[LINK] U.S. Plans for Cyber Warfare

[Tom Worthington]

At 8/02/03 10:13, Brenda Aynsley wrote:
>FYI ... U.S. Plans for Cyber Warfare 08:50 AM Feb. 07, 2003 PT... 
>WASHINGTON -- President Bush has ordered the government to draw up 
>guidelines for electronic attacks against enemy computer networks... 
>http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,57591,00.html?tw=wn_ascii

These guidelines would need to take into account Protocol 1, Additional to 
the Geneva Conventions, 1977, PART IV: CIVILIAN POPULATION" 
<http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/4e473c7bc8854f2ec12563f60039c738/4bebd9920ae0aeaec12563cd0051dc9e?OpenDocument> 
which requires parties to a conflict to direct operations only against 
military objectives. As an example disabling a civilian power station or 
dam via the Internet could be a war crime.

Also the "Rules concerning the Control of Wireless Telegraphy in Time of 
War and Air Warfare", December 1922 - February 1923, might be interpreted 
as applying to the Internet:

"Article 1. In time of war, the operation of wireless stations continues to 
be organized, so far as possible, in such manner as not to interfere with 
the service of other wireless stations. This rule does not apply to the 
wireless stations of the enemy." 
<http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/51b22df69e39d9d3c12563cd00587b41/6104f6a4c2566d24c12563cd00518358?OpenDocument>



Tom Worthington FACS tom.worthington@tomw.net.au Ph: 0419 496150
Director, Tomw Communications Pty Ltd ABN: 17 088 714 309
http://www.tomw.net.au PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617