For the second time this week, the New York Times has published a revealing report on a secret, legally questionable Obama administration program, but failed to include independent legal analysis of the controversial program.
Tuesday’s Times report on the White House’s drone assassination program included no critical analysis of the thorny legal issues raised by the program. Surely independent legal experts would have something to say about the program at large, but particularly about such details as the White House’s bizarre definition that counts any military-aged male found in the vicinity of a bombing target as a combatant, and thus killable; or its insistence that secret White House discussions of potential assassination targets qualify as “due process” under the Fifth Amendment.
Today’s Times story ( “Obama Ordered Wave of Cyberattacks Against Iran”) was useful and revealing. But it would have been much more interesting had reporter David Sanger cited independent legal experts on whether such cyberattacks constitute acts of war. If they do, the White House program could have far more profound consequences than merely disrupting Iran’s nuclear program.
And if he has trouble pinning down a precise definition of what makes a cyberattack an act of war, Sanger could just quote from the Obama administration’s opinions on the question.
Last year the White House commissioned a major study of cyberspace, International Strategy for Cyberspace (5/11), which found that
States have an inherent right to self-defense that may be triggered by certain aggressive acts in cyberspace…. Certain hostile acts conducted through cyberspace could compel actions under the commitments we have with our military treaty partners…. When warranted, the United States will respond to hostile acts in cyberspace as we would any other threat to our country.
Sanger’s failure to mention the White House view on how cyber attacks can be acts of war is all the more curious since he cites the report to make the less provocative point that Obama came to office with an interest in cyber issues: “He commissioned a major study on how to improve America’s defenses and announced it with great fanfare in the East Room.”
As Glenn Greenwald notes today, the Pentagon is similarly on the record arguing that cyberattacks are acts of war:
Needless to say, if any cyber-attack is directed at the U.S. –rather than by the U.S.–it will be instantly depicted as an act of unparalleled aggression and evil: Terrorism. Just last year, the Pentagon decreed that any cyberattack on the U.S. would be deemed “an act of war.”
If the U.S. government defines cyberattacks as acts of war, shouldn’t that be mentioned in a Times report about how the U.S. is spearheading cyberattacks on Iran?
Just last year, the Pentagon decreed that any cyberattack on the U.S. would be deemed “an act of war.”
Well, that’s clear enough: only a cyberattack on the US is an act of war. Cyberattacks by the US are okay, because we’re the good guys.
Isn’t this how the corpress burnishes its “investigative” credentials?
Allow for some exposure of the dark side of gummint or corporatedom, but leave the answer for “2+2” blank.
While elsewhere filling in the oval next to “11”.
E.g., AP has done some decent investigative pieces lately, but as here, failed to put the pieces together that would make clear the systemic nature of the actions in question.
Simultaneously, its more prosaic reportage has the back of these same malefactors, negating much of the relevatory benefit from the former.
They get a shiny journalism award to place in their trophy case …
While keeping the curtain drawn on the profound conclusions true journalism would bring to light.
I initially considered these disclosures pathetic proxies for actual
investigative reporting, but I think Greenwald’s nailed it.
This is corpress collusion masquerading as revelation.
Tough Guy Leaking: Iran Edition
A White House obsessed with secrecy and punishing whistleblowers loves
classifed disclosures that glorify Obama
by Glenn Greenwald
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/01-12
Taking a leak on his Nobel
All we are saying
Is give peace a pass
Dear Mr. Latimer: Would that be…
” taking a leak on his nobel.
all we are saying
is give peace a pass.”
Shouldn’t that be ..”give peace a piss” then?
That works, too, Gloriana. Much obliged.
Or, to riff on Country Joe McDonald …
“Gimme a P!”
“Gimme an I!”
“Gimmie an S!”
“Gimmie another S!”
“What’s that spell?”
“What’s that spell?”
“What’s that spell?”
It sure as shit don’t spell “Peace” …
Superficial me-first comments from the left, semi-literate ignorance from the right, and junior high school naughty words from both. And now I find there’s another Orville posting here. I’ve had it. Bye bye FAIR comments.
