‘Counterterrorism Czar’ Says Every U.S. Company Has Been Infiltrated by China
- Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:03am by
Liz Klimas
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Richard Clarke claims every U.S. company has been penetrated by the Chinese. (Photo: Khue Bui via Smithsonian)
The April issue of Smithsonian Magazine focuses on Richard Clarke, a man who has served as the “counterterrorism czar” under three presidential administrations. In the feature, Clarke makes some strong claims, the most notable of which are that every U.S. company has been penetrated by China through cyberspace and remains vulnerable to attack, and that the United States made and launched the infamous Stuxnet worm.
Clarke, who is famously known for warning the White House to expect a “spectacular attack on American soil” from Al Qaeda and after 9/11 said “Your government failed you,” is now issuing another warning. Ron Rosenbaum for Smithsonian writes:
Clarke now wants to warn us, urgently, that we are being failed again, being left defenseless against a cyberattack that could bring down our nation’s entire electronic infrastructure, including the power grid, banking and telecommunications, and even our military command system.
“Are we as a nation living in denial about the danger we’re in?” I asked Clarke as we sat across a conference table in his office suite.
“I think we’re living in the world of non-response. Where you know that there’s a problem, but you don’t do anything about it. If that’s denial, then that’s denial.”
Who is it we should be most afraid of when it comes to cyber attacks? According to Clarke: China. He said that the countless amount of electronic material imported by the U.S. from China could be implanted with “‘logic bombs,‘ trapdoors and ’Trojan horses’”:
“I’m about to say something that people think is an exaggeration, but I think the evidence is pretty strong,” he tells me. “Every major company in the United States has already been penetrated by China.”
(Related: Oops: China accidentally broadcasts evidence of cyberwar against the U.S.)
Clarke’s greatest fear is not a virtual takedown but that the U.S. will lose its competitiveness through these bugs:
“[...] rather than having a cyber-Pearl Harbor event, we will instead have this death of a thousand cuts. Where we lose our competitiveness by having all of our research and development stolen by the Chinese. And we never really see the single event that makes us do something about it. That it’s always just below our pain threshold. That company after company in the United States spends millions, hundreds of millions, in some cases billions of dollars on R&D and that information goes free to China….After a while you can’t compete.”
(Related: Security company: China linked to cyber attacks on 48 chemical and defense companies)
Smithsonian also reports Clarke as attributing the creation and deployment of the Stuxnet worm, which foiled some of Iran’s nuclear program, to U.S. officials with some minor role played by Israel. When Rosenbaum asked the White House for a comment on this accusation, it said “[...] we don’t comment on classified intelligence matters.” Rosenbaum takes this as not a denial. But what is some of Clarke’s reasoning for pointing a finger at the U.S. for the worm? Smithsonian has more:
One reason to believe the Stuxnet attack was made in the USA, Clarke says, “was that it very much had the feel to it of having been written by or governed by a team of Washington lawyers.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“Well, first of all, I’ve sat through a lot of meetings with Washington [government/Pentagon/CIA/NSA-type] lawyers going over covert action proposals. And I know what lawyers do.
“The lawyers want to make sure that they very much limit the effects of the action. So that there’s no collateral damage.” He is referring to legal concerns about the Law of Armed Conflict, an international code designed to minimize civilian casualties that U.S. government lawyers seek to follow in most cases.
Gizmodo states that Clarke could very well be exaggerating some of his claims. Clarke did recently publish a book called “Cyber War”, which covers much of what is included in the Smithsonian interview in more detail. Business Insider also points out that Clarke, who served in government intelligence for more than 30 years before starting his own security firm in Virginia, could be trying to boost his business with some of these accusations, but it states “why wouldn’t China do this to give itself the advantage in a face-off with the U.S. military?” Good question. It also shouldn’t be forgotten that Clarke correctly predicted the attacks that occurred on 9/11.
Rosenbaum’s interview with Clarke was lengthy and there are even more details in the magazine. Read more here.
[H/T IEEE Spectrum]
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Comments (56)
SlyFox123
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:02pmMr. Richard Clarke, this man is one of the BEST people, I have EVER met!. Yes, I have met Mr. Clarke, and this man is for real, he knows what the hell he’s talking about. But, as we all know, anyone who dares to say “wait….listen….this is whats going on, and we need to do this and we should do it NOW”. Well as we have seen, that those who know something about something are the last ones to be listened to, and, when, “that thing” went south or wrong or what ever you want to call it, again these are the people who are dismissed or pushed under that “bus”, there treated as if they knew nothing of the subject, and just to enforce those “remarks”, these are the one’s from the other side who, are there to put as much spin as possible on the issue, and in so doing they are dismissing the real Expert!
Report Post »Mr. Clarke………….Keep up the GOOD FIGHT!
Secret Squirrel
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 9:09am.
Mr. Clark,
Your job as a czar is to do something,
not just report on it and go play golf.
