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| Spy Chief Calls Cyberattacks Top Threat to the U.S. | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — The nation’s top intelligence official warned Congress on Tuesday that a cyberattack could cripple America’s infrastructure and economy and suggested that such attacks pose the most dangerous immediate threat to the United States, more pressing than an attack by global terrorist networks. | WASHINGTON — The nation’s top intelligence official warned Congress on Tuesday that a cyberattack could cripple America’s infrastructure and economy and suggested that such attacks pose the most dangerous immediate threat to the United States, more pressing than an attack by global terrorist networks. |
| James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, said in prepared testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee that American spy agencies saw only a “remote chance” in the next two years of a major cyberattack — what he defined as an operation that “would result in long-term, wide-scale disruption of services, such as a regional power outage.” | James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, said in prepared testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee that American spy agencies saw only a “remote chance” in the next two years of a major cyberattack — what he defined as an operation that “would result in long-term, wide-scale disruption of services, such as a regional power outage.” |
| Still, it was the first time that Mr. Clapper has listed cyberattacks first in his annual presentation to Congress about the various threats facing the United States, and the rare occasion since 2001 that intelligence officials have not listed international terrorism first in the catalog of dangers facing the United States. In 2009, the director of national intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, called the global financial crisis the “primary near-term security concern of the United States.” | Still, it was the first time that Mr. Clapper has listed cyberattacks first in his annual presentation to Congress about the various threats facing the United States, and the rare occasion since 2001 that intelligence officials have not listed international terrorism first in the catalog of dangers facing the United States. In 2009, the director of national intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, called the global financial crisis the “primary near-term security concern of the United States.” |
| In Mr. Clapper’s prepared testimony, he said, “In some cases, the world is applying digital technologies faster than our ability to understand the security implications and mitigate potential risks.” | In Mr. Clapper’s prepared testimony, he said, “In some cases, the world is applying digital technologies faster than our ability to understand the security implications and mitigate potential risks.” |
| In his State of the Union address, President Obama highlighted the dangers of cyberespionage, and American officials have recently escalated rhetoric aimed at China. On Monday, Tom Donilon, the national security adviser, called on China to agree to “acceptable norms of behavior in cyberspace.” | In his State of the Union address, President Obama highlighted the dangers of cyberespionage, and American officials have recently escalated rhetoric aimed at China. On Monday, Tom Donilon, the national security adviser, called on China to agree to “acceptable norms of behavior in cyberspace.” |
| Mr. Clapper began testimony on Tuesday with the heads of several other intelligence agencies, including Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn of the Defense Intelligence Agency and John O. Brennan, who took over as director of the Central Intelligence Agency last week after a lengthy confirmation fight. The threat hearing is the only scheduled occasion each year when the spy chiefs present open testimony to Congress about the dangers facing the United States. | Mr. Clapper began testimony on Tuesday with the heads of several other intelligence agencies, including Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn of the Defense Intelligence Agency and John O. Brennan, who took over as director of the Central Intelligence Agency last week after a lengthy confirmation fight. The threat hearing is the only scheduled occasion each year when the spy chiefs present open testimony to Congress about the dangers facing the United States. |
| Mr. Clapper also gave new emphasis to the danger posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs, which is said for the first time to “pose a serious threat to the United States” as well as to its East Asian neighbors. North Korea, which has recently made a series of belligerent statements after its third nuclear test, has displayed an intercontinental missile that can be moved by road and in December launched a satellite atop a Taepodong-2 launch vehicle, the report noted. | Mr. Clapper also gave new emphasis to the danger posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs, which is said for the first time to “pose a serious threat to the United States” as well as to its East Asian neighbors. North Korea, which has recently made a series of belligerent statements after its third nuclear test, has displayed an intercontinental missile that can be moved by road and in December launched a satellite atop a Taepodong-2 launch vehicle, the report noted. |