Did we – again – wait to run a full story until there was a book about to come out? I wonder if the book is more thorough, as Rendall points out, by including actual informed assessments of these cyber-policies. If so, another reason to ask why aren’t they in the NYT piece.
Amen, Orville.
Why is it that I’m left with the BBC, and occasionally Al Jazeera, to find sensible analysis and commentary on the news, without the flagrant biases?
Also try Democracy Now and your local Pacifica Radio if you have one. If not search the web for them.
Amerika über alles. We can do anything to anyone. Doesn’t that spell fascism? I was nuasiated the entire day I found out that they gave a Nobel peace prize to Obama. I threw up when I heard his acceptance speech! Greenwald, like a handful of people including Amy Goodman, is a person of integrity who tells his truth and speaks it to power.
Got to speak to Richard Clark once.He was a national security advisor under Clinton Bush ,and later head of cyber warfare.Let me tell you that this is the future cluster f#*k coming down the road.Chinese have a very advance program.As we do.As Im sure the Russians and others do.Recently we had a small earthquake in my home town.Cell phones went down for half an hour.Internet.Only thing working was face book.And this was nothing.Barely shook the wine glasses.Imagine a real strike aimed at our weak kneed computers.For us to use it(cyber attacks) with impunity, opens us up to the same as we measured out.Without any shield of morality.I am always amazed at how completely dependent we are on our glowing screens.If it is Ok to inhibit Irans nuclear programs in this way….is it ok for them to inhibit one of our programs in retaliation?
Yeah, right. Richard Clark (sic). When you send him a Christmas card, be sure to spell the Great Man’s name correctly. The last time I spoke to President Barack (last week; we had a beer at the Map Room on Armitage in Chicago), he was a little miffed that I mis-spelled Malia’s name on her birthday card (“Malea”). President Obama said, “Timmy, Malia said to me, ‘Daddy, I though Uncle Tim knew how to spell–what’s his major malfunction?'” “She did not say that!” I screeched. “Relax,” the President said. ‘I’m just fucking with you a little bit. Now get me another Robert The Bruce or I’ll put a drone up your ass.” The Secret Service guys all laughed. Just sayin’ dude. Be careful who you hang with.
Sorry Tim forgot the “E”at the end of his nameRichard A. Clarke.I grew up with a different Richard “Clark”,so pardon the error.I met him at a time when he was traveling doing speaking engagements on a book tour.Michael Smerconish sponsored him on his book club circut.I was there on business and know Michael.He was at the Keswick in Jenkintown Pa, with dinner across the street at I believe the Keswick pub/diner.Fascinating man.Regaled us with stories.His talk of the weakness inherent in our dependance on computer tech and the capabilities of our enemies was truly sobering.
I have noticed in the past you have a habit of putting people on pedestals.You seem to believe that “normal” people could NEVER meet or converse with these GREAT and POWERFUL people.What made you have that inferiority complex I do not know.I do not suffer from it.They are just people TIM.Like you and me.We all put our pants on the same.I once even had a moment when i had a chance to meet Obama who was shaking hands a hundred yards from my property.It was during the election.As i was cutting the lawn i passed(true story).Of course in retrospect i should of gone down.Though we have little to agree on it would be a fun story to tell.People who i have met that did impress me….Paul McCartney in London.And Rachel Welch in LA.His music growing up was my lifes soundtrack.Her posters the dreams of a young man.So if you see Mitt appearing anywhere near you,don’t make my mistake.Get up off your lazy ass- and shake hands with the next president.That does not indicate you agree with him .Just common respect for the office and hope that whatever he does will benefit the country.
Are you worried about an Israeli attack on Iran starting Middle East War III? Then please sign the pledge to boycott Israel if it starts a preemptive war with Iran. By (nonviolently) increasing the cost of starting a war, we can help to prevent it:
http://www.divestfromwar.org/
Let’s PREVENT the next war, instead of protesting it after the fact!