Panetta: “Cyber terrorist attack could paralyze the nation.”
Last night in New York the Secretary of Defense told his audience, ““A cyber attack perpetrated by nation states or violent extremist groups could be as destructive as the terrorist attack of 9/11. Such a destructive cyber terrorist attack could paralyze the nation.”
While noting the role of DHS and the FBI in cyber defense, the SECDEF also emphasized, “We defend. We deter. And if called upon, we take decisive action. In the past, we have done so through operations on land and at sea, in the skies and in space. In this new century, the United States military must help defend the nation in cyberspace as well.”
Here’s a link to the DOD news release. I have not yet found a full transcript. When I do — or you do — it will be posted here.
UPDATE AT 1049 EASTERN
Here’s the transcript: Defending the Nation from Cyber Attack.







