PRI Podcast Recap: Even as Cyberwar Rages, We Can't Really Decide What Cyberwar Is

Cyber security, which may also be referred to as cyberwarfare, is now at the forefront of American controversy, so much so that in all the conflicting definitions thereof, it may be hard to find one clear definition. According to Rick Forno, director of the University of Maryland Baltimore County's Graduate Cybersecurity Program, "Generally speaking, cyberwarfare is using computers to attack other computers as a way of exercising your national power or supporting your foreign policy or your military strategy." Forno goes on to say that while cyberwarfare can begin with something paralleling the the U.S.'s "shock and awe" tactic, it may also be very stealthy or insidious, and it is hard for people to know sometimes that their computer and personal data are under a cyber attack until it is too late. Forno also discussed where the U.S. lands in the cyberwarfare battlefield. According to him, the U.S. is somewhat vulnerable in that regard, and the U.S. is more susceptible to being the victim of a cyber attack than to be the one initiating an attack. Additionally, Forno claims that the reason why people with the ability to do so have yet to go all out in cyber attacks is that the rule book has yet to be fully ascertained - some are unsure of what is okay and what is not in the realm of cyberwarfare. Fortunately, Forno also does not foresee what may be called a "cyberwarfare Armageddon."

NPR Podcast Recap: Think Internet Data Mining Goes Too Far? Then You Won't Like This

At the University of Washington, researchers are going beyond general fear regarding the mass surveillance programs of data collection - particularly of the collection of personal data. These researchers are taking on the fear of brain spying that has entered the world in light of new brain scanning software developments that have emerged recently. Companies as well as average individuals with a few extra hundred dollars lying around now have access to brain scanners - technically referred to as brain computer interfaces - that are a window into someone's mind. These brain scanners are essentially headgear that senses electrical patterns in the brain, and translates that message to provide an analysis of someone's emotions or state of mind. It can be used, for example, with video games. Thus, Howard Chizeck of the University of Washington and his team of researchers scrambled to congregated and are now trying to prevent this technology from falling into the hands of greedy businessmen who could use it to manipulate people into buying their products. The researchers conducted an experiment to display how this manipulation would work by using the sensor on someone while they played a video game that featured pop up ads. The gamer's reactions to the ads recorded by the sensor allows insight as to what the gamer likes. This is a tactic that business owners could use to target people with advertisements suited to the gamer's taste. Hopefully, Chizeck can prevent the concept of brain spying from full-on attacking the people of the world.

ENEMY OF THE STATE PART FIVE: REMEMBER WHO THE REAL ENEMY IS (PART ONE)

