CalSci has recently been notified that "...the WASC eligibility Review
Commiittee [concludes] that CalSci is deemed to have met all of the WASC
Eligibility Criteria...". As a result, we are now accepting applications for
admissions for graduate educational programs in National Security (Graduate
Certificates, MS, and Ph.D.) and Digital Forensics (Certificates and M.S. in
Advanced investigation and Graduate Certificates and Ph.D. in Digital
Forensics). To get information on our programs or to apply for admissions, go to
calsci.org.

FC

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=WorldSectionp\
age&id=cff4a598-4fe4-420f-9480-67a5363462ea&Headline=Why+there+is+no+India+hand+\
in+Balochistan

Please see my article in Hindustan Times, issue of Monday, 27 July 2009, “Why
there is no India hand in Balochistan?” by Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

p @ r 67 . net       r @ 50 g . com

Tel: {91} 99 90 265 822, 98 118 36 331


http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=WorldSectionp\
age&id=cff4a598-4fe4-420f-9480-67a5363462ea&Headline=Why+there+is+no+India+hand+\
in+Balochistan


Why there is no India hand in Balochistan?
by Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad
Hindustan Times, issue of Monday, 27 July 2009


Despite longstanding Pakistani claims that India’s Research and Analysis Wing
has provided covert support to Baloch separatists, the truth is India is in no
position to play such a game �" even if it wanted to. Baloch separatist
leaders, in fact, often complain how India has done nothing for them. Here’s
why India isn’t there:

First, India’s covert capabilities in Pakistan, painstakingly built up during
the regimes of Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, were unilaterally shut down
by then Prime Minister I. K. Gujral in 1997-98 as part of his peace initiative.
As a result, India today has virtually no reliable and capable human
intelligence assets within Pakistani territory.

Second, Iran would take serious objection to any Indian effort to encourage
Baloch secessionism. Teheran fears this would encourage their own Baloch
province to secede and try to form a greater Balochistan. Even Kabul would be
concerned as the Baloch also live in south Afghanistan.

Third, Baloch separatist movements would have little chance of success. The
massive influx of Punjabis and other ethnic groups into Balochistan has reduced
the Baloch share of the province’s population to barely half. The Baloch
independence movement is split into several rival factions and poorly organised.

Fourth, India’s past experience with separatists has been unpleasant. Though
it created the Mukti Bahini, India could not prevent Tikka Khan’s genocide in
March 1971. Bangladesh then showed little gratitude for India’s role.

India played a similar role in backing Tamil separatists in Sri Lanka only to
find itself mired in battle against the LTTE.

Fifth, India has carefully built a case against Pakistan as the main exporter of
terrorism in the region over many years. This position now has far greater
global resonance than it did before. Being caught with its hands in Balochistan
would undermine this position, allowing Pakistan to argue India is also a rogue
state.

Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

p @ r 67 . net       r @ 50 g . com

Tel: {91} 99 90 265 822, 98 118 36 331

Hindustan Times, issue of Monday, 27 July 2009

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=WorldSectionp\
age&id=cff4a598-4fe4-420f-9480-67a5363462ea&Headline=Why+there+is+no+India+hand+\
in+Balochistan

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=WorldSectionp\
age&id=cff4a598-4fe4-420f-9480-67a5363462ea&Headline=Why+there+is+no+India+hand+\
in+Balochistan

Please see my article in Hindustan Times, issue of Monday, 27 July 2009, “Why
there is no India hand in Balochistan?” by Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

p @ r 67 . net       r @ 50 g . com

Tel: {91} 99 90 265 822, 98 118 36 331


http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=WorldSectionp\
age&id=cff4a598-4fe4-420f-9480-67a5363462ea&Headline=Why+there+is+no+India+hand+\
in+Balochistan


Why there is no India hand in Balochistan?
by Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad
Hindustan Times, issue of Monday, 27 July 2009


Despite longstanding Pakistani claims that India’s Research and Analysis Wing
has provided covert support to Baloch separatists, the truth is India is in no
position to play such a game �" even if it wanted to. Baloch separatist
leaders, in fact, often complain how India has done nothing for them. Here’s
why India isn’t there:

First, India’s covert capabilities in Pakistan, painstakingly built up during
the regimes of Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, were unilaterally shut down
by then Prime Minister I. K. Gujral in 1997-98 as part of his peace initiative.
As a result, India today has virtually no reliable and capable human
intelligence assets within Pakistani territory.

Second, Iran would take serious objection to any Indian effort to encourage
Baloch secessionism. Teheran fears this would encourage their own Baloch
province to secede and try to form a greater Balochistan. Even Kabul would be
concerned as the Baloch also live in south Afghanistan.

Third, Baloch separatist movements would have little chance of success. The
massive influx of Punjabis and other ethnic groups into Balochistan has reduced
the Baloch share of the province’s population to barely half. The Baloch
independence movement is split into several rival factions and poorly organised.

Fourth, India’s past experience with separatists has been unpleasant. Though
it created the Mukti Bahini, India could not prevent Tikka Khan’s genocide in
March 1971. Bangladesh then showed little gratitude for India’s role.

India played a similar role in backing Tamil separatists in Sri Lanka only to
find itself mired in battle against the LTTE.

Fifth, India has carefully built a case against Pakistan as the main exporter of
terrorism in the region over many years. This position now has far greater
global resonance than it did before. Being caught with its hands in Balochistan
would undermine this position, allowing Pakistan to argue India is also a rogue
state.

Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

p @ r 67 . net       r @ 50 g . com

Tel: {91} 99 90 265 822, 98 118 36 331

Hindustan Times, issue of Monday, 27 July 2009

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=WorldSectionp\
age&id=cff4a598-4fe4-420f-9480-67a5363462ea&Headline=Why+there+is+no+India+hand+\
in+Balochistan

BEGIN <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>

Please see my article on GhostNet, Chinese Crackers, in Hindustan Times, issue
of Tuesday, 31 March 2009.

Edit Page of http://www.hindustantimes.com tomorrow.

Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

END <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Excellent article.

Mandeep


   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad
   To: iwar@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 4:11 PM
   Subject: [iwar] Pl see my article in Asian Age, OpEd page, issue of Tue, 17
Feb 2009 on Navy


  
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/act-now,-put-%\
E2%80%98blue-water%E2%80%99-navy-on-the-fast-track.aspx

   Please see my article in Asian Age, Op Ed page, issue of Tue, 17 Feb
   2009, that the Indian govt should provide funds to the Indian Navy for
   its rapid expansion. The Indian Navy should try to bring all of the
   Indian Ocean under its hegemony, and control the maritime choke points
   from the Straits of Hormuz to the Straits of Malacca.

