Cyber Command may soon watch over us

“... enable the kill chain …”

However, like a latter day Dr Strangelove, Dr Kass adds:

“What I see in the future is true cross-domain integration, to deliver effects, like we deliver in air and space, where the commander has at his disposal, truly sovereign options, as stated in our mission, which is the ability to do whatever we want, wherever we want, whenever we want, and however we want - kinetically, and non-kinetically and at the speed of sound and at the speed of light.”

“One of the most important things we do, in and for cyberspace, is enable the kill chain,” Dr Kass said. “It allows us to help find, fix and finish the targets we are after. The problem is finding the target. Most of the enemies are hiding in plain sight.”

“One of the issues we are going to be discussing is who is the cyberwarrior,” Dr. Kass said. “What will he or she need to be able to do? What kind of educational skills, what kind of technical skills, what kind of training, and what kind of career path do we need to offer to those kids who are coming into our Air Force and wanting to fly and fight not only in air and space, but also in cyberspace.”

Doubtless some Australians making phone calls, sending emails or blogging on the Internet may come under the scrutiny of Dr Kass and Cyber Command.

Perhaps the concept of “Cyber Command” will a snappy redevelopment of the USAF’s existing Air Intelligence Agency? Perhaps Dr Kass is attempting to extend Air Force intelligence's activities into the domestic security area? It’s always difficult to fathom bureaucratic intentions, especially as they apply to secretive intelligence bodies.

Cyber Command, if created will have close links to the US National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA's role is to collect and analyse foreign communications generally (including Australia’s private communications) and protect US Government communications. Here is further information about the NSA, sigint and the broader UKUSA intelligence alliance.

The USAF and the NSA are both under the US Defence Department portfolio. Some might say Cyber Command will be restricted to battle zones but Dr Kass is fairly explicit that its brief is the War on Terror and so this means anywhere.

The zealous statements of Dr Kass are clearly meant for US military consumption, but the tone should be of concern to Australians. The NSA, which is the chief monitor of cyberspace, has been traditionally seen as a conservative, perhaps moderate, intelligence organisation. If an aggressive Cyber Command (as described by Dr Kass) is to be closely integrated with the NSA, the NSA may drift in the same aggressive political direction.

While the military alliance between the US and Israel is extensive, deep and often secret, a person who developed their thinking in the IDF should (perhaps) not be permitted to pass on the IDF’s notorious ethos to a powerful area of the US military’s “kill chain”.