"Remember who the real enemy is." This statement made famous by Suzanne Collins, author of the Hunger Games trilogy, not only applies to the dystopian tyranny in the literary world of the Hunger Games, for it may also be applied to the Edward Snowden ordeal. Is the enemy the NSA, as Snowden and his supporters like Glenn Greenwald claim? Or is the NSA in the right, as they use their mass digital data collection to ward off what they would consider the real enemy: the terrorist threat? It has already been established that Edward Snowden is not exactly an enemy of the state as the Constitution’s definition of treason does not apply to what he has done. On the other hand, the Federalist Papers serve to condemn Snowden as an enemy of the people, despite his frequent claims that these rash decisions he made were in the interest of the American public. Is Snowden also an enemy of God? In answering this question, one must first look to the Bible for the definition of an enemy of God. One passage from the Bible that serves to define what an enemy of God looks like is James 4:1-17. In this passage, it is said that “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God… he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God” (James 4:3-7). Snowden, by this definition, is most definitely an enemy of God. Snowden, through his actions, has not befriended or subscribed to the ways of God. Rather, he is a friend of the world, as he subscribes instead to the sinful ways of the world and of man. He lives to glorify himself, and as it is said, God opposes the proud. It is later said, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:10-12). Edward Snowden is once again a clear opponent of God by means of this definition. Snowden took the fate of the United States as well as the law by which it lives into his own hands and forced his way in as the judge of the law. However, the only one with the authority to do such a thing is God. Snowden, thus, is an enemy of God, for he tried with all his might to be God. Edward Snowden, through his rash actions, took not only his life but the lives of others into his hands and tried to be God. This, therefore, makes Snowden not just an enemy of the people, but also an enemy of God. The Letter of James serves to condemn Edward Snowden and his actions as an enemy of God. There is also a second Bible passage that explains how Snowden’s actions go against what a Christian and true servant of the Lord God is to do, found in the Letter to the Romans. For it is said in Romans 12, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14-18). Once again, for a host of reasons, Edward Snowden is not living his life as a servant to the Lord but rather as an enemy of God. Snowden certainly does not live by the guideline expressed in Romans 12, to “not claim to be wiser than you are” (Romans 12:16). He rather is often found singing his own praises, as he brags of his capabilities and power. For example, in an interview, he made note of what he considers a tremendous capacity for hacking as he said, "I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from you, or your accountant, to a federal judge, to even the President if I had a personal email.” Self-important boasters like Snowden are not true servants of God, but rather His enemy. Snowden’s tendency for arrogance as well as his many other qualities that violate the guidelines set in Romans 12 make him not one who overcomes evil with good, but rather one who was overcome with the evils and sinful tendencies of human nature, and, thus, an enemy of God. People like Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald who aggressively oppose the mass digital surveillance of the American public conducted by the NSA claim that the NSA clings to the terrorist threat as an invalid excuse for their actions that Greenwald considers to be unconstitutional violations of rights to privacy in particular. However, in light of a recent report by the Wilson Center, terrorism truly has taken to the digital world. For example, the report opens with a reference to one of many scenarios in which murders and injuries of Americans could have been prevented if suspicious online activity tying one to terrorist groups or ideals had been investigated and pursued. In this case, a man named Arid Uka killed two US servicemen and injured two others, and yet, this could have been prevented. In the report, it is said that “After he was arrested, investigators reviewed the history of Arid Uka’s Internet activity. It showed—most obviously in his Facebook profile—a growing interest in jihadist content, subsequent self-radicalization, and ultimately his viewing of the aforementioned video, which led him to take action in an alleged war in defense of Muslims…Arid Uka is a typical case of the new trend of terrorists being engaged through the newest online platforms, commonly known as the ‘new media’ or ‘social media.’” The report goes on to reference cyberterrorism expert Evan Kohlmann’s explanation of the turn of terrorists to social media, as he says, “Today, 90 percent of terrorist activity on the Internet takes place using social networking tools. . . .These forums act as a virtual firewall to help safeguard the identities of those who participate, and they offer subscribers a chance to make direct contact with terrorist representatives, to ask questions, and even to contribute and help out the cyberjihad.” Made evident in not only these passages but also all throughout the Wilson Center report (to read more of the Wilson Center report, see here: http://www.edline.net/files/_0bJTm_/414a430c9af41b733745a49013852ec4/STIP_140501_new_terrorism_F.pdf) terrorism is now largely present online, especially in social media. Thus, Snowden and his supporters like Greenwald are incorrect in their allegations that the NSA is using the terrorist threat as merely an excuse for their mass surveillance, and in Snowden’s release of the NSA documents, he was also handing this information over to the terrorists that now will most likely proceed to reconfigure their tactics and use of the Internet therein. In other words, Snowden and Greenwald have essentially put the American public in the hands of the terrorists that wish to harm them.

ENEMY OF THE STATE PART FIVE: THE REAL ENEMY

People like Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald who aggressively oppose the mass digital surveillance of the American public conducted by the NSA claim that the NSA clings to the terrorist threat as an invalid excuse for their actions that Greenwald considers to be unconstitutional violations of rights to privacy in particular. However, in light of a recent report by the Wilson Center, terrorism truly has taken to the digital world. For example, the report opens with a reference to one of many scenarios in which murders and injuries of Americans could have been prevented if suspicious online activity tying one to terrorist groups or ideals had been investigated and pursued. In this case, a man named Arid Uka killed two US servicemen and injured two others, and yet, this could have been prevented. In the report, it is said that “After he was arrested, investigators reviewed the history of Arid Uka’s Internet activity. It showed—most obviously in his Facebook profile—a growing interest in jihadist content, subsequent self-radicalization, and ultimately his viewing of the aforementioned video, which led him to take action in an alleged war in defense of Muslims…Arid Uka is a typical case of the new trend of terrorists being engaged through the newest online platforms, commonly known as the ‘new media’ or ‘social media.’” The report goes on to reference cyberterrorism expert Evan Kohlmann’s explanation of the turn of terrorists to social media, as he says, “Today, 90 percent of terrorist activity on the Internet takes place using social networking tools. . . .These forums act as a virtual firewall to help safeguard the identities of those who participate, and they offer subscribers a chance to make direct contact with terrorist representatives, to ask questions, and even to contribute and help out the cyberjihad.” Made evident in not only these passages but also all throughout the Wilson Center report (to read more of the Wilson Center report, see here: http://www.edline.net/files/_0bJTm_/414a430c9af41b733745a49013852ec4/STIP_140501_new_terrorism_F.pdf) terrorism is now largely present online, especially in social media. Thus, Snowden and his supporters like Greenwald are incorrect in their allegations that the NSA is using the terrorist threat as merely an excuse for their mass surveillance, and in Snowden’s release of the NSA documents, he was also handing this information over to the terrorists that now will most likely proceed to reconfigure their tactics and use of the Internet therein. In other words, Snowden and Greenwald have essentially put the American public in the hands of the terrorists that wish to harm them.

