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Obama Ordered Wave Of Cyber Attacks On Iranian Nuclear Facilities. Good or Bad?

ServantOfAllah 2012/06/01 14:50:24
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President Barack Obama ordered a secret wave of computer attacks on Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities, according to the New York Times.
He accelerated the program, begun under the Bush administration and code-named "Olympic Games," even after the some of the code of computer worm used in the cyber attacks was revealed on the Internet, the Times reported today.
"Olympic Games" was a joint venture between the U.S. and Israel designed to take down the Iranian nuclear program using the worm dubbed Stuxnet, The last of that series of attacks, a few weeks after Stuxnet was detected around the world, temporarily took out nearly 1,000 of the 5,000 centrifuges Iran had spinning at the time to purify uranium. see full story here

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  • Q 2012/06/01 17:04:51
    Good!
    Q
    +5
    It sure beats the hell out of an invasion! It's just another tactic to put the squeeze on their nuclear program. Its only too bad that our involvement was leaked, although I'm sure both Iran and the international intelligence community already knew.

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  • HarleyCharley 2012/06/05 19:18:57
    Good!
    HarleyCharley
    they need to be stopped...
  • Larry777 2012/06/05 04:33:34
    Good!
    Larry777
    As much as I hate Obama, this was a good idea. The last thing we need is Muslim psychos with Nuclear weapons.
  • Keeping It Real 2012/06/04 21:52:54
    Good!
    Keeping It Real
    +1
    The president said in the run up to the presidency and once he got the job that he would not let Iran get a Nuclear weapon and he's just doing all he can to try and prevent that from happening.
  • 1wickedwitch 2012/06/04 17:47:40
    Undecided
    1wickedwitch
    +1
    any nucler program is bad for us all..in the hands of a nut even more so.
  • wtw 2012/06/04 13:29:14
    Good!
    wtw
    +2
    A sep in the right direction
  • activ1 2012/06/04 06:24:25
    Undecided
    activ1
    +3
    I'm no fan of the Iranian Government, but if I were ANY country, I'd be doing my best to acquire nuclear weapons, and I wouldn't give a damn if anybody liked it or not. If I were surrounded by nuclear powers, I would definitely want to have them myself. How in the hell can we tell others not to have them when we have enough nukes to blow up the planet several times over, and we are the only country who has ever actually used them against another country?
  • Sir Bud activ1 2012/06/06 02:52:13
    Sir Bud
    The mere fact that a country which doesn't have nuclear weapons is in danger,being bullied and being threatened by those who do-makes the issue.The business of Nukes has got out of hand.This"We are right because its us and you are wrong because it's you"attitude will one day blow up this planet,thats for sure.Keeping in mind having nuclear weapons didnt stop 3 thousand innocent people being murdered.Good job the evil idiots didnt come up with the idea to crash into an Atomic Power station.
  • Defend ... Sir Bud 2012/06/13 10:48:42
    Defend Western Civlization
    I see another Leader of the Liberal Progressive Left making excuses for Nazi Child Rapist muslim terrorist

    Father of Toulouse Killer Sues Police...
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/wor...

