A Couple More Real Threats and One That's Not

Posted Friday, November 6, 2009, at 8:51 AM

In addition to military weapons and equipment increasingly being placed out of sight and protected under ground, new tactical threats identified by the Defense Intelligence Agency and other reports include acquisition and use by our potential enemies of advanced weapons like shoulder-fired, surface-to-air Stinger missiles. Also non-conventional weapons such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), car bombs and roadside bombs. Along with kidnappings and suicide attacks these are real threats and require military action if used against us.

The category of new DIA threats also includes the Internet. As a means of government and military communication it is vulnerable to enemy hacker geeks who can easily be as savvy and bright as the good-guy geeks who design and operate our systems. The Internet also aids activities such as the trade in counterfeit drugs or weapons. And access to the Internet also gives anyone with a message the ability to provide what the DIA report calls real-time and unfiltered information to a worldwide audience.

While interference with our communication and aiding illegal activities are threats, disseminating information, even if adversarial to our positions on issues, is not. Among the things that have traditionally made our democracy strong is its survival amidst a boisterous and contrary marketplace of ideas--Berkley Bedell.

Berkley Bedell Blog

By Berkley Bedell and Jim Frost

- Recent posts
- Archives
- Blog RSS feed

- Comments RSS feed

- Login

Berkley Bedell--Retirement from the U.S. Congress in 1987, neither dulled my interest in the well-being of the people of the United States nor my worries about our governance. I began work in 2006 on a book outlining the country's problems and offering solutions. Jim Frost--I share Berkley's concerns and in 2007 began the job of researching, editing and assisting with writing his book. By early 2009, after finally weathering George W. Bush and recognizing how much the past eight wasted years have set the world back, our focus changed. We had seen no meaningful progress in the efforts to stem the threat of nuclear weapons, reverse global warming, preserve natural resources, reduce military spending, fight disease and hunger, improve health care, deal with the increasing gulf between rich people and poor people, establish a workable economic system, or clean up the political process. For us, these three things became self-evident: First, the problems are global; the U.S. cannot by itself control or solve them. Second, the perfect storm of worldwide catastrophe is already upon us; what must be said cannot wait. Third, in seeking solutions, the problems must be put before as many people as possible as quickly as possible. This blog is the result. There will be much more. We invite you to participate.

Hot topics

Cronies All
(1 ~ 6:51 PM, Aug 24)

Signing Off for Now
(0 ~ 1:25 PM, Jan 8)

Perilous Times, Drastic Measures
(2 ~ 8:10 PM, Dec 20)

Step Six: Homeland Security
(1 ~ 1:14 PM, Dec 12)

Step Five: Intelligence Gathering
(1 ~ 3:01 PM, Dec 8)

Home