‘DISAPPOINTED, THOUGH UNSURPRISED’: Members of a congressionally chartered commission, charged with developing a bipartisan strategy to defend the nation against “cyberattacks of significant consequences,” say the ransomware attack that forced the shutdown of a vital U.S. pipeline over the weekend should serve as a wake-up call to both private companies and the nation as a whole.
“We are disappointed, though unsurprised, to learn of the cyberattack that shut down 5,500 miles of pipeline operated by Colonial Pipeline,” said Maine Sen. Angus King and Wisconsin Rep. Michael Gallagher, co-chairmen of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. “This interruption of the distribution of refined gasoline and jet fuel underscores the vulnerability of our national critical infrastructure in cyberspace and the need for effective cybersecurity defenses.”
The vulnerability of the pipeline, which carries roughly 45% of fuel consumed on the East Coast, shows the need to implement one of the commission’s key recommendations, “the establishment of a new social contract between the Federal government and systemically important critical infrastructure.”
“The Cyberspace Solarium Commission was envisioned to be ‘the 9/11 commission that averts a cyber-9/11,” King and Gallagher said. “One of the gravest lessons from the terrorist attack twenty years ago was that it was a failure of imagination,” they said, calling for an “imaginative, and proactive” approach to “navigating the threats of the age of cyber aggression.”
COLONIAL PIPELINE SHUTS DOWN OPERATIONS FOLLOWING CYBERATTACK
‘IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED’: “I promise you, this is something that Republicans and Democrats can work together on,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy, Republican from Louisiana, on NBC’s Meet the Press. “The implications for this for our national security cannot be overstated.”
“There have been problems in the past with sharing classified information with private entities, and Congress has passed a law to fix that,” Cassidy told NBC’s Chuck Todd. “But it’s going to take an ongoing relationship, by the way, a bipartisan relationship, in which we better equip small businesses and large businesses to withstand cyberattacks.”
“Unfortunately, these sorts of attacks are becoming more frequent. They’re here to stay. And we have to work in partnership with businesses to secure networks to defend ourselves against these attacks,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Marie Raimondo on Face the Nation on CBS.
“It’s a top priority for the administration,” she said. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck effort right now. And we are working closely with the company, state, and local officials to make sure that they get back up to normal operations as quickly as possible, and there aren’t disruptions in supply.”
RESTORING SERVICE: In an update issued last night, Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline said over the past 48 hours it has taken “additional precautionary measures” to protect the pipeline and is “developing a system restart plan” that it hopes will restore service in the coming days.
“While our mainlines … remain offline, some smaller lateral lines between terminals and delivery points are now operational,” the company said in its statement. “We are in the process of restoring service to other laterals and will bring our full system back online only when we believe it is safe to do so and in full compliance with the approval of all federal regulations.
‘DARKSIDE’ SUSPECT IN CYBER EXTORTION ATTEMPT: The Associated Press, citing “two people close to the investigation,” said the criminal group “DarkSide,” which fashions itself as a sort of cyber version of Robin Hood, stealing from corporations and giving a cut to charity, is believed to be behind the attack.
“DarkSide claims that it does not attack hospitals and nursing homes, educational or government targets and that it donates a portion of its take to charity,” reports the Associated Press.
“Colonial did not say whether it has paid or was negotiating a ransom, and DarkSide neither announced the attack on its dark web site nor responded to an Associated Press reporter’s queries,” the report said, noting, “The lack of acknowledgment usually indicates a victim is either negotiating or has paid.”
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HAPPENING TODAY: President Joe Biden will join a meeting by video link of presidents of countries on NATO’s eastern flank, the so-called Bucharest Nine. Biden will “convey his desire for closer cooperation with our allies in Central Europe and the Baltic and Black Sea regions on the full range of global challenges,” said a statement from the White House.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who is hosting the meeting in Bucharest, said on Twitter that he was glad to be welcoming Biden and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to the meeting, which he said was in preparation for next month’s NATO leaders summit.
The chief concern of the easternmost members of the NATO alliance is Russia’s increasingly aggressive military moves and worries about Moscow’s efforts to reassert influence over their region.
TALIBAN CEASEFIRE: After a weeks of increasing violence, the Taliban have declared a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan for the Muslim religious holiday of Eid.