| The intelligence agencies see evidence of North Korea’s “commitment to develop long-range missile technology” that could endanger the United States, Mr. Clapper said, but its willingness to use its weapons remains uncertain. | The intelligence agencies see evidence of North Korea’s “commitment to develop long-range missile technology” that could endanger the United States, Mr. Clapper said, but its willingness to use its weapons remains uncertain. |
| “Although we assess with low confidence that the North would only attempt to use nuclear weapons against U.S. forces or allies to preserve the Kim regime, we do not know what would constitute, from the North’s perspective, crossing that threshold,” Mr. Clapper said. | “Although we assess with low confidence that the North would only attempt to use nuclear weapons against U.S. forces or allies to preserve the Kim regime, we do not know what would constitute, from the North’s perspective, crossing that threshold,” Mr. Clapper said. |
| Mr. Clapper said it was unlikely that Russia and China would launch “devastating” cyberattacks against the United States in the next two years, but he said foreign spy services had already hacked the computer networks of government agencies, businesses and private companies. Two specific attacks Mr. Clapper listed, an August 2012 attack against the Saudi oil company Aramco and last year’s cyberattacks on American banks and stock exchanges, are believed by American intelligence officials to be the work of Iran. | Mr. Clapper said it was unlikely that Russia and China would launch “devastating” cyberattacks against the United States in the next two years, but he said foreign spy services had already hacked the computer networks of government agencies, businesses and private companies. Two specific attacks Mr. Clapper listed, an August 2012 attack against the Saudi oil company Aramco and last year’s cyberattacks on American banks and stock exchanges, are believed by American intelligence officials to be the work of Iran. |
| In his discussion of the terrorism, Mr. Clapper noted that while Al Qaeda’s core in Pakistan “is probably unable to carry out complex, large-scale attacks in the West,” a host of spinoffs still posed a threat. Listed first is the affiliate in Yemen, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which Mr. Clapper said had retained its goal of attacks on United States soil, but he also noted militant groups in six other countries that still threaten local violence. | In his discussion of the terrorism, Mr. Clapper noted that while Al Qaeda’s core in Pakistan “is probably unable to carry out complex, large-scale attacks in the West,” a host of spinoffs still posed a threat. Listed first is the affiliate in Yemen, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which Mr. Clapper said had retained its goal of attacks on United States soil, but he also noted militant groups in six other countries that still threaten local violence. |
| Mr. Clapper’s testimony took note of the negative consequences of the Arab Spring, saying that while “some countries have made progress towards democratic rule, most are experiencing uncertainty, violence and political backsliding,” including ethnic violence and terrorist attacks. Islamist leaders and parties are the main beneficiaries of recent elections and are likely to “solidify their influence” in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, his statement said. | Mr. Clapper’s testimony took note of the negative consequences of the Arab Spring, saying that while “some countries have made progress towards democratic rule, most are experiencing uncertainty, violence and political backsliding,” including ethnic violence and terrorist attacks. Islamist leaders and parties are the main beneficiaries of recent elections and are likely to “solidify their influence” in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, his statement said. |
| In the fallout from the revolutions in the Arab countries, Mr. Clapper said, the United States needs to keep an eye on three issues: the possibility that political chaos will produce “ungoverned spaces” from which extremists could plot against America; economic distress and high unemployment that could destabilize some countries; and anti-Americanism on the part of new, populist governments. | In the fallout from the revolutions in the Arab countries, Mr. Clapper said, the United States needs to keep an eye on three issues: the possibility that political chaos will produce “ungoverned spaces” from which extremists could plot against America; economic distress and high unemployment that could destabilize some countries; and anti-Americanism on the part of new, populist governments. |
| As in previous years, Mr. Clapper said that Iran continued to develop nuclear capabilities, but that leaders in Tehran had not yet decided whether to build a nuclear weapon. | As in previous years, Mr. Clapper said that Iran continued to develop nuclear capabilities, but that leaders in Tehran had not yet decided whether to build a nuclear weapon. |
| He said Iran’s nuclear decision-making was guided by a “cost-benefit approach,” which gives other nations the opportunity to influence Tehran’s behavior. | He said Iran’s nuclear decision-making was guided by a “cost-benefit approach,” which gives other nations the opportunity to influence Tehran’s behavior. |
| “Iranian leaders undoubtedly consider Iran’s security, prestige, and influence, as well as the international political and security environment, when making decisions about its nuclear program,” the statement said. | “Iranian leaders undoubtedly consider Iran’s security, prestige, and influence, as well as the international political and security environment, when making decisions about its nuclear program,” the statement said. |