  
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/act-now,-put-%\
E2%80%98blue-water%E2%80%99-navy-on-the-fast-track.aspx

   Asian Age, Tue, 17 Feb 09, Op Ed page

   Ravi Visvesvaraya Sharada Prasad

   Tel: {91} 9990 265 822, 098 118 36 331
   p@... r@... rp@...




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/act-now,-put-%\
E2%80%98blue-water%E2%80%99-navy-on-the-fast-track.aspx

Please see my article in Asian Age, Op Ed page, issue of Tue, 17 Feb
2009, that the Indian govt should provide funds to the Indian Navy for
its rapid expansion. The Indian Navy should try to bring all of the
Indian Ocean under its hegemony, and control the maritime choke points
from the Straits of Hormuz to the Straits of Malacca.

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/act-now,-put-%\
E2%80%98blue-water%E2%80%99-navy-on-the-fast-track.aspx

Asian Age, Tue, 17 Feb 09, Op Ed page

Ravi Visvesvaraya Sharada Prasad

Tel: {91} 9990 265 822, 098 118 36 331
p@...   r@...   rp@...

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/act-now,-put-%\
E2%80%98blue-water%E2%80%99-navy-on-the-fast-track.aspx

Please see my article in Asian Age, Op Ed page, issue of Tue, 17 Feb
2009, that the Indian govt should provide funds to the Indian Navy for
its rapid expansion. The Indian Navy should try to bring all of the
Indian Ocean under its hegemony, and control the maritime choke points
from the Straits of Hormuz to the Straits of Malacca.

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/act-now,-put-%\
E2%80%98blue-water%E2%80%99-navy-on-the-fast-track.aspx

Asian Age, Tue, 17 Feb 09, Op Ed page

Ravi Visvesvaraya Sharada Prasad

Tel: {91} 9990 265 822, 098 118 36 331
p@...   r@...   rp@...

In view of the attacks in Mumbai, my old article, published in
September 2002 in Hindustan Times, on attacking urban buildings, may
be of interest. It was published just after the attack on the
Akshardham temple in Sept 2002.

Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

p@...   r@...

Tel: {91} 9990 265 822, 98 118 36 331

==================

My article on attacking urban buildings, published in Hindustan Times
in Sept 2002


     My article on attacking urban buildings, published in Hindustan
Times after the attack on the Akshardham temple in September 2002.

     Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad
     --------------------------------------------------


     Submitted to Hindustan Times on Friday, 27 September 2002

     By Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad


     Urban Warfare in India

     1500 words

     Published in Hindustan Times, Edit Page

     <BLURB> India’s paramilitary forces are among the few worldwide
that have operational experience in urban warfare and
fourth-generation warfare. However, DRDO should immediately begin to
develop urban-warfare technologies. </BLURB>

     Following the attack at Akshardham Temple, it is clear that India
is going to be subjected to many more incidents of urban guerilla
warfare from suicide fidayeen of Al-Mansoor, Al-Afreen,
Tehreek-e-Kassas, Al-Umma, Al-Mujahideen and other home-grown
organizations inspired by Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammed, and
Hizbul Mujahideen.

     India’s security planners of the early 1980s had the foresight to
envision that prominent Indian buildings, especially religious
shrines, would be subjected to hostage-taking terrorist attacks. When
they established the National Security Guards, only Israel had
comparable agencies specializing in urban warfare, and Britain’s SAS
and USA’s Berets had not had any operational experience whatsoever.

     For over fifteen years, the Indian Army had already been
practicing in Kashmir, Punjab and the North East what General Charles
C. Krulak, Commandant of USA’s Marine Corps, articulated in 1997 as
the Three Block War of the Future: “In one city block, a Marine will
provide food and medicine to an emaciated child. In the next block,
this Marine will be separating two warring tribes. Then, in the third
city block, this same Marine will engage in intense house-to-house
fighting with hostile forces.”

     Compared to India and Israel, other armies lagged far behind in
urban warfare doctrines and operations, being stuck in the Cold War
and Gulf War mentality of fighting in open terrain. USA’s last
experience of fighting inside cities was during its unsuccessful
campaign at Hue during the Vietnam War. After the US Marines’ lack of
experience of fighting inside buildings showed up in their many
bungled operations against Aideed’s forces in Mogadishu, Major General
Robert Scales decreed that USA would engage in warfare in built-up
areas only as a last resort. In contrast, Indian forces had already
successfully carried out Operations Blue Star and Black Thunder at the
Golden Temple.

     But it was the humiliating defeat of Russia’s army in Grozny which
jolted western military planners into developing Urban Warfare
Doctrines, Tactics and Procedures. Still stuck in the World War II
mindset of artillery and tank assaults on city buildings, the Russian
Army found that (according to Colonel Timothy Thomas of the US Army’s
Foreign Military Studies Office) “its armored thrust into Grozny was
anticipated by Chechen guerrillas who ambushed them from the sides,
rear, and above….Grozny’s narrow streets were soon blocked by burning
Russian vehicles, making it impossible for the embattled Russian
armoured columns to advance, counter-maneuver, or even withdraw.”

     During wargaming simulations, the US army was shocked to discover
that its field commanders would have acted exactly as the Russian ones
did in Grozny. Lieutenant General Paul K. Van Riper then formulated "A
Concept for Future Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain" in 1997.
The Pentagon also found that US Marines had difficulties in adapting
the Close-Quarters Battle Techniques that they had been taught to
fighting inside built-up areas, which turned out to be the cause of
their deaths in Somalia. The Marine Corps Combat Development Command
then developed “Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Military
Operations on Urbanized Terrain” in 1999.

     While the training programme of the NSG compares with world’s
best, those of state police commandos, who would be the first to
arrive on the scene, need to be enhanced greatly. A useful guide would
be USA’s Marine Corps Warfighting Publication (MCWP) 3-35.3 which
contains detailed Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) for
Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT). It describes detailed
TTPs for offensive and defensive operations in five types of urban
layouts, which are also found in Indian cities: (a) Dense, Random
Construction (eg. Chandni Chowk); (b) Closed Orderly Blocks of
Buildings (eg. DDA SFS Flats); (c) Dispersed Residential Areas (eg.
Friends Colony, Civil Lines); (d) High-Rise Buildings (eg. Nehru
Place); and (e) Industrial / Transportation Areas (eg. Naraina, Okhla).

     The four-day training course conducted for the US Marine Corps
contains several useful guidelines which are also applicable to Indian
conditions, such as:

     · Helicopter assaults are vulnerable to shoulder-fired
surface-to-air missiles and rocket-propelled grenades….

     · Artillery and air-to-ground shells fall at too-shallow an angle
to be effective in densely built-up areas….

     · It is preferable to attack at night since terrorists do not
usually possess night vision equipment….

     · Streets and open spaces between buildings are killing zones. Use
smoke cover when moving through these areas….

     · Avoid windows, doors, and hallways….

