Former Defense secretary urges renewed focus on cyberterrorism
A former top military official on Monday cautioned attendees of a gathering hosted by the New Democrat Network that the government should place more emphasis on preventing cyberterrorism.
Former Defense Secretary William Perry, speaking in Silicon Valley, said that the explosive growth of the Web has led American businesses to rely heavily on the Internet's infrastructure, which he noted has been a powerful tool but is vulnerable to security weaknesses.
Perry said that while United States leadership in information technology is unsurpassed, he warned that the "unforeseen consequence" of the Web is that it leaves companies vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
Military research and development is a key component to U.S. leadership in information technology, Perry said.
Perry, who served under President Clinton, said that future terrorists "may not just fly planes into buildings but also attack corporations' communications networks."
He stressed that the Web has brought the United States many commercial and consumer benefits, but said that the Web is used as a "command and control system" for terrorists because the Web is such an inherently open system.
Perry, who is a co-director of the Preventive Defense Project, spoke to a group of about 200 business leaders, policymakers and aspiring lawmakers at Hewlett-Packard's headquarters.
On the subject of bio-terrorism, Perry outlined a five-point plan. He suggested that the Defense Department increase spending on preventative measures such as mobile detection devices, create "fast-track" authority for anti bio-terror drugs, coordinate bio-terror programs with Russia, integrate federal and state efforts, and coordinate U.S. national security efforts with global initiatives.
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