What have YOU done to stop the invasion?
It’s like the drug czar saying, “Border? What border?”
Report Post »BostonHarold
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:52pmSmart stuff Tim! (NOT)
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:28pmClinton handed China our nuclear secrets back in the 90′s and committed perjury,and what happened to big nose Bill? He left office wrote a book made millions off of it and brags constantly about his wealth.
He’s a POS just like Barry,two pigs in a pod.
Report Post »alpha2omega47
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:16pmPatriotic citizen says US presidency has been infiltrated by a radical, corrupt, traitor dictator.
Report Post »alpha2omega47
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:15pmPatriotic citizen says US residency has been infiltrated by a radical, corrupt, traitor dictator.
Report Post »larrytrick
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 2:35pmDon’t be fooled this CAN be done. I remember when Poland upgrade their phone systems the Government (here) made the claim that there was one part (electronic) within their system that could be activated that would crash the countries entire communications system.
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:48amhttp://teapartyorg.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=4301673:BlogPost:636620&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_post
Report Post »Warrentless entry to bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, etc. and Global plan to disarm individuals and nations.
code green
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:30amSo when does the cyber attack on America to do her in, become an act of war ??
Report Post »Buy American where you can find it. Don’t buy China junk products manufactured with slave labor.
So far they have poisoned our animal food , and poisioned our kids toys with lead paint.
Sirfoldallot
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:37pm& they make good Christmas tree ornamints , ask the Obama’s.
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 2:14pmYou forgot abt the poisoning of adults by Cogate toothpaste made in China.
Report Post »321481
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:27amChina is not our friend and never has been. I don’t trust Czars, I believe Clarke is simply stating the obvious, but what I think is different is that by stating it at this time (date) he may be doing Obama’s bidding by setting the stage for upcoming collapse(s) whether they be financial, social, whatever. Obama will not let an opportunity go without benefitting from it, they know this is coming soon, they are buying lots of ammo, ordered lots of MREs, OWS, now this, get ready it is going to be a real rough ride.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:49pmExactly…..right on, friend….I agree with you. Hopefully a few more Americans will put their thinking caps on and what has been happening these 3.5 yrs…..This is a set-up folks….Wake-Up America. “These” people are not fooling….“they” are out to ….Van Jones (Glenn put a spot-light on this video..Thank you Glenn) and I am doing a Sean Hannity repeating this over & over & over again..Van Jones = Bottom up, Top Down, Inside-out!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:55amObama is a marxist. He knows of the Chinese infiltration but does not care. Obama is still more of a threat to this country than China is.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:23amYes he is , Treason.
Report Post »Demaslut
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 2:09pmRemove God from society and what do you have left? Satan.
Report Post »BostonHarold
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:48pmObama and his Chicago handlers are all Maoist true believers. In academic political science circles Maoism is regarded as progressive Marxism. Barry is a big admirer of China’s centrally controlled state capitalism…which is in big trouble. He thinks it is the only economic system that works. We must return to inventive innovative unfettered free market capitalism. The operative word here is FREE.
Report Post »Aimsmallshootsmall
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:45amWhat is this Russia, Czars, my God what have we become?
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:53amI think I will shave my head so I don’t pull my hair out.
Report Post »Just in time
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:09amI don’t trust any of the Czars. This is a perfect example of why.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:38pmThis is a union tactic create the boogyman and enforce protectionism.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:42amchina has taken over there is no free trade with them. they are not out friends when will the government figure this out? he who borrowers is slave to the lender….
Report Post »quickstudy
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:35amIt makes them feel “worldly” and “diverse” to foster open relationships with other countries in spite of it sacrificing our security.
Report Post »2barbraw
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:40amThe Red Dragon arises http://bit.ly/cWI3iv within the latter and end days and brings war against the One World Leader. The Red Dragon within the theology realm is thought to be China, amassing incredible wealth, resources, and technology. Hmmm. This does not surprise me at all. China is quietly patient, yet, steadily undermining us at every opportunity. Warning the world everyday, bringing truth to tomorrow.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:50amChina against the U.S is the battle of the two dragons.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:53amChina isn’t that one Dragon buster, getting numbered in between FDR and Nixon is what turned America into a Dragon. China is the solution to a Dragon problem.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:59amOr another way to put it, is that America has turned into a wicked ‘female’ Dragon, and the ‘male’ China is going come screw the hell out of America.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:09amBut lets make sure we are all politically correct and don’t post comments like whore, even though the Bible is riddled with those kinds of words, and over the last 2000 years all the political correctness has sucked the meaning out of the Bible. And lets make sure that Americans shelter their poor poor little need to be sheltered/ coddled children, so they get even more mentally destroyed when America falls the hell apart.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:11amYeah, “Politically Correct” words, because I’m sure when China flattens the U.S, I’m sure China will be politically correct as they do it.