    Turkey Criminalizes Oral Sex...
    http://www.ansamed.info/ansam...
  • Sir Bud Defend ... 2012/06/13 15:41:50
  • Defend ... Sir Bud 2012/06/14 01:09:24
    Defend Western Civlization
    in other words you hate the truth
    oh well Americans will laugh when Israel Smashes the muslim terrorist and their liberal progressive allies
  • Night71 2012/06/04 01:08:42
    Bad!
    Night71
    +1
    Again, how the hell does Iran affect your every day life? It sure wouldn't affect me if both Israel and Iran got nuked into a giant crater. Why should the US care what they do to each other?
  • captain... Night71 2012/06/06 16:41:23
    captainquiggle
    Great foreign policy.
  • Defend ... Night71 2012/06/13 10:49:25
    Defend Western Civlization
    I see you a liberal progressive elitist leader has no clue
    Muslim Terrorist mission is complete world domination with Nazi Sharia law
  • Night71 Defend ... 2012/06/13 22:00:19
  • Defend ... Night71 2012/06/14 01:10:08
    Defend Western Civlization
    sold out by Liberal progressives
  • RogerCoppock 2012/06/03 22:56:23 (edited)
    Bad!
    RogerCoppock
    +3
    The US is very vulnerable to cyber attack, more vulnerable than many of our enemies. Why? Because we have more computer systems than they do. Before going on the cyber offensive, we should have built up our defenses first. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
  • Servant... RogerCo... 2012/06/04 00:11:05
    ServantOfAllah
    +1
    excellent observation!
  • BritPunk RogerCo... 2012/06/05 11:24:46
    BritPunk
    +1
    Especially when a British schoolboy can hack into the Pentagon and CIA systems from a pc in his bedroom!
  • captain... BritPunk 2012/06/06 17:02:50
    captainquiggle
    You really think it's probable to happen again?
  • Defend ... BritPunk 2012/06/13 10:50:05
    Defend Western Civlization
    you mean a Muslim terrorist leader
  • captain... RogerCo... 2012/06/06 16:42:26
    captainquiggle
    Are you saying the White House is vulnerable to a cyber attack? Or the Pentagon? Let me know which, and how you came about this information.
  • RogerCo... captain... 2012/06/06 18:30:03 (edited)
    RogerCoppock
    The entire US infrastructure is vulnerable to cyber attack, just waiting for a cyber Perl Harbor or digital 9/11. I come by this information through a MS in computer science plus half-a-lifetime experience in the field.
  • captain... RogerCo... 2012/06/06 19:31:31 (edited)
    captainquiggle
    And, you happen to have first-hand knowledge of what the US is using to defend against such an attack? You do security for the Pentagon? Impressive.

    You show me how easy it is to hack that infrastructure and I'll concede you're right.
  • RogerCo... captain... 2012/06/07 00:36:00 (edited)
    RogerCoppock
    "And, you happen to have first-hand knowledge of what the US is using to defend against such an attack?"

    Yes.

    "You do security for the Pentagon?"

    I can not publish an answer to that question.
    In fact, I should terminate my part in this conversation.
  • captain... RogerCo... 2012/06/07 12:50:43
    captainquiggle
    Troll. You probably should terminate your part in this conversation, before someone decides to call you on your BS.
  • Flamingolady 2012/06/03 03:23:18
    Undecided
    Flamingolady
    Actually it was Jack Bauer who ordered this. BO was twiddling his thumbs, and reading his teleprompter.
  • Servant... Flaming... 2012/06/03 15:11:28
    ServantOfAllah
    of course. that's all he does.
  • Defend ... Servant... 2012/06/13 10:51:22
    Defend Western Civlization
    Obama Blocks Israel from Terror Forum...
    http://patdollard.com/2012/06...
  • jean 2012/06/02 16:05:46
    Undecided
    jean
    +1
    As soon as they can Iran will use their nukes on Israel.
  • beach bum 2012/06/02 11:16:26
    Good!
    beach bum
  • Kaleokualoha 2012/06/02 04:18:58 (edited)
    Undecided
    Kaleokualoha
    +3
    I have problems with the story; especially this statement: ""Olympic Games" was a joint venture between the U.S. and Israel designed to take down the Iranian nuclear program using the worm dubbed Stuxnet,"

    Propagandists may use the term "Iranian Nuclear Program" without explaining that the "program" may refer to peaceful or weaponized use of nuclear fuel. Iran IS entitled to use atomic power, but the "program" may imply a nuclear WEAPONS program. Are we attacking LAWFUL projects or weapons projects? It makes a difference!

    Perhaps TMI:

    [QUOTE]
    Overview
    IR-40 facility in ArakThe controversy over Iran's nuclear programs centers in particular on Iran's failure to declare sensitive enrichment and reprocessing activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).[10] Enrichment can be used to produce uranium for reactor fuel or (at higher enrichment levels) for weapons.[11] Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful,[12] and has enriched uranium to less than 5%, consistent with fuel for a civilian nuclear power plant.[13] Iran also claims that it was forced to resort to secrecy after US pressure caused several of its nuclear contracts with foreign governments to fall through.[14] After the IAEA Board of Governors reported Iran's noncompliance with its safeguards agreem...