     · Deciding where to enter a building is critical. The rule of
thumb is to enter at the highest floor possible to minimize the amount
of upstairs fighting and to avoid enemy heavy-weapons positions, which
will usually be located on lower floors….

     · Avoid entering through doors and windows because they are
usually covered by sniper fire or boobytrapped. It is preferable to
breach walls by explosives, and then enter….

     · Once inside the building, the first task is to cover with
automatic weapons the staircases leading to upper floors and the
basement; and, secondly, to seize rooms that overlook approaches to
the building….

     · Avoid, unless absolutely necessary, throwing grenades at upper
windows or upstairs; they may bounce back….

     · Frequently, stairways will be boobytrapped…Stairs are usually
covered by enemy fires, and defenders can throw grenades into the
stairwell…Avoid stairways whenever possible….Select rooms that have
ceilings intact and place an explosive charge against the ceiling…The
resultant explosion should kill or stun defenders and provide access
to the next floor….

     · When entering a room do not open doors by hand or attempt to
kick them open…Shoot the door open by firing several rounds through
the lock or blow the door in with explosives…Throw a handgrenade into
the room…After detonation, one man should quickly enter, spray the
room with automatic fire, and take up a position from where he can
observe the entire room…. A second man should then conduct a
systematic search….

     Another indicator of the NSG’s expertise is the extremely low
number of casualties it has suffered. During the ten-day Operation
Black Thunder at the Golden Temple in May 1988, the NSG killed 38
members of the Khalistan Commando Force and captured over 200, without
suffering even a single casualty. Only three security personnel were
killed at Akshardham. In contrast, during exercises and simulations
performed by USA’s Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Marine
casualties were projected to range from 30 to 75 percent of the
defending forces. Operation Black Thunder is now regarded by urban
warfare units worldwide, especially Britain’s SAS, as a paradigm to be
emulated.

     Where India can learn from the US is in development of UW
technologies and equipment, advance scenario planning, and
coordination of rescue and medical plans with civilian authorities.
Fortunately, the priests of the Swaminarayan temple were able to
immediately provide the NSG with layout maps. The temple authorities
also had the telecommunications facilities to alert worshippers to
immediately shut several doors. But how many buildings in Indian
cities have their blueprints readily available? Or how many of them
have sophisticated communications, firefighting and medical facilities
installed? While it is heartening that the Delhi government has got
its commandos familiarized with the layout of prominent buildings in
Delhi, this procedure should be immediately carried out in all major
Indian towns and religious shrines.

     The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) should
immediately begin to develop new technologies suited to Indian UW
conditions. Colonel Robert F. Hahn, director of the US Army’s Urban
Warfare projects, listed the futuristic technologies that have to be
developed and provided to the US Urban Warfighter Corps by 2025
(quotes are his words):

     1. C4ISR: “The Urban Warfighter of 2025 should be provided with
comprehensive situational awareness capabilities, easy-to-use
integrated communications and navigational systems that can provide
him real-time updates, the capabilities to connect with and employ a
wide variety of robotic systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other
sensor systems to determine who or what is in the buildings or streets
around him -- day or night. He needs to be able to communicate and see
through walls.”

     2. Lethality: “The Urban Warfighter of 2025 must possess precision
lethal fire assault weapons, and should be able to access digital,
voice-activated fires from a variety of robotic systems operating
semi-autonomously…He also must have direct access to precision fire
support from distant platforms.”

     3. Mobility: “The Urban Warfighter of 2025 will require enhanced
individual mobility in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions.”

     (US defence researchers are already working on developing unmanned
ground vehicles, individual aerial assault systems, and a Vertical
Assault Urban Light Transporter that will give a soldier the ability
to leap to the top of a four-story building.)

     4. Survivability: “By 2025, uniforms themselves must guarantee
survival. Uniforms must be light, offer protection from bullets,
chemical-biological agents, cold, and heat; they must also provide low
signature and chameleon camouflage.”

     5. Sustainability: “The Urban Warfighter of 2025 needs to carry
lighter and more concentrated rations, and individual water
purification kits, enabling him to subsist for at least a week.”

     DRDO should immediately begin to develop similar technologies
which are specifically suited to Indian UW conditions, as well as
strong, flexible, light-weight body armor; acoustic sniper detection
devices; and optical equipment that will allow commandos to look
around corners.

     By Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

     The author heads a group which analyzes fourth-generation warfare
and C4ISRT (Command, Control, Communications and Computers
Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting) in South Asia.
     Friday, 27 September 2002

     Published in Hindustan Times, Edit Page

     1500 words

     Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

     Mobile: {91} 98 118 36 331, 9990 265 822

     rvp@..., rvp@...

     Mail : Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

     19, Maitri Apts, A - 3 Paschim Vihar

     New Delhi, 110 063

In view of the attacks in Mumbai, my old article, published in
September 2002 in Hindustan Times, on attacking urban buildings, may
be of interest. It was published just after the attack on the
Akshardham temple in Sept 2002.

Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

p@...   r@...

Tel: {91} 9990 265 822, 98 118 36 331

==================

My article on attacking urban buildings, published in Hindustan Times
in Sept 2002


     My article on attacking urban buildings, published in Hindustan
Times after the attack on the Akshardham temple in September 2002.

     Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad
     --------------------------------------------------


     Submitted to Hindustan Times on Friday, 27 September 2002

     By Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad


     Urban Warfare in India

     1500 words

     Published in Hindustan Times, Edit Page

     <BLURB> India’s paramilitary forces are among the few worldwide
that have operational experience in urban warfare and
fourth-generation warfare. However, DRDO should immediately begin to
develop urban-warfare technologies. </BLURB>

     Following the attack at Akshardham Temple, it is clear that India
is going to be subjected to many more incidents of urban guerilla
warfare from suicide fidayeen of Al-Mansoor, Al-Afreen,
Tehreek-e-Kassas, Al-Umma, Al-Mujahideen and other home-grown
organizations inspired by Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammed, and
Hizbul Mujahideen.

     India’s security planners of the early 1980s had the foresight to
envision that prominent Indian buildings, especially religious
shrines, would be subjected to hostage-taking terrorist attacks. When
they established the National Security Guards, only Israel had
comparable agencies specializing in urban warfare, and Britain’s SAS
and USA’s Berets had not had any operational experience whatsoever.

     For over fifteen years, the Indian Army had already been
practicing in Kashmir, Punjab and the North East what General Charles
C. Krulak, Commandant of USA’s Marine Corps, articulated in 1997 as
the Three Block War of the Future: “In one city block, a Marine will
provide food and medicine to an emaciated child. In the next block,
this Marine will be separating two warring tribes. Then, in the third
city block, this same Marine will engage in intense house-to-house
fighting with hostile forces.”

