Lynn: Cyberspace is the New Domain of Warfare

Posted on: Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 10:00 PM By Cheryl Pellerin of American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2010 – With the creation of the U.S. Cyber Command in May and last week’s cybersecurity agreement between the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, DOD is ready to add cyberspace to sea, land, air and space as the latest domain of warfare, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said. “Information technology provides us with critical advantages in all of our warfighting domains so we need to protect cyberspace to enable those advantages,” Lynn said during an Oct. 14 Pentagon Channel interview. U.S. sailors assigned to Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command man their stations at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., Aug. 4, 2010. The sailors monitor, analyze, detect and respond to unauthorized activity within U.S. Navy information systems and computer networks. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Adversaries may be able to undermine the military’s advantages in conventional areas, Lynn said, by attacking the nation’s military and commercial information technology, or IT, infrastructure. This threat has “opened up a whole new asymmetry in future warfare,” the deputy defense secretary said. DOD’s focus on cyberdefense began in 2008 with a previously classified incident in the Middle East in which a flash drive inserted malware into classified military networks, Lynn said. “We realized we couldn’t rely on passive defenses and firewalls and software patches, and we’ve developed a more-layered defense,” he said. Lynn laid out a draft cyberstrategy in the September/October issue of “Foreign Affairs” magazine. He said DOD is working to finalize the strategy. “There’s no agreed-on definition of what constitutes a cyberattack,” Lynn said. “It’s really a range of things that can happen -- from exploitation and exfiltration of data to degradation of networks to destruction of networks or even physical equipment, physical property. What we’re doing in our defense cyberstrategy is developing appropriate responses and defenses for each of those types of attacks.” One element of the strategy –- working with Homeland Defense to protect critical military and civilian IT infrastructure -– was put into place Oct. 13, when Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced a new agreement to work together on cybersecurity. The agreement includes a formal mechanism for benefiting from the technical expertise of the National Security Agency, or NSA, which is responsible for protecting national security systems, collecting related foreign intelligence, and enabling network warfare. Another element is what Lynn calls a “layered defense, where you have intrusion detection and firewalls but you also have a … layer that helps defend against attacks.” In his draft strategy, Lynn describes the defense-layer component of cybersecurity in terms of NSA-pioneered systems that “automatically deploy defenses to counter intrusions in real time. Part sensor, part sentry, part sharpshooter, these active defense systems represent a fundamental shift in the U.S. approach to network defense.” And, since no cyberdefense system is perfect, DOD requires “multiple layers of defense that give us better assurance of capturing malware before it gets to us,” Lynn said. “We need the ability to hunt on our own networks to get [intruders] that might get through and we need to continually improve our defenses,” he continued. “We can’t stand still. The technology is going to continue to advance and we have to keep pace with it.” Envisioned attacks on military networks could impair military power, national security and the economy, Lynn said. Enemy cyberattacks could deprive the military of the ability to strike with precision and communicate among forces and with headquarters, he said, and it could impair logistics or transportation networks and eliminate advantages that information technology has given military forces. “Beyond that, cyberattacks conceivably could threaten the national economy if [adversaries] were to go after the power grid or financial networks or transportation networks, and that, too, would be a national security challenge,” Lynn said. “And over the long run there’s a threat to our intellectual property … basically a theft of the life blood of our economy.” Working more closely with allies is an important element of the strategy, he said, to ensure a shared defense and an early warning capability. The NATO 2020 report rightly identified the need for the alliance’s new 10-year strategic concept -- a draft of which is an expected product of the 2010 NATO Summit slated for Nov. 19-20 in Lisbon, Portugal –- to further incorporate cyberdefense concepts Lynn wrote about in Foreign Affairs. U.S. technological advantages are a critical part of the cyberstrategy and the Pentagon already is working with industry and with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to put these to work, Lynn said. As part of a public-private partnership called the Enduring Security Framework, Lynn wrote in his Foreign Affairs article, chief executive officers and chief technology officers of major IT and defense companies meet regularly with top officials from Defense, Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. DARPA also is working on the National Cyber Range, a simulated model of the Internet that will enable the military to test its cyberdefenses before deploying them in the field. The Pentagon’s IT acquisition process also has to change, Lynn wrote in Foreign Affairs. It took Apple Inc. 24 months to develop the iPhone, he said, and at DOD it takes on average about 81 months to develop and field a new computer system after it is funded. “The Pentagon is developing a specific acquisition track for information technology,” Lynn wrote in Foreign Affairs, and it also is bolstering the number of cyberdefense experts who will lead the charge into the new cyberwar era. The military’s global communications backbone consists of 15,000 networks and 7 million computing devices across hundreds of installations in dozens of countries, Lynn wrote. More than 90,000 people work full time to maintain it, he said, but more are needed. Through the establishment of U.S. Cyber Command and the bolstering of cybersecurity at other defense agencies “we’ve greatly increased the number of cyber professionals we have at DOD and will continue to increase that,” Lynn told the Pentagon Channel.”

