U.S. Takes Defense To Outer and CyberSpace

Published: March 3, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Courtesy Of United Press International

WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- Top U.S. military officials told a congressional committee that outer and cyberspace are the next war-fighting frontiers, The Washington Post (NYSE:WPO) said.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of U.S. Strategic Command, told the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee that "we must be ready" to defend "our space infrastructure" and categorized cyberspace as an "emerging war-fighting domain," the Post said Monday.

Chilton said enemies of the United States "constantly" try to hack into government computer networks and Pentagon officials are trying to develop strategies to protect the databases as well as launch counterattacks against hackers.

The House committee also heard testimony from Pentagon officials who said they wanted "prompt" intercontinental capabilities to counter missile and other threats "now."