     Compared to India and Israel, other armies lagged far behind in
urban warfare doctrines and operations, being stuck in the Cold War
and Gulf War mentality of fighting in open terrain. USA’s last
experience of fighting inside cities was during its unsuccessful
campaign at Hue during the Vietnam War. After the US Marines’ lack of
experience of fighting inside buildings showed up in their many
bungled operations against Aideed’s forces in Mogadishu, Major General
Robert Scales decreed that USA would engage in warfare in built-up
areas only as a last resort. In contrast, Indian forces had already
successfully carried out Operations Blue Star and Black Thunder at the
Golden Temple.

     But it was the humiliating defeat of Russia’s army in Grozny which
jolted western military planners into developing Urban Warfare
Doctrines, Tactics and Procedures. Still stuck in the World War II
mindset of artillery and tank assaults on city buildings, the Russian
Army found that (according to Colonel Timothy Thomas of the US Army’s
Foreign Military Studies Office) “its armored thrust into Grozny was
anticipated by Chechen guerrillas who ambushed them from the sides,
rear, and above….Grozny’s narrow streets were soon blocked by burning
Russian vehicles, making it impossible for the embattled Russian
armoured columns to advance, counter-maneuver, or even withdraw.”

     During wargaming simulations, the US army was shocked to discover
that its field commanders would have acted exactly as the Russian ones
did in Grozny. Lieutenant General Paul K. Van Riper then formulated "A
Concept for Future Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain" in 1997.
The Pentagon also found that US Marines had difficulties in adapting
the Close-Quarters Battle Techniques that they had been taught to
fighting inside built-up areas, which turned out to be the cause of
their deaths in Somalia. The Marine Corps Combat Development Command
then developed “Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Military
Operations on Urbanized Terrain” in 1999.

     While the training programme of the NSG compares with world’s
best, those of state police commandos, who would be the first to
arrive on the scene, need to be enhanced greatly. A useful guide would
be USA’s Marine Corps Warfighting Publication (MCWP) 3-35.3 which
contains detailed Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) for
Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT). It describes detailed
TTPs for offensive and defensive operations in five types of urban
layouts, which are also found in Indian cities: (a) Dense, Random
Construction (eg. Chandni Chowk); (b) Closed Orderly Blocks of
Buildings (eg. DDA SFS Flats); (c) Dispersed Residential Areas (eg.
Friends Colony, Civil Lines); (d) High-Rise Buildings (eg. Nehru
Place); and (e) Industrial / Transportation Areas (eg. Naraina, Okhla).

     The four-day training course conducted for the US Marine Corps
contains several useful guidelines which are also applicable to Indian
conditions, such as:

     · Helicopter assaults are vulnerable to shoulder-fired
surface-to-air missiles and rocket-propelled grenades….

     · Artillery and air-to-ground shells fall at too-shallow an angle
to be effective in densely built-up areas….

     · It is preferable to attack at night since terrorists do not
usually possess night vision equipment….

     · Streets and open spaces between buildings are killing zones. Use
smoke cover when moving through these areas….

     · Avoid windows, doors, and hallways….

     · Deciding where to enter a building is critical. The rule of
thumb is to enter at the highest floor possible to minimize the amount
of upstairs fighting and to avoid enemy heavy-weapons positions, which
will usually be located on lower floors….

     · Avoid entering through doors and windows because they are
usually covered by sniper fire or boobytrapped. It is preferable to
breach walls by explosives, and then enter….

     · Once inside the building, the first task is to cover with
automatic weapons the staircases leading to upper floors and the
basement; and, secondly, to seize rooms that overlook approaches to
the building….

     · Avoid, unless absolutely necessary, throwing grenades at upper
windows or upstairs; they may bounce back….

     · Frequently, stairways will be boobytrapped…Stairs are usually
covered by enemy fires, and defenders can throw grenades into the
stairwell…Avoid stairways whenever possible….Select rooms that have
ceilings intact and place an explosive charge against the ceiling…The
resultant explosion should kill or stun defenders and provide access
to the next floor….

     · When entering a room do not open doors by hand or attempt to
kick them open…Shoot the door open by firing several rounds through
the lock or blow the door in with explosives…Throw a handgrenade into
the room…After detonation, one man should quickly enter, spray the
room with automatic fire, and take up a position from where he can
observe the entire room…. A second man should then conduct a
systematic search….

     Another indicator of the NSG’s expertise is the extremely low
number of casualties it has suffered. During the ten-day Operation
Black Thunder at the Golden Temple in May 1988, the NSG killed 38
members of the Khalistan Commando Force and captured over 200, without
suffering even a single casualty. Only three security personnel were
killed at Akshardham. In contrast, during exercises and simulations
performed by USA’s Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Marine
casualties were projected to range from 30 to 75 percent of the
defending forces. Operation Black Thunder is now regarded by urban
warfare units worldwide, especially Britain’s SAS, as a paradigm to be
emulated.

     Where India can learn from the US is in development of UW
technologies and equipment, advance scenario planning, and
coordination of rescue and medical plans with civilian authorities.
Fortunately, the priests of the Swaminarayan temple were able to
immediately provide the NSG with layout maps. The temple authorities
also had the telecommunications facilities to alert worshippers to
immediately shut several doors. But how many buildings in Indian
cities have their blueprints readily available? Or how many of them
have sophisticated communications, firefighting and medical facilities
installed? While it is heartening that the Delhi government has got
its commandos familiarized with the layout of prominent buildings in
Delhi, this procedure should be immediately carried out in all major
Indian towns and religious shrines.

     The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) should
immediately begin to develop new technologies suited to Indian UW
conditions. Colonel Robert F. Hahn, director of the US Army’s Urban
Warfare projects, listed the futuristic technologies that have to be
developed and provided to the US Urban Warfighter Corps by 2025
(quotes are his words):

     1. C4ISR: “The Urban Warfighter of 2025 should be provided with
comprehensive situational awareness capabilities, easy-to-use
integrated communications and navigational systems that can provide
him real-time updates, the capabilities to connect with and employ a
wide variety of robotic systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other
sensor systems to determine who or what is in the buildings or streets
around him -- day or night. He needs to be able to communicate and see
through walls.”

     2. Lethality: “The Urban Warfighter of 2025 must possess precision
lethal fire assault weapons, and should be able to access digital,
voice-activated fires from a variety of robotic systems operating
semi-autonomously…He also must have direct access to precision fire
support from distant platforms.”

     3. Mobility: “The Urban Warfighter of 2025 will require enhanced
individual mobility in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions.”

     (US defence researchers are already working on developing unmanned
ground vehicles, individual aerial assault systems, and a Vertical
Assault Urban Light Transporter that will give a soldier the ability
to leap to the top of a four-story building.)

     4. Survivability: “By 2025, uniforms themselves must guarantee
survival. Uniforms must be light, offer protection from bullets,
chemical-biological agents, cold, and heat; they must also provide low
signature and chameleon camouflage.”