Biographies: William J. Lynn III Related Articles: DOD, DHS Join Forces to Promote Cybersecurity Lynn: Cyberwarfare Extends Scope of Conflict Special Report: Cybersecurity

Ajoka's VIRAST Theatre Festival

Time	Wednesday at 7:00pm - October 23 at 10:00pm
Location	Alhamra, The Mall, Lahore
Created By	AjokaTheatre Pakistan
More Info	Dear friends, Ajoka Theatre is organizing the VIRASAT Theatre Festival in Lahore from 20th to 23rd October 2010 at Alhamra The Mall, Lahore at 7p.m. daily, to highlight the rich cultural & historical heritage of Pakistan by showcasing some of its best productions in recent years. Schedule of the festival is as follows: • 20th Oct BULLHA Alhamra Hall # 1 • 21st Oct RAJA RASALU Alhamra Hall # 2 • 22nd Oct DUKH DARYA Alhamra Hall # 2 • 23rd Oct DARA Alhamra Hall # 2 Ajoka has now decided to ticket performances in order to sustain our work. We are trying to discourage free performances but we will keep the ticket prices low so that everyone can afford to pay. For the Virasat Festival we are charging Rs. 100 per ticket for each performance. We will be donating the ticket money to the flood relief efforts. Tickets will be available from 11th October from the Ajoka office & box office. For further information please contact: •Mr. Uzair Sultan Ph: +92-42- 36686634/36682443: Cell: 03434140005 You can also become a “Friend of Ajoka” by paying an annual membership fee the details of which are: •Complementary Invitations of Ajoka Performances, throughout the year •Quarterly Ajoka Newsletter •Reserved Seats during the performances •25% discount on Ajoka Products •Invitations to screenings of our telefilms and recorded plays Membership forms are available at the Ajoka office, For further information contact; •Mr. Kanwal Christopher, Ph: +92-42- 36686634/36682443: Ph: 03214583164. Membership Charges Adults: Rs. 3,000/- per year Couples: Rs. 5,000/- per year Students: Rs. 1,000/- per year Kindly send us your e-mail address at ajokatheatre@gmail.com so that we can add you to our emailing list. Madeeha Gauhar Artistic Director

Our India and its leaders

Posted on 

Sat, Oct 16, 2010 at 4:57 PM

Politician's drama 

Mail of the week… Natak


Mr. Rahul Gandhi do this work just for an hour....without media.
Then tell us what you got...
If you really want to Change our India....No need to show us.....
We will follow you......Definitely. 

 “Karunaa”Nidhi Fasting

First time in the world history fasting only 4 hours and that too with an AC …….
This is the comedy of the year 2009….Fastingstarts after breakfast and ending before lunch. Interesting one!!

Dont forget to forward this mail, We have to show these type of drama's to everyone

stop this....................grow up to be an indian

Govt. Concessions for a Member of Parliament (MP) Monthly Salary : 12,000 Expense for Constitution per month : 10,000 Office expenditure per month : 14,000 Traveling concession (Rs. 8 per km) : 48,000 ( eg.For a visit from kerala to Delhi & return: 6000 km)  Daily DA TA during parliament meets :500/day Charge for 1 class (A/C) in train: Free (For any number of times)  (All over India )  Charge for Business Class in flights : Free for 40 trips / year (With wife or P.A .) Rent for MP hostel at Delhi : Free Electricity costs at home : Free up to 50,000 units Local phone call charge : Free up to 1 ,70,000 calls. TOTAL expense for a MP [having no qualification] per year : 32,00,000 [ i.e. 2.66 lakh/month] TOTAL expense for 5 years : 1,60,00,000  For 534 MPs, the expense for 5 years :  8,54,40,00,000 (nearly 855 crores)  AND THE PRIME MINISTER IS ASKING THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, OUT PERFORMING CEOs TO CUT DOWN THEIR SALARIES.....  This is how all our tax money is been swallowed and price hike on our regular commodities....... And this is the present condition of our country:  855 crores could make their life livable !!  Think of the great democracy we have............. PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO ALL REAL CITIZENS OF INDIA .....  but,  STILL Proud to be INDIAN  I know hitting a delete button is easier..........bt.......try 2 press fwd button 2 make people aware of it!

