Cyberwar - CIA & Saudis ran terror web forum

[TonyGosling]

Dismantling of Saudi-CIA Web site illustrates need for clearer cyberwar policies

Dismantling of Saudi-CIA Web site illustrates need for clearer
cyberwar policies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/18/AR2010 031805464.html

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 19, 2010; A01

By early 2008, top U.S. military officials had become convinced that
extremists planning attacks on American forces in Iraq were making use
of a Web site set up by the Saudi government and the CIA to uncover
terrorist plots in the kingdom.

"We knew we were going to be forced to shut this thing down," recalled
one former civilian official, describing tense internal discussions in
which military commanders argued that the site was putting Americans
at risk. "CIA resented that," the former official said.

Elite U.S. military computer specialists, over the objections of the
CIA, mounted a cyberattack that dismantled the online forum. Although
some Saudi officials had been informed in advance about the Pentagon's
plan, several key princes were "absolutely furious" at the loss of an
intelligence-gathering tool, according to another former U.S.
official.

Four former senior U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of
anonymity to discuss classified operations, said the creation and
shutting down of the site illustrate the need for clearer policies
governing cyberwar. The use of computers to gather intelligence or to
disrupt the enemy presents complex questions: When is a cyberattack
outside the theater of war allowed? Is taking out an extremist Web
site a covert operation or a traditional military activity? Should
Congress be informed?

"The point of the story is it hasn't b.............
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/18/AR2010 031805464.html

[satya]

Nothing clearer than our ideals being oppressed.

[redadare]

And nothing more fun than watching the enemy being brought down by friendly fire