     5. Sustainability: “The Urban Warfighter of 2025 needs to carry
lighter and more concentrated rations, and individual water
purification kits, enabling him to subsist for at least a week.”

     DRDO should immediately begin to develop similar technologies
which are specifically suited to Indian UW conditions, as well as
strong, flexible, light-weight body armor; acoustic sniper detection
devices; and optical equipment that will allow commandos to look
around corners.

     By Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

     The author heads a group which analyzes fourth-generation warfare
and C4ISRT (Command, Control, Communications and Computers
Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting) in South Asia.
     Friday, 27 September 2002

     Published in Hindustan Times, Edit Page

     1500 words

     Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

     Mobile: {91} 98 118 36 331, 9990 265 822

     rvp@..., rvp@...

     Mail : Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

     19, Maitri Apts, A - 3 Paschim Vihar

     New Delhi, 110 063

My post was in a humorous vein. No hard feelings.Anyway lets revive the
Group.

Mandeep Bajwa

On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 4:58 PM, Fred Cohen <dr.cohen@...> wrote:

>   OK - this is inappropriate.
>
> Ravi has done an excellent job over many years of providing
> information in information warfare. It is always a form of self-
> promotion whenever someone puts their name on something. Humor or not
> - let's not devolve into that sort of exchange here.
>
> FC
>
> On Oct 1, 2008, at 10:46 PM, Mandeep Singh Bajwa wrote:
>
> > 'Blatant Self Promotion' is right ! All of Ravi's emails are vanity
> > posts ! <grin>
> >
> > Mandeep Bajwa
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Ravi VS Prasad
> > To: SW INDIA SW INDIA ; TEL IND TEL IND ; India Convergence ; c4i
> > c4i ; c4i2 ; c4isrt c4isrt ; 4gw 4gw ; I War I War ;
> india-gii@... <india-gii%40lists.cpsr.org>
> > ; CyberLawIndia CyberLawIndia
> > Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:17 PM
> > Subject: [iwar] Lok Sabha TV program on cybersecurity
> >
> >
> > BEGIN <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>
> >
> > Please watch Lok Sabha Television on Monday, 01 September 2008,
> > 21:30 hours Headstart Program. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Subimal
> > Bhattacharjee, and I will be discussing CyberSecurity.
> >
> > Many thanks
> >
> > END <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>
> >
> > Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > ------------------
> > http://all.net/Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
> - This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
> serve -
> Fred Cohen & Associates tel/fax: 925-454-0171
> http://all.net/ 572 Leona Drive Livermore, CA 94550
> Join http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FCA-announce/join for our
> mailing list
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

OK - this is inappropriate.

Ravi has done an excellent job over many years of providing
information in information warfare. It is always a form of self-
promotion whenever someone puts their name on something. Humor or not
- let's not devolve into that sort of exchange here.

FC

On Oct 1, 2008, at 10:46 PM, Mandeep Singh Bajwa wrote:

> 'Blatant Self Promotion' is right ! All of Ravi's emails are vanity
> posts ! <grin>
>
> Mandeep Bajwa
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Ravi VS Prasad
>  To: SW INDIA SW INDIA ; TEL IND TEL IND ; India Convergence ; c4i
> c4i ; c4i2 ; c4isrt c4isrt ; 4gw 4gw ; I War I War ; india-gii@...
>  ; CyberLawIndia CyberLawIndia
>  Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:17 PM
>  Subject: [iwar] Lok Sabha TV program on cybersecurity
>
>
>  BEGIN <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>
>
>  Please watch Lok Sabha Television on Monday, 01 September 2008,
> 21:30 hours Headstart Program. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Subimal
> Bhattacharjee, and I will be discussing CyberSecurity.
>
>  Many thanks
>
>  END <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>
>
>  Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> ------------------
> http://all.net/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
serve -
Fred Cohen & Associates                 tel/fax: 925-454-0171
http://all.net/       572 Leona Drive    Livermore, CA 94550
Join http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FCA-announce/join for our
mailing list

'Blatant Self Promotion' is right ! All of Ravi's emails are vanity posts !
<grin>

Mandeep Bajwa


   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Ravi VS Prasad
   To: SW INDIA SW INDIA ; TEL IND TEL IND ; India Convergence ; c4i c4i ; c4i2 ;
c4isrt c4isrt ; 4gw 4gw ; I War I War ; india-gii@... ; CyberLawIndia
CyberLawIndia
   Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:17 PM
   Subject: [iwar] Lok Sabha TV program on cybersecurity


   BEGIN <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>

   Please watch Lok Sabha Television on Monday, 01 September 2008, 21:30 hours
Headstart Program. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Subimal Bhattacharjee, and I will be
discussing CyberSecurity.

   Many thanks

   END <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>

   Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

BEGIN <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>

Please watch Lok Sabha Television on Monday, 01 September 2008, 21:30 hours
Headstart Program. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Subimal Bhattacharjee, and I will be
discussing CyberSecurity.

Many thanks

END <BLATANT SELF PROMOTION>

Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad

With the near failure of Bear Sterns apparently stemming from a run on
the bank induced by Internet rumors and such, one might reasonably ask
whether this is part of an end game of an information warfare attack
on the US economy. Consider that as the economy weakens, these sorts
of problems make it worse and worse, and could ultimately trigger a
depression. Is the rumor mill that creates a run on the bank an
accident or intentional? And how do we differentiate these two
possibilities? And what will be the next domino to fall? And how do we
prevent it from going? Or is the system as a whole already so full of
potential energy that the trigger cannot be stopped?

FC
- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
serve -
Fred Cohen & Associates                 tel/fax: 925-454-0171
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mailing list

The Critical Internet Infrastructure list has started discussing what
constitutes the/a critical Internet infrastructure(s). I thought it
might be interesting to compare the folks on this list to the folks on
that list in terms of how these things are defined and what is being
included. If interested, please start posting your views on what is a
critical information infrastructure - what part of it is Internet, and
your thoughts on a list dedicated to discussing those issues and
identifying the critical elements.

FC
- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
serve -
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mailing list

Phil,

Fear is an interesting thing. I think it was Alfred Hitchcock who
asserted, in effect, that his movies were more scary because of the
long build-up and expectation and that the blood-letting was almost
anti-climactic. Information warfare is all the better if there is a
big build-up - a drum beat of ever increasing intensity - leading to
increasingly violent outcomes. The problem is that no real fear exists
from cyber attack and it largely has to be made up in the minds of the
targets. Most people don't realize they can simply walk away, turn off
their computer, and do something else for a bit. Of course
infrastructure is a different issue, and middle eastern terror groups
have launched successful information infrastructure attacks before. So
we shouldn't underplay the potential for harm. But neither should we
be terrified by it.

