US, Russia Begin Cyberwar Talks
By Ed Oswald | Monday, December 14, 2009 at 10:57 am
In a sign that the two countries are attempting to avert some type of Cold War cyberwar-style, the US and Russia have entered into talks over military action in cyberspace according to the New York Times. With cyberweaponry becoming a reality and attacks on government computers increasing, news of such talks makes a lot of sense.
The two countries also plan to discuss Internet security, which obviously would be important to keeping government servers safer. Talks began last month, and continued publicly through a UN security conference held a few weeks ago in Geneva. There is disagreement on how it should be handled: the Russians think cybersecurity could best be dealt with through treaties, where the US says the nature of cyberspace requires a more fluid approach.
Russia says that the US is moving towards its position, however NYT sources say that is a mischaracterization. Either way, both sides acknowledge that there is movement which is a departure from the years of the Bush Administration.
Bush refused to talk to the Russians on the topic, and it probably had something to do with the fact that the US is one of the countries developing cyberweapons. The Russians have been insisting on a “cyberterrorism ban” however, which has been characterized by the US as a restriction of free speech. This could have been another reason why Bush and Co. would not talk.
While Russia is obviously nowhere near the superpower that it was in the days of the USSR, seeing the two sides sitting down on this topic is quite heartening. Cybercrime is on the rise, and its only a matter of time before our wars begin to be fought not only on the battlefield but on the Internet as well.
Those interested in waging war know that in our ever-more-connected society, attacking the Internet is a smart strategy. It is essential in my opinion that governments start working together in order to cut this off at the pass, which will have much greater benefits further down the road for sure.
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December 14th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I have no idea where you get your information but your way off the subject. Russia is a Superpower, even the US government has admittted it. There is no more sole superpower any longer, there is 2. Even China is on the superpower blick as we speak but to say Russia is no where near the superpower it was. The fact is that Russia is still superpower and they have more than enough evidence to stand as a superpower even though they are not as strong as the former USSR was.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I have no idea where you get your information but your way off the subject. Russia is a Superpower, even the US government has admittted it. There is no more sole superpower any longer, there is 2. Even China is on the superpower blick as we speak but to say Russia is no where near the superpower it was. The fact is that Russia is still superpower and they have more than enough evidence to stand as a superpower even though they are not as strong as the former USSR was.
Superpower Reborn 2008
http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6527&Itemid=68&lang=ka
Washington announces Russia as Superpower 2007
http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=768929
Russia invading Georgia was the right thing to do, US Citizens living in Georgia adding
Georgian corruption:
http://rt.com/Interview/2008-08-10/Interview_with_Joe_Mestas.html
http://www.russiatoday.com/guests/video/1425
A Superpower Is Reborn
The New York Times: August 24, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/opinion/24steel.html
December 14th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Czech press survey
Russia showed by the Georgian war that it can be a superpower, while the European Union showed during the war that it is not able to be a superpower
September 1, 2008
http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=331160
Is Russia Warming Up For A New Cold War?
Oct 20, 2008 by Brian Mciver
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/comment/columnists/showbiz-tv-columnists/brian-mciver/2008/10/20/is-russia-warming-up-for-a-new-cold-war-86908-20820901/
Medvedev or Putin: Who Holds Real Power in Russia?
By Anya Ardayeva
Moscow
16 October 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-10-16-voa24.cfm
The Cold Peace
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,575581-3,00.html
Russia and the West: The Cold Peace Sept 1, 2008
http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=18192
Russia to Aust: Don’t dump uranium deal
AAP | Tuesday, 02 September 2008
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4678075a6026.html
Which country’s going to be the next superpower?
2 September 2008
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/studentlife/debate/2008/35_superpowers.shtml
December 14th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Scott, never said that Russia WASN’T a superpower. I DID say that it doesn’t have the power that it once had as the USSR. That is true. Anyways, that isn’t the point of this post anyway, so we’re not debating the important points here, my friend.