Mike Mullen.

This is coolbert:

Admiral Mike Mullen - - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - - is being interviewed on the Charlie Rose program yesterday evening.

The Admiral does present himself very well. Poised, with a cheery and affable personality, conversant with the issues, glib even.

Mike acknowledges that there two existential threats confronting the United States.


"ex·is·ten·tial   - - 1. pertaining to existence."


1. The Russian nuclear threat. A legacy of the Cold War. All those nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles still [?] pointed at American cities. A nuclear exchange with the Russians would result in tens of millions of Americans dead, the nation-state of America destroyed, etc.

2. Cyberwarfare. The modern threat, either from a foreign power [nation-state] hostile to the United States OR a sophisticated and very hateful terrorist group with means.


"actions by a nation-state to penetrate another nation's computers or networks for the purposes of causing damage or disruption"

I would note NOT ONLY LIMITED TO ACTIONS TAKEN BY A HOSTILE NATION-STATE! OTHER PARTIES ALSO MAY HAVE A CAPABILITY TO WAGE CYBERWARFARE!


Cyberwarfare can and if done properly has the potential to throw American society, highly dependent upon computers and the Internet - - into chaos. Especially vulnerable IS THE AMERICAN FINANCIAL SYSTEM! A meltdown of the American financial system from cyberwarfare would have dire consequences. This is INTUITIVE?

Any foreign power hostile to the United States considering waging cyberwarfare should also be cognizant that this can be "a two-way street"! What you the hostile foreign power can do to the United States - - CAN BE DONE TO YOU TOO!!

Admiral Mullen also makes specific mention of the Paracel Islands and the current heightened state of crisis that exists in that part of the world between China and Vietnam. The Admiral is being kept informed and is aware of the danger a confrontation poses to all parties in the area.

Admiral Mike seems to have a good handle on things, as well as can be expected, and we all should be grateful for this!

coolbert.