FC
On Nov 2, 2007, at 10:21 AM, Phil wrote:

> Electronic Jihad: Winds of Cyber War or False Alarm?
> By John P. Mello Jr.
> TechNewsWorld
> Part of the ECT News Network
> 11/02/07 4:00 AM PT
>
> Al Qaeda computer experts will begin an expanding attack on Western
> Web sites beginning Nov. 11, according to a report. Some security
> experts have dismissed the report, calling talk of an impending
> "electronic jihad" little more than static. Others, however, said
> improving tools could make such an assault a distinct possibility.
>
> Terrorist Hype
> The source of the e-Jihad report is the Israeli Web site DEBKAfile.
> It reported Tuesday that its counter-terror sources intercepted an
> announcement in Arabic on Monday describing the attack.
>
> Al Qaeda computer experts will begin on Nov. 11, unleashing attacks
> on Western, Jewish, Israeli, Muslim apostate and Shiite Web sites,
> according to the report. They will begin, the report asserts, by
> testing their skills on 15 targeted sites, then expand the operation
> to include hundreds of thousands of hackers attacking a multitude of
> sites.
>
> Cyberterrorism announcements like this have a track record of
> fizzling, according to Kent E. Anderson, managing director of
> Network Risk Management in Portland, Ore.
>
> "I find it a little difficult to believe that they're going to have
> hundreds of thousands of online Jihadists," he told TechNewsWorld.
> "There seems to be a little bit of hype put into this.
>
> "I'm not dismissing it outright," he added, "but I am saying we
> should view it with caution."
>
> Real World Kinds of Guys
> Such events have been dismissed in the past because it was felt the
> terrorists lacked the know-how to do much damage in cyberspace.
>
> "Terrorist organizations are certainly using information technology
> in a very sophisticated way," Anderson maintained.
>
> "What we haven't seen to date," he added, "is any significant
> 'offensive' use of technology by terrorist organizations like al
> Qaeda."
>
> One reason for that may be that they haven't developed the skills to
> do it, he hypothesized.
>
> Another may be an inclination to do damage in the physical world, he
> added. "It's more direct," he said, "and much more harmful in the
> long run."
>
> Terrorist Script Kiddies
> There are signs, however, that the Nov. 11 attack could be different
> from similar events in the past, according to Paul Henry, vice
> president for technology evangelism for Secure Computing in San
> Jose, Calif.
>
> The latest version of the terrorists' software, Electronic Jihad
> 2.0, makes it easier than ever to coordinate a denial of service
> attack on a Web site, he explained.
>
> "You simply select the level of bandwidth you wish to use and hit
> 'attack,' and the attack is launched," he told TechNewsWorld. "It's
> really down to script kiddie level."
>
> Martyrdom by Proxy
> Version 2 automatically targets Web sites for attack. That enables
> terrorists to better coordinate assaults on their targets --
> something that couldn't be done with the previous release of the
> program.
>
> "They've been distributing this widely over the last year or so," he
> said, "so I imagine that they have considerably more people using
> the software today.
>
> "By coordinating the attack and focusing everyone on specific URLs
> or specific networks, I think it will have more impact than it's had
> in the past," he added.
>
> "Another twist is that they're tracking the number of hours that
> users are spending using the software to take out Web sites," he
> observed. "You can gain pseudo martyrdom by having enough hours
> logged in using the program to wreak havoc on the Internet."
>
> Don't Loose Sleep Over It
> Others are more reluctant to sound the alarm bells just yet.
>
> "I think it's healthy to be skeptical about these sorts of things,"
> Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant with global network
> security firm Sophos <image001.gif>, of Burlington, Mass., told
> TechNewsWorld.
>
> "Have we ever known al Qaeda to announce in advance when they're
> planning to attack?" he asked.
>
> "Surely," he reasoned, "the one thing which terrorists have reveled
> in in the past, is the element of surprise. That's one of the
> strongest things in their armory.
>
> "The people who are tracking terrorists and hacker
> <image001.gif>groups and things put too much weight on babble on the
> Internet," he asserted. "Everyone needs to take sensible
> precautions, but this isn't something which I think many people
> should lose too much sleep over at the moment."
>
>
>

- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
serve -
Fred Cohen & Associates                 tel/fax: 925-454-0171
http://all.net/       572 Leona Drive    Livermore, CA 94550
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All,

It seems to me that the shutdown of the Internet between Myanmar/
Burma and the world is indicative of just how important it is to
their government to control what the world sees and the ability to
coordinate internally. But it also seems to me to point clearly to
the increasing violence by the government there. They have apparently
been very upset at the negative images and the clarity with which so
many images of what they are doing to control/arrest/kill/imprison
their citizens and have decided that the Internet was the source of
their problems. I wonder how long it will take for an independent
Internet connectivity to spring up with wireless and other radios and
to regain national access. If I were another government or non-
government organization with resources, I think I would have the
whole country on an independent Internet over combinations of
wireless within a day or two, with new addressing schemes so that
tracing paths back into the country was problematic and identities
would not be available to figure out how and where the links were
going or who was posting what information, thus eliminating the
government's control and ability to enforce restrictions on free
exchange.

I would love to hear other views on this.

FC
- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
serve -
Fred Cohen & Associates                 tel/fax: 925-454-0171
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mailing list

Hello,
I'm new to the list. I'm working on two related areas: one is terrorist
propaganda on the internet (see my book at
http://www.iiea.com/publicationxtest.php?publication_id=25), the other
is cyber attacks on consumer networks (see recent article at TCSDaily
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=071807B).
Johnny

Fred,
On an ironic coincidence, I am re-reading James Surwieki's "Wisdom of
Crowds;" a book whose premises is same one that derailed Sir Francis
Galton a century earlier - recall the infamous "Weight of an Ox after
butchering and dressing" challenge.

Galton's 787 challengers - including experts in livestock, breeding,
and butchering, plus a number of lay persons each wagered the Ox'
weight.  Galton's descriptive statistics revealed that crowd was off
by 1 pound.  1197 vs. 1198lbs.

Galton's premise was, "the masses are generally unintelligent. The
masses require the important issues of the day to be the domain of a
select intelligent few."  At least Galton admitted that as a scientist
he could not dispell the notion that a crowd appears more intelligent
and discerning than he previously thought.

Fast forward,  I wonder what the crowds capacity is to detect
propaganda e.g. Chertoff and dry-run warnings?  I recall (I forgot the
reference - maybe Eco or Britt perhaps) a goal of Ur-Fascism is to
remove the citizen's ability to distinguish facts from lies.

Within the realm of IO, there must be scholarly works which focus on
propaganda detection? (It not a focal area for me - pointers appreciated).

