Exploring U.S. Military Responses To Cyberattacks By Foreign Powers

The United States might retaliate militarily if foreign countries or terrorist groups abroad try to strike this country through the Internet, the White House technology adviser said Wednesday. "We reserve the right to respond in any way appropriate: through covert action, . . . The United States might retaliate militarily if foreign countries or terrorist groups abroad try to strike this country through the Internet, the White House technology adviser said Wednesday. "We reserve the right to respond in any way appropriate: through covert action, through military action, any one of the tools available to the president," Richard Clarke said at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on cyberterrorism. Clarke said Iran, Iraq, North Korea, China, Russia and other countries already are having people trained in Internet warfare. "A well-planned and well-executed cyberattack on America wouldn't just mean the temporary loss of e-mail and instant messaging,' said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. ``Terrorists could gain access to the digital controls for the nation's utilities, power grids, air traffic control systems and nuclear power plants."

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