Air Force Grounds Cyber Command Initiative

The U.S. Air Force has announced that they are suspending plans to launch their new Cyber Command, only weeks before it was to become operational.

The reasons given are long and varied, but basically it boils down to some generals deciding that Cyber Command's mission was too vague, with a jurisdiction that may have had it become a power hungry branch of the military:

...Some said the command's mission would be the "protection and defense of the Air Force's command and control abilities." Others argued that the "mission is to control cyberspace both for attacks and defense." (The service even changed its mission statement to read, "As Airmen, it is our calling to dominate Air, Space, and Cyberspace.") Some believed the Cyber Command would only be responsible for computer networks. Others thought it'd be responsbile for every system that had anything to do with the electromagnetic spectrum -- up to and including laser weapons.

Umm... how about just the defence of America's network infrastructure from foreign attack, with an emphasis on government services and communications? I know, you can give me the rank of General at your earliest convenience.

At a time when we can clearly see the devastating results cyber warfare can wreak on a country with Russia attacking and disabling much of Georgia's network infrastructure, the decision is extremely disappointing to me. Hopefully, the new leadership that is re-evaluating Cyber Command's mission makes up its mind and re-activates the project soon, so that our Internets can be safe from the what is a very real threat.

Air Force Suspends Controversial Cyber Command [Wired]