--An email by Jasvir Singh Sidhu

United States Must Demand an End to Impunity for Sexual Violence in Democratic Republic of Congo, Says Amnesty International

Posted on : Fri, Oct 15, 2010 at 10:12 PM

In War-Riddled Congo, Militias Rape with Impunity

Washington : Amnesty International USA Advocacy Director for Africa Scott Edwards made the following comments today, following release of the United Nations' findings about mass rapes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo:
"The world community cannot stand by while war is waged against women in Congo.  The United States government should take the lead in demanding an end to impunity for the horrific sexual violence that reoccurs with impunity in Congo.  Additionally, other countries must assist the Democratic Republic of Congo government in offering aid and support to victims and their families and to ensure that they receive reparations.
The primary responsibility for civilian protection lies with the government, which must ensure that its soldiers are well-trained and disciplined and deployed to effectively protect the population. In addition, the government must urgently investigate troops that have failed to protect the population or have committed crimes against the population themselves. 
The United Nations mission in Congo must implement a plan of action along with better training to effectively protect the civilian population.  That plan must include better communication with local communities to prevent attacks against civilians. In addition, it is imperative that the DRC and neighboring countries, with the support of the international community, work toward strengthening the rule of law and justice institutions in order to end impunity."
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. 

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The world's worst prisons

These are the kinds of prisons you see in horror movies and they are 100% real. Put an end to prison death traps.

Dear Rector, Once you enter this cramped, dark box with no windows, you may never leave. There's no silence, because the screams and cries are just too loud. There is little sanitation, and little chance of avoiding disease and malnutrition afflicting inhabitants. The inhabitants of this box are human, but they are exposed to things that no human should endure. And this place is called prison, but we assure you, it's much worse. Tell Congress to not let the U.S. support foreign prison death traps. Some of the worst prisons in the world operate in countries that benefit from U.S. assistance. Fortunately last month, members of Congress in both the House and the Senate decided to address these horrific conditions once and for all. They introduced a bill that would pull certain funding from countries with inhumane conditions inside their prisons and detention facilities. But the bills don't just discourage bad behavior, they also would provide assistance to countries making significant efforts to improve conditions in their prisons. Urge your member of Congress to help put an end to inhumane conditions inside prisons worldwide. When introducing the bill, Senator Patrick Leahy described it perfectly: Anyone who has been inside one of these facilities, or seen photographs...understands that I am talking about the mistreatment of human beings in ways that are reminiscent of the Dark Ages. This is unacceptable. Prisons are not meant to be torture chambers, death traps or sites for systematic degradation. Congress can help to stop these horrors, but they have to speak out now. Please email your member of Congress today. Thank You, Scott Edwards International Advocacy Director Amnesty International USA  Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter

