Senate stalls cyber commander to probe digital war

When hackers a continent away attack a military computer system, using computers belonging to unsuspecting private citizens or businesses as cover, what are the rules when the U.S. fights back?

As U.S. officials struggle to put together plans to defend government networks, they are faced with questions about the rippling effects of retaliation. Taking action against a hacker could affect foreign countries, private citizens or businesses -- ranging from hospitals to power plants -- whose computers might get caught up in the electronic battle.

Difficult questions about how and when the U.S. military conducts electronic warfare have stalled the creation of the Pentagon's Cyber Command for months as senators dig into such scenarios involving the rules of the digital battlefield, according to congressional officials.

Government leaders have grown increasingly alarmed as U.S. computer networks face constant attacks, including complex criminal schemes and suspected cyber espionage by other nations, such as China. But the nation's ability to protect its networks and respond to attacks are largely kept secret because of national security concerns and the government's slowly evolving cyber security plans.

Electronic warfare by U.S. forces is not new. For example, in the Iraq war, U.S. forces jammed cellular phone networks in Fallujah in 2004 to disrupt communications between enemy insurgents, and interrupted radio signals designed to trigger roadside bombs.

But U.S. officials refuse to discuss any current offensive cyber operations or monitoring, particularly anything that involves other countries or terror organization. businessweek