“In order that the Mujahideen again provide a peaceful and secure atmosphere to our compatriots during Eid-ul-Fitr, so that they may celebrate this joyous occasion with a greater peace of mind, all Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are instructed to halt all offensive operations against the enemy countrywide from the first till the third day of Eid,” said the statement by the Taliban, which calls itself the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
But the orders to Taliban fighters says, unlike in the past, they are not to “visit enemy areas nor permit entrance of enemy personnel into Mujahideen controlled areas.”
“If the enemy conducts any assault or attack against you during these days,” the statement says, you are to “stand ready to robustly protect and defend yourselves and your territory.”
DEADLY ATTACK ON KABUL SCHOOL: The Taliban ceasefire comes two days after a horrific bombing attack on a school in Kabul that killed at least 68 and wounded more than 165 others. Most of the victims were schoolgirls between the ages of 13 and 18.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani immediately blamed the Taliban, but in a tweet, the Taliban denied responsibility and blamed instead what it called the “actions of sinister circles that are operating in the name of Daesh [ISIS].”
“The United States condemns the barbarous attack near a girls’ school in Kabul, Afghanistan,” said a statement from State Department spokesman Ned Price over the weekend. “We call for an immediate end to violence and the senseless targeting of innocent civilians. We will continue to support and partner with the people of Afghanistan, who are determined to see to it that the gains of the past two decades aren’t erased.”
IT’S OFFICIAL: The Pentagon announced Friday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a 1975 graduate of West Point, will be the U.S. Military Academy’s commencement speaker Saturday, May 22.
“We are honored to welcome the Secretary of Defense back to his alma mater as we celebrate the many accomplishments of our graduating class,” said Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, West Point superintendent.
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The Rundown
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Washington Examiner: China and Russia ambush Blinken at UN Security Council
Washington Examiner: Biden won’t withdraw request for summit with Putin over Russian leader massing troops on Ukraine border
Washington Examiner: Trump’s VA Secretary missed chance to save sick veterans, critics say
Washington Examiner: CIA releases new video in ‘woke’ recruitment ad series amid criticism
Washington Examiner: Chinese officials say rocket debris landed in the Indian Ocean
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Please know that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is unhappy
New York Times: Executive Order Would Ramp Up Cyber Defense, But Will It Be Enough?
AP: US trashes unwanted gear in Afghanistan, sells as scrap
Military.com: CNO Says Navy Department Has Strong Case For Getting Bigger Slice Of Defense Budget
CQ Roll Call: Most Of Pentagon Billions Moved To Border Wall Not Recoverable
AP: Biden to join meeting of NATO’s eastern members by video
Reuters: Putin Reviews Russian Military Might As Tensions With West Soar
Washington Post: At Russia’s Victory Day parade, a show of military might amid tensions with the West
Defense News: U.S. Considers Boost To Security Aid For Ukraine, Says Blinken
AP: U.S. Navy Seizes Weapons In Arabian Sea Likely Bound For Yemen
Air Force Magazine: USAF Officials Urge Congress to Allow for More Fleet Cuts, Reinvestment in New Systems
Stars and Stripes: Navy Calls For Shipyard Improvements In Pursuit Of 355-Ship Goal
Washington Post: ‘We Cut Too Deep’: Air Force Reinstates Hundreds Of ROTC Cadets After Dismissals Spark Backlash
New York Times: Two Nations Divided By a Common Goal
AP: Capitol rioters make questionable claims about police
Seapower Magazine: CNO Says LCS Will Still Have a Role After Propulsion Issue is Fixed
San Diego Union-Tribune: Navy Commissions $525M Warship In San Diego
Marine Corps News: Marine Grunts Are Getting New Night Vision, Helmets, Vehicles, Tropical Uniforms And Boots
Defense News: Britain’s Royal Air Force Chief Talks F-35 Tally And Divesting Equipment
Air Force Magazine: F-35 Is Now the Air Force’s Second-Largest Fighter Fleet
19fortyfive.com: Can The U.S. Navy Fix Its Shipyard Problem?