Communist Party condemns FBI raids on peace acivists

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FBI Raids: an attack on First Amendment rights   Oct. 14, 2010   The Communist Party, USA strongly condemns the Sept. 24 raids on the homes of a dozen peace and solidarity activists carried out by the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force and subpoenas to appear before a grand jury.   The activists haven't yet been charged with a crime.   The invasion of homes, the confiscation of boxes of artifacts including children's artwork, is an affront to every American. It poses a danger to the Bill of Rights.   The raids flow from the repressive set of laws and institutions developing since passage of the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act by Congress and signed by then President Clinton in 1996, and the Patriot Act rushed through Congress by President Bush after Sept. 11, 2001. They have been further reinforced by the recent ruling of the ultra right dominated U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project.   Passage of these laws was justified on the grounds of combating terrorism. But substantial parts of the laws and their implementation go well beyond fighting terrorism. They in fact pose a danger to civil liberties.   We do not ignore the real danger of terrorism. The security agencies of the U.S. government have the responsibility to protect the American people against the violent acts of extremists. However, at times, U.S. intelligence agencies have been the propagator of violent acts that could be called terrorist as well. For example, in the U.S. supported Contra Central America wars in the 1980s, the CIA wrote and distributed manuals on committing assassinations and terrorist acts.   And most recently, the Cleveland Plain Dealer uncovered a recording that seem to point to an FBI agent firing shots that led to the Ohio National Guard firing on Kent State students, killing four on May 4, 1970.    These recent FBI raids have nothing to do with protecting the American people against terrorism, but has everything to do with quashing these activists right to free speech. They are all opposed to U.S. military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan and U.S. policy toward right-wing governments in Colombia and Israel.   It does have everything to do with chilling the long cherished tradition of the right to dissent. The CPUSA speaks with authority on this issue. During the McCarthy period our party was criminalized as a foreign agent and accused of advocating the violent overthrow of the government. Our leaders and members were hauled before grand juries, jailed, fired from their jobs and blacklisted, their families disrupted and ostracized.   But the McCarthyite hysteria and persecution was aimed at the U.S. people as a whole, the entire left, labor and peace movements. Its purpose was to pave the way for reactionary foreign and domestic Cold War policies. It severely curtailed democracy and free speech, stained our constitution and distorted political discourse for a generation.   Thanks to the American people, McCarthyism was defeated and the courts declared these attacks unconstitutional.   We fear a similar erosion of constitutional rights if this case becomes a precedent. It has broader implications for those who oppose various aspects of U.S. foreign and domestic policy, including trade unionists, environmentalists and others.   The FBI has a long sordid history of repression, dating back to its inception in the 1920s during the Palmer Raids. It has notoriously acted as a rogue agency for example during the Civil Rights movement, targeting of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, anti-Vietnam war, religious and trade union activists, the COINTELPRO disruptions and spying on domestic organizations and new connections surfacing of involvement in the Kent State shootings.   A recent report by the Inspector General said the FBI was improperly spying on people's First Amendment-protected activity during 2002-2006, and that the FBI didn't have enough internal controls to prevent abuse.   The so called U.S. government "terrorist watch list" has surpassed one million Americans.   The Supreme Court decision in the case of Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project is seen by many as a threat to the Bill of Rights. It has given credence to the government's broad and vague definition of "material aid" to designated terrorist organizations. This can include help not directly connected to terrorism or violent acts.   The government can designate any organization terrorist, as it did the African National Congress, the organization leading the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. We call upon the Justice Department to end this harassment of peace and justice activists, and Congress to repeal the undemocratic and repressive aspects of the Patriot Act.   The resurgent danger of right wing reaction, its deep embedment in the nation's politics and government institutions underscores the urgency to defeat reactionary candidates running for office in the November elections as a necessity to defend democracy. Communist Party USA 235 W 23rd St | New York, NY 10011 cpusa@cpusa.org | www.cpusa.org

Women leaders

 From left, Kyra Phillips, a news anchor with Cable News Network (CNN), interviews U.S. Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, the commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and Navy Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, the president of the National Defense University, during the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C., Oct. 6, 2010. The summit gathered some of the most prominent women leaders in business, philanthropy, government, education, and the arts for the three day event. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy/Released)

United Sikhs Helps ‘Taliban’ Victims (Sikh Mother and Daughter) Find Asylum in Canada

October 8, 2010 by United Sikhs Newsletter 

“We are very happy that the open hearts and minds of the Canadian government and people have given Harender Kaur and her daughter a new life here after they fought a gallant and lone battle as refugees in Pakistan,” said Ranbir Singh, UNITED SIKHS Director who met the Sikh mother and daughter on arrival in Canada.

Winnipeg, Canada - 6th Oct 2010 - A Sikh woman and her daughter flew into Winnipeg last week, after her husband was brutally killed two years ago by a group suspected to be the Taliban, near Peshawar.

The pair were granted asylum by the Canadian government after the brutal slaying of the head of their family, Balwant Singh. UNITED SIKHS has provided help to Harender Kaur, 42, and her daughter, Ilmid Kaur, 14, since we ‘found’ them amongst other Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan, where they had taken refuge after the killing.

Harender Kaur and Ilmid Kaur being honoured by the Dy Premier of Manitoba, Hon Eric Robinson . From left to right: Giani Kewal Singh, Mr.Kavin (with microphone) , Deputy Premier, Hon. Eric Robinson, Harender Kaur, Ilmid Kaur, Mayoral Candidate, Judy W Leis. and Local M.L.A, Mr. Mohinder Sran

On 23 November 2008, a militant group, believed to be the Taliban, kidnapped Balwant Singh from his shop near Peshawar, in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). They kept him hostage before slaying him and his body was found two days later 20 km away. This left Harender Kaur and her daughter alone and destitute and they took refuge 125 km away at the Panja Sahib Gurdwara.

Harender Kaur and Ilmid Kaur being met by representatives of the Sikh community in Winnipeg: From left to right in the front row: Giani Kewal Singh, President Khalsa Divan Society of Manitoba, Azizeh Ferdowsi, Resettlement Counsellor, Ilmid Kaur, Harender Kaur and Ranbir Singh (UNITED SIKHS director). Back row, left to right: Jaswant Singh, Gurpreet Kaur, Dilbagh Singh and Arvinder Kaur

In July 2009, UNITED SIKHS AID volunteers, who were in Pakistan to provide relief during the Pakistan IDP crisis, heard of Harender Kaur’s plight and that they had no other family in Pakistan and wanted to be reunited with other family members in the United Kingdom.