    I have problems with the story; especially this statement: ""Olympic Games" was a joint venture between the U.S. and Israel designed to take down the Iranian nuclear program using the worm dubbed Stuxnet,"

    Propagandists may use the term "Iranian Nuclear Program" without explaining that the "program" may refer to peaceful or weaponized use of nuclear fuel. Iran IS entitled to use atomic power, but the "program" may imply a nuclear WEAPONS program. Are we attacking LAWFUL projects or weapons projects? It makes a difference!

    Perhaps TMI:

    [QUOTE]
    Overview
    IR-40 facility in ArakThe controversy over Iran's nuclear programs centers in particular on Iran's failure to declare sensitive enrichment and reprocessing activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).[10] Enrichment can be used to produce uranium for reactor fuel or (at higher enrichment levels) for weapons.[11] Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful,[12] and has enriched uranium to less than 5%, consistent with fuel for a civilian nuclear power plant.[13] Iran also claims that it was forced to resort to secrecy after US pressure caused several of its nuclear contracts with foreign governments to fall through.[14] After the IAEA Board of Governors reported Iran's noncompliance with its safeguards agreement to the UN Security Council, the Council demanded that Iran suspend its nuclear enrichment activities[15] while Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has argued that the sanctions are "illegal," imposed by "arrogant powers," and that Iran has decided to pursue the monitoring of its self-described peaceful nuclear program through "its appropriate legal path," the International Atomic Energy Agency.[16]

    After public allegations about Iran's previously undeclared nuclear activities, the IAEA launched an investigation that concluded in November 2003 that Iran had systematically failed to meet its obligations under its NPT safeguards agreement to report those activities to the IAEA, although it also reported no evidence of links to a nuclear weapons program. The IAEA Board of Governors delayed a formal finding of non-compliance until September 2005, and reported that non-compliance to the UN Security Council in February 2006. After the IAEA Board of Governors reported Iran's noncompliance with its safeguards agreement to the United Nations Security Council, the Council demanded that Iran suspend its enrichment programs. The Council imposed sanctions after Iran refused to do so. A May 2009 U.S. Congressional Report suggested "the United States, and later the Europeans, argued that Iran's deception meant it should forfeit its right to enrich, a position likely to be up for negotiation in talks with Iran."[17]

    In exchange for suspending its enrichment program, Iran has been offered "a long-term comprehensive arrangement which would allow for the development of relations and cooperation with Iran based on mutual respect and the establishment of international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program."[18] However, Iran has consistently refused to give up its enrichment program, arguing that the program is necessary for its energy security, that such "long term arrangements" are inherently unreliable, and would deprive it of its inalienable right to peaceful nuclear technology. In June 2009, in the immediate wake of the disputed Iranian presidential election, Iran initially agreed to a deal to relinquish its stockpile of low-enriched uranium in return for fuel for a medical research reactor, but then backed out of the deal.[19] Currently, thirteen states possess operational enrichment or reprocessing facilities,[20] and several others have expressed an interest in developing indigenous enrichment programs.[21] Iran's position was endorsed by the Non-Aligned Movement, which expressed concern about the potential monopolization of nuclear fuel production.[22]

    To address concerns that its enrichment program may be diverted to non-peaceful uses,[23] Iran has offered to place additional restrictions on its enrichment program including, for example, ratifying the Additional Protocol to allow more stringent inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, operating the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz as a multinational fuel center with the participation of foreign representatives, renouncing plutonium reprocessing and immediately fabricating all enriched uranium into reactor fuel rods.[24] Iran's offer to open its uranium enrichment program to foreign private and public participation mirrors suggestions of an IAEA expert committee which was formed to investigate the methods to reduce the risk that sensitive fuel cycle activities could contribute to national nuclear weapons capabilities.[25] Some non-governmental U.S. experts have endorsed this approach.[26][27] The United States has insisted that Iran must meet the demands of the UN Security Council to suspend its enrichment program[citation needed]. In every other case in which the IAEA Board of Governors made a finding of safeguards non-compliance involving clandestine enrichment or reprocessing, the resolution has involved (in the cases of Iraq[28] and Libya[29][30][31]) or is expected to involve (in the case of North Korea[32][33]) at a minimum ending sensitive fuel cycle activities. According to Pierre Goldschmidt, former deputy director general and head of the department of safeguards at the IAEA, and Henry D. Sokolski, Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, some other instances of safeguards noncompliance reported by the IAEA Secretariat (South Korea, Egypt) were never reported to the Security Council because the IAEA Board of Governors never made a formal finding of non-compliance.[34][35] Though South Korea's case involved enriching uranium to levels near weapons grade,[36] the country itself voluntarily reported the isolated activity[37] and Goldschmidt has argued "political considerations also played a dominant role in the board's decision" to not make a formal finding of non-compliance.[38]