Calendar
MONDAY | MAY 10
10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “When Vaccine Confidence Becomes National Security,” with CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat; Heidi Larson, professor of anthropology, risk and decision science and director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Vaccine Confidence Project; and J. Stephen Morrison, senior vice president and director of the CSIS Global Health Policy Center. http://www.csis.org
10 a.m. — Access Intelligence LLC CyberSatDigital forum, with Cordell DeLaPena, program executive officer for Space Production, Space and Missile Systems Center, https://cybersatsummit.com
10 a.m. — Arms Control Association and the Chemical Weapons Convention Coalition virtual discussion: “Reinforcing the Norm Against Chemical Weapons,” with Fernando Arias, director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; Gudrun Lingner, German permanent representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; Jean Pascal Zanders, independent disarmament and security researcher at the Trench; and Paul Walker, coordinator at the CWCC. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
12:30 p.m. — George Washington University Center for Asian Studies webinar: “The Biden Administration’s Approach to Asia and Views on Taiwan,” with Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation; Barbara Weisel, managing director at Rock Creek Global Advisers; Robert Sutter, professor of practice of international affairs at GWU; and Deepa Ollapally, associate director of the GWU Center for Asian Studies. https://calendar.gwu.edu/biden
1 p.m. — Atlantic Council webinar: “Advancing Army Priorities for the Future of Warfare,” with acting Army Secretary John Whitely; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville.https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event
2 p.m. — Heritage Foundation webinar: “ Space Force: What’s Next?” with former NASA Administrator and former Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla.; Everett Dolman, professor of comparative military studies at Air Force Air Command and Staff College; M.V. Smith, associate professor of comparative military studies at the Air Force Air Command and Staff College; and John Venable, senior research fellow for defense policy at Heritage. https://www.heritage.org/space-policy/event
3 p.m. — House Administration Committee hearing: “Oversight of the January 6th Attack: United States Capitol Police Threat Assessment and Counter-Surveillance Before and During the Attack,” with U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton. https://cha.house.gov/
4 p.m. — National Committee on North Korea virtual discussion: “How the Hardliners Prevailed in North Korea,” with former German Ambassador to North Korea Thomas Schafer. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
4 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies virtual Future Strategy Forum on “The Future of National Security and Technology.” https://www.csis.org/events/future-strategy-forum
TUESDAY | MAY 11
11:30 a.m. — Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association virtual symposium: “Army: Building for Multi-Domain Operations,” with Todd Boudreau, deputy commandant of the Army Cyber School; Army Senior Adviser for Science and Technology Alex Miller; Michael Monteleone III, director of the Army’s Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate; Army Brig. Gen. Charles Parker, deputy director for command, control, communications, and computer/cyber systems at the J6, Joint Staff; and Mark Pomerleau, reporter at C4ISRNET. https://dcevents.afceachapters.org/AFCEADCArmyEvent
12 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “The U.S. Military and Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority,” Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., chair of the House Armed Services Committee’s Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems Subcommittee; Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee; Dave Tremper, electromagnetic warfare director in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; Maren Leed, executive director of the National Spectrum Consortium; Bryan Clark, senior fellow and director of the Hudson Center for Defense Concepts and Technology; Timothy Walton, fellow at the Hudson Center for Defense Concepts and Technology; and Dan Patt, adjunct fellow at the Hudson Center for Defense Concepts and Technology. https://www.hudson.org/events
1 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies’ Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs Future Strategy Forum: “The Future of National Security and Technology,” with former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller, research fellow at the Hoover Institution. https://www.csis.org/events/future-strategy-forum
4 p.m. — Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute virtual discussion: “Defense Priorities,” Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I. https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/events
WEDNESDAY | MAY 12
11 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: “An Update on Afghanistan, with David Helvey, acting assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs; and Brig. Gen. Matthew Trollinger, deputy director for politico-military affairs, Joint Staff, J-5. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
11 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual Space Power Forum with Lt. Gen. J.T. Thompson, commander of the U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center; and retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute. Video posted afterward at https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/
1 p.m. — The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies’ Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs virtual Future Strategy Forum: “The Future of National Security and Technology,” https://www.csis.org/events/future-strategy-forum
4:30 p.m. — Intelligence National Security Alliance virtual “Wednesday Wisdom” discussion, with former Defense Intelligence Agency Director Vincent Stewart, on issues related to diversity and inclusion in both the military services and the intelligence community. https://www.insaonline.org/event/wednesday-wisdom
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“One of the gravest lessons from the terrorist attack twenty years ago was that it was a failure of imagination. America can and must be better. We must be imaginative, and proactive, in navigating the threats of the age of cyber aggression.”
Sen. Angus King and Rep. Michael Gallagher, co-chairmen of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, in response to the ransomware attack that shut down the vital East Coast Colonial Pipeline.
