NBC News reports that President Biden has been given options for “massive cyberattacks against Russia”:
President Joe Biden has been presented with a menu of options for the U.S. to carry out massive cyberattacks designed to disrupt Russia’s ability to sustain its military operations in Ukraine, four people familiar with the deliberations tell NBC News.
Two U.S. intelligence officials, one Western intelligence official and another person briefed on the matter say no final decisions have been made, but they say U.S. intelligence and military cyber warriors are proposing the use of American cyberweapons on a scale never before contemplated. Among the options: disrupting internet connectivity across Russia, shutting off electric power, and tampering with railroad switches to hamper Russia’s ability to resupply its forces, three of the sources said.
“You could do everything from slow the trains down to have them fall off the tracks,†one person briefed on the matter said.
While I recognize that the Pentagon has plans for all sorts of things that will never be implemented, this strikes me as an incredibly foolhardy notion. Consider:
- We’re not at war with Russia.
- We are probably considerably more vulnerable than the Russians to such attacks.
- The Russians are undoubtedly well-prepared to counterattack in kind.
- Cyberattacks are precisely the sort of thing that can invite counterattack and escalation.
- It’s a lousy precedent to set.
So, we do a cyber attack on Russia, disrupting their ability to function normally. Then they do a counter cyber attack to retaliate against us. Where does it all end? Probably in some kind of escalated action. And, what do we achieve or gain by such moves, in places so far removed from not only our shores but our responsibilities? Now, if we were as involved or concerned about the safety of our southern border, that would make sense!
No. All 5 of your bullet points are correct.
I’m still in the same place. Deterrence will not work (other than US troops in Ukraine, so forget about it) His words were empty, and his current milktoast Corn Pop routine especially won’t work. Putin senses the moment and Ukraine is done until and when the Ukranian people resist from within.
So you are down to inflicting retribution. Pain. Biden shot our dicks off with his energy policy. Time to recognize the stupidity and drill baby drill. Like for the next 5 years. Balls to the wall.
The facts that Russia is still in Swift and the EU and US (!!!) will continue to buy Russia oil and gas tells where the real power is.
“…and US (!!!) will continue to buy Russia oil and gas tells where the real power is.”
As I have noted repeatedly, it is patently absurd policy for the US to self-create weakness and endow Putin with strength by curtailing US energy production. Insanity. All for political pandering to a bunch of environuts. Of all the dumb things Biden has done, this may be the worst.
Separately, I’m no foreign policy expert, but I do have a memory. Putin has been steadfast in his insistence that Ukraine not become part of NATO. Maybe a decade or more. Its a deal breaker issue. (and that’s not just ego, the countries are side by side) The move that could have diffused this (maybe still can) was for the US to have convinced Ukraine that it simply would not become part of NATO. What do we gain from its membership anyway? Tweek Putin’s nose?
On the list of other possibly quite foolhardy notions.
The Speaker of the House said the Congress should pass a bill to give $600 million for “lethal defense weapons” to the Ukraine to battle Russia.
The Russian President stated any “outside interference” would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
Has she not been briefed about the Russian President’s remarks? Or she does not know about the strategic arsenal Russia has? Or she really wants to find out what “outside interference is”?
Everyone seems to be on a different page as to what this Ukraine invasion is all about, and/ or what strategy to employ to diffuse it. Pelosi’s monetary suggestion, though, is foolish. Besides, intel coming out of Ukraine is that it already is a heavily armed country.
CO –
Um, er, its Nancy Pelosi. And Joe…………… God help us.
Jan – Your echo of Dave’s point I totally agree with. I think the only interesting questions are 1) is Putin motivated by ego or historical status considerations in reconstituting the Soviet Union, or just preventing NATO status for Ukraine and 2) why now, what actions will make him stop?
I’ve read notions Putin is crazy. Bullshit. Putin is steely eyed and sees opportunity. Obama. Now Obama’s dufus and impaired ex. And the same crew from Obama at State etc. He knows a ship of fools when he sees them. KGB training, experience and mindset.
Drew, I’ve also heard rumors that Putin’s behavior has changed, and he is showing signs of mental instability (aka, craziness). However, like you, I see him as the same “steely eyed,†souless, ambitious, KGB psychopath he has always been. It’s also worth noting Putin only invaded Ukraine during the Bush, Obama/Biden, and now Biden presidencies, skipping challenging Trump’s verve during his time in office. Nonetheless, the corporate media continues to alternate between either praising or excusing the Biden Administration for it’s incredibly inept response to Putin’s Ukraine’s adventurism. Instead, these ideologically-blinded mouthpieces of the democrat party are throwing the javelin of blame at the former president.
Bottom line is Biden heavily botched the U.S.’s departure from Afghanistan, needlessly costing the lives of military personnel and innocents. Now he is repeating his failures of leadership and lack of insight in how he is handling Ukraine. Along side of Biden are his administrative back-ups of Kamala Harris, Tony Blinken, Jake Sullivan – a spineless, incompetent ensemble of idiots. Instead of the “best,†we have a collection of the worst duds making critical decisions/policy for this county.
Yeah, I agree it would be foolish. Another reason to add to the list is that many cyber-attacks can only be used once. Once a vulnerability is exposed, the target can update systems or implement security measures. So it’s the kind of action you want to take when it is really necessary and when it’s most likely to produce the political and military effects that one desires.