-Mark

--- In iwar@yahoogroups.com, Fred Cohen <dr.cohen@...> wrote:
>
> All,
>
> Apparently the claims leaked by the US government earlier this week
> that terrorists were doing "dry runs" to practice putting bombs in
> planes were untrue and the people leaking the information knew it.
> These were intentionally altered versions of incidents that had
> happened with false and misleading information and none of them
> involved anyone who was in any way connected with terrorism. In other
> words, they were pure US government propaganda. We welcome any views
> that list members may have on this ongoing campaign - or any claims
> that it was something else.
>
> FC
> - This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
> serve -
> Fred Cohen & Associates                 tel/fax: 925-454-0171
> http://all.net/       572 Leona Drive    Livermore, CA 94550
> Join http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FCA-announce/join for our
> mailing list
>

All,

Apparently the claims leaked by the US government earlier this week
that terrorists were doing "dry runs" to practice putting bombs in
planes were untrue and the people leaking the information knew it.
These were intentionally altered versions of incidents that had
happened with false and misleading information and none of them
involved anyone who was in any way connected with terrorism. In other
words, they were pure US government propaganda. We welcome any views
that list members may have on this ongoing campaign - or any claims
that it was something else.

FC
- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
serve -
Fred Cohen & Associates                 tel/fax: 925-454-0171
http://all.net/       572 Leona Drive    Livermore, CA 94550
Join http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FCA-announce/join for our
mailing list

Very interesting read.

http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2006/12/blogosphere-at-war.html

See section:
"How to Optimize the Blogosphere for Information Warfare"

-Mark

I wanted to again thank all of those who participated in these
experiments. I have included below the URL for folks to look at the
results of the experiments as well as the information provided to the
participants for their use in these experiments. Different
participants got different information, and those who participated
can now see what they didn't see before. While the write-up contained
in the PDF pointed to at the end of the page is not very readable
(yet), I hope it explains what the experiments were about and
provides clarity surrounding the results. Please feel free to ask any
questions and I will try to respond as well as I can.

http://manalytic.com/Ex-2007-07-07/index.html

FC
- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
serve -
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Join http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FCA-announce/join for our
mailing list

Eastern European websites under renewed attack: Undeclared cyber-war Finds new
targets [Ian Thomson, vnunet.com 03 Jul 2007]
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2193341/online-attacks-hit-eastern

"A large number of online attacks have been reported in Russia against
websites deemed to be anti-President Putin. [...] The outlawed National
Bolshevik Party claimed that it had been under attack between February and April
when it was trying to organise  anti-government protests. "They killed the
entire US server that hosted us," the party's online supervisor Alexei Sochnev
told Associated Press."

[Thought - if the RU govt attacks an US private Asset through a proxy actor, is
that an attack against the US?



US claims China has online army 'ready to strike' US warns of People's Republic
of China's New Modem Army [29 May 2007]
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2190876/claims-china-online-army-ready

I'll give it a try.
Cheers
Benny


To: iwar@...: dr.cohen@...: Mon, 2 Jul 2007 18:32:35
-0700Subject: [iwar] Looking for volunteers for an experiment in decision-making




IWarriors:I am looking for a group of volunteers for a sequence of experiments
in decision-making. If any of you would like to participate, please contact me
via email. It will take perhaps 5 minutes of time per day for a week or two.FC-
This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to serve -Fred
Cohen & Associates tel/fax: 925-454-0171http://all.net/ 572 Leona Drive
Livermore, CA 94550Join http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FCA-announce/join for
our mailing list


_________________________________________________________________
Make every IM count. Download Windows Live Messenger and join the i�m Initiative
now. It�s free.��
http://im.live.com/messenger/im/home/?source=TAGWL_June07

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

IWarriors:

I am looking for a group of volunteers for a sequence of experiments
in decision-making. If any of you would like to participate, please
contact me via email. It will take perhaps 5 minutes of time per day
for a week or two.

FC
- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
serve -
Fred Cohen & Associates                 tel/fax: 925-454-0171
http://all.net/       572 Leona Drive    Livermore, CA 94550
Join http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FCA-announce/join for our
mailing list

Yes, my bad.  I see your point.

--- In iwar@yahoogroups.com, "Drew Schaefer" <drew@...> wrote:
>
> hi M,
>
> I read it to mean that Russia is the First State to actually have
> 'attacked' another State (am not stating that I believe this to be
> already PROVEN).
>
> And if that is the case, it's very unsettling, especially after the
> polonium-210 Litvinenko investigation.
>
> Drew
>
>
>
> --- In iwar@yahoogroups.com, "myanalit" <bigyank@> wrote:
> >
> > Of note - All in all the speaker seems very weak on history.
> > "Russia is Ffrst to engage in cyber-warfare???"
> >
> > M-
> >
> >
> > http://www.iwar.org.uk/news-archive/2007/06-01.htm
> >
> > SECAF: Dominance in cyberspace is not optional
> >
> > by Tech. Sgt. A.J. Bosker
> > 55th Wing Public Affairs
>

hi M,

I read it to mean that Russia is the First State to actually have
'attacked' another State (am not stating that I believe this to be
already PROVEN).

And if that is the case, it's very unsettling, especially after the
polonium-210 Litvinenko investigation.

Drew



--- In iwar@yahoogroups.com, "myanalit" <bigyank@...> wrote:
>
> Of note - All in all the speaker seems very weak on history.
> "Russia is Ffrst to engage in cyber-warfare???"
>
> M-
>
>
> http://www.iwar.org.uk/news-archive/2007/06-01.htm
>
> SECAF: Dominance in cyberspace is not optional
>
> by Tech. Sgt. A.J. Bosker
> 55th Wing Public Affairs

Of note - All in all the speaker seems very weak on history.
"Russia is Ffrst to engage in cyber-warfare???"

M-


http://www.iwar.org.uk/news-archive/2007/06-01.htm

SECAF: Dominance in cyberspace is not optional

by Tech. Sgt. A.J. Bosker
55th Wing Public Affairs

6/1/2007 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFPNS)  -- The Air Force's
senior leader's message was clear: dominance in cyberspace is not
optional.  He made that case to attendees May 23 at the inaugural 55th
Wing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Symposium in Omaha.

"Our own nation's neural network resides in cyberspace," Secretary of
the Air Force Michael W. Wynne said. "Our military command and
control, ISR and precision strike capability all rely on ensured
access to the electronic spectrum.

"As the nation with the world's most advanced armed forces, we can't
afford to risk losing the freedom of action in the cyberspace domain."

Cyberspace is the electromagnetic domain that facilitates the
'information mosaic' providing national leaders and military
commanders with timely, actionable and decision-quality data, he said.
"All of this data will be relatively useless unless it can be
protected," Secretary Wynne said. "Today, the Air Force can only offer
limited options in cyberspace.

"At the same time our enemies, be they nation states or terrorists,
can effectively maneuver in cyberspace and find opportunities to
exploit," he said. "These adversaries can communicate globally with
their agents, spread propaganda, mobilize support worldwide, conduct
training, detonate improvised explosive devices and can empty or
create bank accounts to fund their causes.