Report Post »mycomet123
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:20amThe One World Leader is Communism & the One World Religion is Atheism!
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:39amTrump has been telling us this for years now. PAY ATTENTION and stop giving them MOST FAVORED NATION STATUS. THEY KNEW BACK IN 1998 that they were stealing and spying! http://articles.cnn.com/1998-06-03/politics/china.trade_1_mfn-trade-status-chinese-trade-chinas?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS
Report Post »omgfolks
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:37amThis is old news, China has for years been working behind the scenes to ruin America. We should make a real effort to buy only American Products, to build and sell our own brand of computers and learn to live within our means.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:46amold news to thinking folks, the government on the other hand will wait until it is way too late to do anything about it. if our government cared we would immediately lower restrictions and bring all of those manufacturing jobs back here with no union employment and a lower corporate tax rate an lessened epa drama. we would no longer allow shipments of imported food from them like their exploding water melons. too bad this is just me dreaming and being rational couldnt expect sanity from the government.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:29am.
Every U.S. Company Has Been Infiltrated by China!
Gee Richard what was your first Clue? Was it when Obama Bent Over, Spread His Legs and Grabbed His Cheeks or when you handed Hu Jintao a towel when he was coming out the Lincoln Bedroom?……
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:29amLook at the store shelves where you shop every day. Find any goods made in America?
I rest my case.
Government regulation has imposed death to the American economy, by the thousand cuts method. Everything from taxes, regulations, wage controls, and intervention at all levels makes us un-competitive and inefficient. Our IT jobs are going to third world nations. Our entrepreneurs are hampered by excessive federal oversights. Our collectivism is hampering our ability to salvage job creation which is at an all time low.
Time for the Austrian economists to have their day and save America’s future.
Down with Big Government Republicans. Newt, Romney, Santorum, and Obama.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:26amCorrect me if I’m wrong, but didn’t China buy the United States, because lovely Washington sold it to them? Oh that’s right they did. Don’t blame China, blame Washington.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:31amWho’s more evil, the people who sell the souls of their own countrymen, or the people who buy what they are selling? I don’t personally give one damned what China does to Washington.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:34amAnd I have to tell you, people who don’t give one damned about how they are getting fed their idols, deserves what happens to them too.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:36amBut I could be persuaded to care if Americans decide to get off their a sses to start caring. But I just don’t see it happening.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:39amHere’s a clue, as long as Americans don’t give a crap about being just a number and having a number, then God won’t give a crap either.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:25amCharming. Well that fits right in with Osama Hussein Oblamer‘s goals now doesn’t it? Don’t expect anything to be done about this by the Communist-in-Chief or the Dept of Injustice or the Palestinian Commie Enabler Secretary Paneta.
Report Post »De minimus
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:25amActually the process has been going on for a while, remember the Clinton administration?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:24amThis is a true oxymoron of a expression; we have a counterterrorism member of the administration that has alliances with radical extremists and terrorist groups. How can we trust anyone or anything from the admin?
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:52amSadly that was my first thought as well: What’s his angle on this?
We already know this admin would never knowingly take any action that may help this country back to its feet(such as warning about an actual problem) so what are they trying to say or gain by announcing this?
I think they’re trying to build on the 99% thing that all business is evil and selling out to our enemies(or rivals at best).
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:36amClarke left government service in 2003. He warned of the 9/11 attack but was ignored. Google his bio. You will find that he is one of us not one of them.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:58am@Dismayed – your right, I do stand corrected.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:34pmI too stand corrected.
Report Post »It appears this man is a Patriot who is genuinely attempting to alert us. Good lookin out Rich!
Darla_K
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:23amThis is scarey. Who would ever think China could do something like this? lol Can you imagine if we lost all of our online communications? What about the info they can tap into from our military? We need to get smarter. :)
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:22amRichard Clarke should name name’s. Come on Diccc, if you have proof of this ,, tell everyone who these infiltraitors are. Typical DEMOCRAT, throwing shet against a wall and see what sticks, but no solid evidence.
The infiltrator is in the Whitehouse, he’s the borrower in chief.
Report Post »SpeckledPup
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:20amobama sold us out to China. and Russia. and Iran. and Brazil. and Venezuela. and Mexico…
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:24amAgreed, Speck, but O’s progressive predecessor, Clinton, sold us out to China. Carter weakened us in the Middle East. O just pushed all-in on finishing us off.
Report Post »BostonHarold
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:05pmUnder Clinton/Gore there were scandals with campaign contributions from China and a Chinese infiltrator at Los Alamos who stole secrets after Clintonista Jaime Gorelick removed the security screening….then put up the information sharing barriers between the FBI and the CIA that some say resulted in 9/11 when they were trying to track the 19 hijackers and weren’t allowed to coordinate what they knew. Clinton also gave them the missile guidance secrets from Loral…for their commercial satellites…that will put them on the moon or be able to hit US targets with pinpoint accuracy.
Report Post »