ENEMY OF THE STATE PART FIVE: THE ENEMY OF GOD (PART TWO)

The Letter of James serves to condemn Edward Snowden and his actions as an enemy of God. There is also a second Bible passage that explains how Snowden’s actions go against what a Christian and true servant of the Lord God is to do, found in the Letter to the Romans. For it is said in Romans 12, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14-18). Once again, for a host of reasons, Edward Snowden is not living his life as a servant to the Lord but rather as an enemy of God. Snowden certainly does not live by the guideline expressed in Romans 12, to “not claim to be wiser than you are” (Romans 12:16). He rather is often found singing his own praises, as he brags of his capabilities and power. For example, in an interview, he made note of what he considers a tremendous capacity for hacking as he said, "I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from you, or your accountant, to a federal judge, to even the President if I had a personal email.” Self-important boasters like Snowden are not true servants of God, but rather His enemy. Snowden’s tendency for arrogance as well as his many other qualities that violate the guidelines set in Romans 12 make him not one who overcomes evil with good, but rather one who was overcome with the evils and sinful tendencies of human nature, and, thus, an enemy of God.

ENEMY OF THE STATE PART FIVE: THE ENEMY OF GOD (PART ONE)

It has already been established that Edward Snowden is not exactly an enemy of the state as the Constitution’s definition of treason does not apply to what he has done. On the other hand, the Federalist Papers serve to condemn Snowden as an enemy of the people, despite his frequent claims that these rash decisions he made were in the interest of the American public. Is Snowden also an enemy of God? In answering this question, one must first look to the Bible for the definition of an enemy of God. One passage from the Bible that serves to define what an enemy of God looks like is James 4:1-17. In this passage, it is said that “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God… he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God” (James 4:3-7). Snowden, by this definition, is most definitely an enemy of God. Snowden, through his actions, has not befriended or subscribed to the ways of God. Rather, he is a friend of the world, as he subscribes instead to the sinful ways of the world and of man. He lives to glorify himself, and as it is said, God opposes the proud. It is later said, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:10-12). Edward Snowden is once again a clear opponent of God by means of this definition. Snowden took the fate of the United States as well as the law by which it lives into his own hands and forced his way in as the judge of the law. However, the only one with the authority to do such a thing is God. Snowden, thus, is an enemy of God, for he tried with all his might to be God. Edward Snowden, through his rash actions, took not only his life but the lives of others into his hands and tried to be God. This, therefore, makes Snowden not just an enemy of the people, but also an enemy of God.