"Russia, our Cold War nemesis, seems to have been the first to engage
in cyber warfare," he said. "Over the past four weeks, it is reported
that Russia has been conducting massive cyber attacks against the
small Baltic country of Estonia.  (These are) the first known
incidents of such an assault on a state."

Estonia, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and
European Union since the spring of 2004, is the most advanced cyber
power of the former Warsaw Pact members, one of the most wired
societies in Europe and a pioneer in the development of
'e-government,' he said. Since April, a wave of Distributed Denial of
Service attacks has swamped Estonian Web sites by overwhelming the
bandwidth of the servers.

"The Russians have denied that this was their action, contrary to all
the evidence," Secretary Wynne said. "However, the good news is the
attacks didn't shut down this small country. But it did start a series
of debates within NATO and the EU about the definition of clear
military action and it may be the first test of the applicability of
Article V of the NATO charter regarding collective self-defense in the
non-kinetic realm."

The attack on Estonia is a reminder that the U.S. is not alone in
cyberspace nor is it that far ahead of other nations or entities,
according to Secretary Wynne. Therefore, to ensure continued access to
and superiority in cyberspace, the Air Force recently stood up Air
Force Cyber Command.

"Air Force Cyber Command will ensure the security and integrity of our
network and at the same time build trust and confidence in the system
as we use cyberspace to exploit new and future technologies," he said.

Secure and reliable information is an important enabler of both
military andpolitical options.

"A strong diplomatic negotiation usually relies on a strong military,"
he explained. "The stronger your ability to follow up militarily when
diplomacy fails, the better diplomacy seems to work out."

One example of this cited by the secretary was the recent F-22
deployment to Guam for tests and training. Shortly after the F-22s
arrived on North Korea's 'doorstep,' the North Koreans agreed to shut
down their nuclear plant.

"We'll never know and they'll never admit if the two are related but I
can say that after the aircraft arrived, for some reason the
negotiations went a lot better," he said.

Regardless of the chosen option, political or military, the foundation
of success for each is the same: accurate, timely and trustworthy
information.

"It is your Air Force harnessing and delivering that information to
the right people," the secretary said. "Today, we dominate air and
space. In the future, it will be vital that we also dominate cyberspace."

======================================================================

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Norwich University.

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The MSIA program provides leadership development focused entirely on
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Michel E. Kabay, PhD, CISSP
Program Director, Master of Science in Information Assurance
Norwich University


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Information is the currency of victory on the battlefield.
GEN Gordon Sullivan, CSA (1993)
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Caveats -
Defense Week, March 1, 1999. Pg. 1 Hamre To Hill: 'We're In A
Cyberwar'  - which were proximate to Weldon's committee and Clinton
Administration funding decisions; Hamre's comments were retracted later.

- There are other more credible China IW voices (than Winkler).

China Prepares for First Strike in Electronic War
eWeek (05/30/07) Vaas, Lisa
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2139041,00.asp

The U.S. Department of Defense's yearly congressional report warns
that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China is gearing up for
electronic warfare by establishing information warfare units that are
creating viruses to lay siege to adversarial computers and networks,
while simultaneously implementing strategies to defend its own
computer systems and networks and those of its allies. Electronic and
infrared decoys, false target generators, and angle reflectors are
some of the other electronic countermeasures China is exploiting
outside of malware.

Internet Security Advisors Group President Ira Winkler said China is
second only to Russia as the country most capable of cyber-espionage,
and maintained that China has vast resources to devote to acquiring
"first strike" capability in a cyber-warfare scenario. Breaches of
U.S. computer networks have been attributed to Chinese hackers, who
Winkler said are successful because of their ability to exploit both
their highly methodical analysis of target systems and their victims'
inadequate security deployments.

The DoD's report was condemned by China foreign ministry
representative Jiang Yu, who claimed the study distorts his nation's
military strength and expenses "out of ulterior motives." "Each
sovereign state has the right and obligation to develop necessary
national defense strength to safeguard its national security and
territorial integrity," he argued. "It is totally erroneous and
invalid for the U.S. report to play up the so-called 'China Threat.'"

Lawrence D. Dietz, Managing Director, Information Security & Legal
Support Services, Tal Global Corporation

This bulletin is part of our continuing effort to provide information
and analysis to our clients and colleagues. Recently, tiny Estonia
with an estimated population of slightly over 1 million has learned
that productivity and connectivity on the Internet comes with the
vulnerability borne of dependence. Estonia began removing a bronze
statue of a World War II-era Russian soldier from a park in Tallinn.
As a result they have been engaged in what some, like the New York
Times are calling the �first war in cyberspace�. For the past several
weeks the country has been defending itself from a barrage of
apparently sophisticated and coordinated cyber attacks. Linton Wells
II, the US DOD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Networks and information integration was quoted as saying �This may
well turn out to be a watershed in terms of widespread awareness of
the vulnerability of modern society.�

Some aspects of the attacks are worth noting. First of all there were
a number of �waves� of attacks each with a specific objective in
mind. Early waves were designed to explore vulnerabilities and test
capacity and defenses. Secondly combinations of attack vectors were
employed. In particular a psychological attack was waged on the prime
minister by posting a fake letter of apology on this web site.
Thirdly resource augmentation, the probable renting of botnets
(networks of computers controlled by hostile parties and available
for temporary rental by the highest bidder) for selected periods of
time was employed to strengthen the distributed denial of service
(DDoS) attack at key points in time.

Defensively the government categorized its sites and determined
which, like the Estonian president�s sites would be designated low
priorities, they also closed off large parts of the network to
international traffic. The perpetrators were never identified nor
caught.

What does this mean to our clients? If you are a part of the national
infrastructure you may be an unwitting victim of an attack designed
as a general attack against the government or the economy. Your
systems may be victimized in several ways, taken over and used as
potential �zombies� for attacks on others, defacing of your websites
for the purpose of advancing the messages of the attacker; denial of
service victim or perhaps even designated for more malicious activity
such as deletion of key files or information.

The point is that contingency planning must constantly think �out of
the box�. A key task is inventory of critical information and
functions. Personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual
property and other sensitive data must be segregated and protected
employing a defense in depth consisting of reinforcing defensive
techniques. Alternatives for compartmentalization of networks into
discrete, clearly defendable components should be considered and
plans for alternative communications resources should be formulated
and tested regularly to insure transparent implementation.

Information security is certainly a key aspect of today�s governance
challenges; another is the protection of critical information such as
intellectual property. To get the latest in legal developments and
best practices in this area, attend our upcoming June 13th Seminar,
Demystifying Trade Secrets Protection Strategies. For more
information see: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=133433.


- This communication is confidential to the parties it is intended to
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