“Our humanitarian relief volunteers got in touch with our advocacy team in the UK to contact Harender Kaur’s family and to provide assistance with their asylum application,” said Mejindarpal Kaur, UNITED SIKHS Legal Director based in London, who led a team of case workers and lawyers in this asylum case.

“We requested the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), who were handling their asylum application, to reunite the duo with their family in the UK. But we were told that their chances of obtaining asylum in Canada were better. We, therefore, obtained supporting evidence from their UK family which we submitted to the UNHCR,” She added.

Soon after their arrival in Winnipeg, Harender Kaur and Ilmid Kaur were honoured by the Deputy Premier of Manitoba, Hon. Eric Robinson, at a fund raising dinner for Winnipeg Mayor Candidate, Judy W Leis. At an event organized by the Sikh Society of Manitoba, they received siropas (robes of honour) from the renowned Ragi Nirmal Singh, Khalsa Hazoori Ragi of Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. This event was attended by the management of all eight Winnipeg Gurdwaras who had gathered to meet them with the congregation.

When they flew into Canada last week, UNITED SIKHS director based in Toronto, Ranbir Singh, joined them in Winnipeg, where he had made arrangements for them to be warmly received by representatives of the Winnipeg Sikh community.

“We are very happy that the open hearts and minds of the Canadian government and people have given Harender Kaur and her daughter a new life here after they fought a gallant and lone battle as refugees in Pakistan,” said Ranbir Singh.

“When we arrived at Winnipeg airport, we were received by community leaders, Giani Kewal Singh and Darshan Singh Brar, and their families. It has been a hectic line up of activities for the duo, as community leaders including Giani Jaswant Singh have made many arrangements to make them comfortable. We have a doctor who said he will do house visits if they need him; a driving instructor who said he will teach them driving for free; they are invited to Sikh homes for meals everyday and the list of help offered is long,” he added. (Courtesy: Sikh Net) 

95,000 more jobs are lost in USA

by: JOHN WOJCIK

October 11 2010

95,000 jobs were lost in September because the private sector added only 64,000 jobs while government employment went down by 159,000.

Local and state governments slashed 83,000 jobs, the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics said, the fastest rate of job cuts by them in 30 years. 58,000 of those job losses were in education.

The new jobs data released by the Labor Department show the nation's September unemployment rate remained unchanged from August at 9.6 percent.

The 64,00 new jobs added is less than half of what is required to absorb new entrants into the labor force.

Economists say that to lower the jobless rate to 6 percent by 2013, the economy needs to add 350,000 jobs a month.

Another alarming figure below the radar of the official reports is that the number of workers who are underemployed, which includes those who have given up their job search, rose to 17.6 percent from 16.7 percent in August, meaning more than 26 million American workers are without jobs or full-time work.

The figures make even more shocking the actions of leading GOP officials who seem to be looking for ways to kill even more jobs.

On Oct. 10 New Jersey's Republican governor Chris Christie killed the largest public transit project in the nation, a commuter train tunnel under the Hudson River to Manhattan. The move stunned almost everyone because work on the tunnel had already begun and the state has already spent $600 million of the $3 billion in federal stimulus funds allocated to New Jersey for the project. Layoffs of some of the 6,000 construction workers needed for the job have already begun.

Terry O'Sullivan, president of the Laborers' union, said, "We can't afford to let our nation's basics deteriorate further, and we can't continue to let so many people go without work when there's so much important work to be done."

Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, who lives in New Jersey, said, "The ideology that has led Mr. Christie to undermine his state's future is, of course, the same ideology that has led almost all Republicans and some Democrats to stand in the way of any meaningful action to revive the nation's economy."

The AFL-CIO, in its statement on the jobs report, quoted remarks made at a Machinists' rally for unemployed workers by an unemployed worker who spent 35 years in the construction trades: "I'm 53 years old, and I've been kicked to the curb with no job, no insurance and now no home and no unemployment left. And yet I still believe in this country's democracy. I hope and pray that someday this will all end, and we can wake up from this nightmare. Hopefully Congress can get off their butts and do something for the great people of the United States."

The federation statement blasted corporations for sitting on their profits and not using their money to create jobs: "Corporations are sitting on hordes of cash but refusing to hire. Nonfinancial companies held $1.845 trillion in cash and short-term assets at the end of the second quarter."

In September more than 300 economists signed statements calling for immediate job creation and calling upon lawmakers to hold off on tightening spending until the recovery is further along and unemployment comes down.

The AFL-CIO has been calling for a public-investment led recovery based on infrastructure and education to quicken growth and create jobs.(Courtesy:Peoples World)