Fire and Ice: The World up in Flames

As Nobel Prize winner George Bernard Shaw once said in his novel Man and Superman, “There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart's desire. The other is to get it.” As Shaw illustrates, desire is an injurious characteristic of man and an unfortunate aspect of life – it brings about tragedy no matter what, whether desires are unfulfilled or fulfilled. Robert Frost similarly commented on the adverse effects of desire, but on a much larger scale than merely life: Frost says in his poem Fire and Ice that the entire world shall end in “fire” – fire being a metaphorical representation of desire, while he also refers to “ice” or hatred as another possible cause of the end of the world. In a way, both Shaw and Frost are right. The end of the world will more likely be brought about by means of fire or desire than by ice or hatred, for desire has been the driving force behind all destruction to date. The destructive qualities of fire or desire may be seen in all the ways in which it wreaks havoc on the world today. Firstly, one of the many ways in which desire manifests its powers of destruction is through adultery – a sin that is brought about by desire and desire only. The destructive quality of this act always initiated by desire is noted in what many Christians consider one of the sets of guidelines for salvation: the Ten Commandments. God calls for man to avoid the desires fulfilled in adultery as he commands, “You shall not commit adultery” (Ex 20:14). In giving in to the desires of adultery, man is undermining God’s commands that are meant to guide man away from death and destruction and to heaven. Further evidence of the devastation of adultery is found when Jesus condemns not only those who commit adultery but also those who look lustfully at another woman. Jesus says, “‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart’” (Mt 5:27-28). Additionally, adultery also serves to destroy the basic social institution of man and tear at the fabric of mankind – the family. For it is said, “Those who trouble their household inherit the wind, and fools become slaves to the wise of heart” (Prv 29:11). Thus, when man allows the desire to partake in adultery overtake him, man is considered a fool for bringing about destruction to the family, the basic foundation of life. The damage that the desire that leads to adultery brings about to not only the adulterers’ hopes of salvation as well as their families parallels the destruction that desire may eventually bring to the world in its entirety. Moreover, a second way in which desire exhibits its destructive qualities is through the desire of man to fall to idolatry that exists in the world today – particularly in corporate America. First, the Ten Commandments, which act as a handbook for avoiding the destruction of the Earth and instead gaining favor with the Lord, calls out idolaters for desiring to follow another god as opposed to the one true God. God commands, “I am the LORD your God…You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol…you shall not bow down before them or serve them” (Ex 20:2-5). Thus, when man desires to stray from God and take the easier path of worshipping a tangible and inanimate idol, that man is also straying from salvation and eternal life and heading rather in the direction of man’s destruction. The book of Hebrews delves deeper into the issue of man’s desire to worship other gods – specifically, the worship of money over God. It is said, “Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never forsake you or abandon you’” (Heb 13:5). Man is to not allow money to overpower him, for God is the true source of love and salvation. The consequences of the desire to idolize money rather than serve God is found in the First Letter to Timothy, when it is said that “Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction” (1 Tm 6:9). This applies especially to modern-day corporate America in that many men part of the business world of the United States become enamored with money and constantly desire more and more. However, as stated in the First Letter to Timothy, this overpowering desire to idolize money will lead to the destruction of man. Furthermore, a third way in which desire displays its ill effects on the fate of mankind is through the desire of power, particularly in a governmental, tyrannical setting. First, the Letter to the Romans contains the limits of the power of man. For it is said, “Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God” (Rom 13:1). Therefore, man should not allow the desire for all-encompassing power to overcome him as only God is meant to have that kind of authority. The foolishness of those who desire power and exercise tyrannical rule over others is further expressed in Proverbs 28, when it is said that “The less prudent the rulers, the more oppressive their deeds. Those who hate ill-gotten gain prolong their days” (Prv 28:16). The ultimate punishment God administers to cruel leaders who desire power over anything appears in the story of the just shepherd. God says, “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture – oracle of the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD…against the shepherds who shepherd my people…You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds” (Jer 23:1-2). God indicates that there shall be destruction for all shepherds who mislead his sheep – or, in other words, all leaders who oppress his people. As Robert Frost said in his poem Fire and Ice, many people may claim that ice, the metaphorical representation of hate, is predominantly responsible for destruction in the past and destruction yet to come at the end of the world while fire or desire falls second thereto. They may justify this claim saying that hate is ever present in the worst moments in history – perhaps using the Holocaust as an example where hatred was the domineering force that led to the horrors and crimes against humanity that occurred within that expanse of time. However, though hatred did play its part in the horrors in all the history of the world, desire was what fueled that hatred as well as, in many instances, what lead to that hatred. Would hatred even exist without desire? It seems as though the answer is no. For example, Hitler’s desire for power and for his ideal Aryan race to rule the world was what led to his cruel and evil acts of pure hatred against the Jewish people. If not for this desire for power, he may have never advanced to hatred and the massacre of the Jews. As illustrated by showcases of destruction in the not only in the past and but also in the present, George Bernard Shaw and Robert Frost were correct in pinning the tragedies of life as well as the eventual destruction of all mankind on fire or desire. Desire – the driving force behind all instances of destruction in the world – is much more likely to bring about the destruction of the world than hatred. In more metaphorical terms, fire – not ice – will be the one to engulf the world in its flames and bring about its destruction.