    Estimating when Iran might possibly achieve nuclear "breakout" capability, defined as having produced a sufficient quantity of highly-enriched uranium to fuel a weapon - if a working design for one existed and the political decision to assemble it was made - is uncertain. A detailed analysis by physicists at the Federation of American Scientists concludes that such an estimate would depend on the total number and overall efficiency of the centrifuges Iran has in operation, and the amount of low-enriched uranium it has stockpiled to serve as "feedstock" for a possible high-enrichment program.[39] A 23 March 2012 U.S. Congressional Research Service report quotes the 24 February 2012 IAEA report saying that Iran has stockpiled 240 pounds of 20-percent-enriched uranium - an enrichment level necessary for medical applications - as an indication of their capacity to enrich to higher levels.[40] The authoritarian political culture of Iran may pose additional challenges to a scientific program requiring cooperation among many technical specialists.[41] U.S. intelligence agency officials interviewed by The New York Times in March 2012 said they continued to assess that Iran had not restarted its weaponization program, which the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate said Iran had discontinued in 2003, although they have found evidence that some weaponization-related activities have continued. The Israeli Mossad reportedly shared this belief.[42]
    [END QUOTE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... ]

    Wikiphobes can find similar info on other site, Wipipedia usually provides extensive references.
    (more)
  • dominic garcia 2012/06/02 03:17:55
    Good!
    dominic garcia
    +1
    Very good, but very stupid to be telling the whole world! What ever happened to "highly classified." They are getting so sloppy, that the world is starting to laugh at us.
  • Servant... dominic... 2012/06/02 20:25:48
    ServantOfAllah
    +1
    where do you guys get that? is that some new TURD mantra, The world is laughing at us? Who is laughing at us? I don't see it.
  • cm Servant... 2012/06/03 01:30:25
    cm
    +1
    the world is laughing at obama
  • Servant... cm 2012/06/03 02:48:54
    ServantOfAllah
    sure
  • cm Servant... 2012/06/03 14:59:31
    cm
    i'm pleased you see the light
  • Defend ... Servant... 2012/06/14 01:11:29
    Defend Western Civlization
    obama is a JOKE
  • eNewsAlerts 2012/06/01 22:06:40
    Good!
    eNewsAlerts
    +1
    Its a start.
  • Ken 2012/06/01 21:13:13
    Good!
    Ken
    +2
    There will be consequences but let's consider the alternatives:

    1) Permit Iran to get a nuclear weapon.- The tertiary consequences of a cyber attack are trivial compared to this outcome.
    2) Invade Iran like we did Iraq - The cost of a cyber attack are trivial compared to this option....and quite frankly this is an imaginary option since this would probably devastate the US economy.
    3) Bomb Iran's Nuclear facilities - The cyber attack is much cheaper and if it didn't/doesn't work we still have this option available. The human toll of such an operation as well as the financial costs make it much less desirable. This option remains available should it be deemed ne
    4) Covert attacks on Iranians engaged in developing nuclear weapons - Apparently these are occurring in conjunction with the cyber attacks. There have been several Iranian nuclear scientists killed by well executed commando raids. There also was at least one Iranian who purchased for the Nuclear Program arrested after a series of sting operations....sting operations that I suspect were used to deliver Stuxnet.
  • Servant... Ken 2012/06/01 21:50:47
    ServantOfAllah
    +2
    agreed. good points.

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