Time is ripe for a military cybersecurity command

The Defense Department's creation of a new cybersecurity command, expected to be formally announced this week, was inevitable and long overdue.

Cyber warfare, whether we like it or not, is here and a reality, and the government needs coordinated defensive and offense capabilities to protect our national security interests.

As it stands now, foreign powers are routinely probing our data networks and seeking to obtain or alter sensitive information. This poses a serious threat, and cannot be treated lightly. But this new effort raises many concerns.

There are foreign policy concerns, and issues to iron out with our allies and consequences that could come from our actions toward adversaries. Civil liberties organizations have been complaining that the new cybercommand could raise significant domestic privacy concerns, even though President Obama has promised there will be protections.

And then there is the challenge of what kinds of activities we conduct in cyberspace to defend ourselves, and whether there will be the proper oversight and controls. We report this week on the complex issues that surround a cybercommand. Will laws or regulations have to be changed to allow law enforcement and intelligence agencies greater access to networks or Internet providers?

We don't know. But we applaud the Obama administration for tackling this very tough issue, and expect that the Congress and outside groups will remain vigilant to ensure the Pentagon's efforts are both effective and consistent with our nation's values. - Judi