Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, defines cyber warfare as terrain that includes all aspects of the Internet from the backbones of the web, to the Internet Service Providers, to the varying types of data communication mediums and network equipment. The terrain also encompasses information systems like the electrical grids, telecommunication systems, and various corporate and military systems.

Using computer networks for espionage or data base sabotage is as important to warfare today as the advent of aircraft was to warfare in the 20th century. The ability to collect information and launch cyber-attacks gives countries, terrorist and criminals the capability to inflict serious damage that was once the province of large countries.

The Internet security company McAfee stated in their 2007 annual report that approximately 120 countries have been developing ways to use the Internet as a weapon and target Internet Service Providers, financial markets, government computer systems, utilities, etc

The U.S. has come under attack from computer networks in China and Russia. In December 2009, South Korean media reported that North Korean hackers may have stolen secret information from Operations Plan (OPlan) 5027, which is the U.S. and South Korea’s plan for defense of South Korea in the event of a North Korean invasion.

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A few weeks ago, top Pentagon planners organized a plan to simulate how they would respond to a sophisticated cyber-attack aimed at paralyzing the nation’s networks.

The results were a disaster. The Opposition Force (OpFor) had the offensive with secrecy, covert cover and an unscripted play book. No one would know the OpFor country from which the attack came and therefore no effective way to deter further attacks by retaliation. Even worse, the Pentagon planners were concerned that they lacked the legal authority to respond. This was because it was unknown if the attack was an act of U.S. hackers, commercial theft or a real attack on the United States,

Worst case scenario – a prelude to a conventional attack.

It should come as no surprise that something similar had happened before at Google. Google’s staff tracked the source of the attack back to the Chinese mainland.

So, now we read about Google having a proprietary problem with China and Google threatening to pull out of China.

I am reminded of what Stalin said when was told the Pope was angry with the Communist tactics of slaughter in WW II. To Paraphrase Stalin:  “How many Divisions does Google have?”

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