere on the fifth floor of an immense federal office building in downtown Washington is a filing cabinet, or perhaps a computer hard drive, that holds a set of documents that the next president and his lawyers will want to read very, very carefully. Read the story here in National Journal.
Labels: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Intelligence, Law, Politics, Transition
Full Article