The twenty second Director of the Protection Intelligence Company (DIA) Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier speaks on the 2021 Division of Protection Intelligence Info System (DoDIIS) on Dec. 6, 2021. DIA Picture
The director of the Protection Intelligence Company described the sharing of knowledge and intelligence between america and the Ukrainians as “revolutionary when it comes to what we will do” at a Thursday congressional listening to.
Army Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier informed the Home Armed Providers subcommittee on intelligence that he may go into higher element on how that is being finished in a closed session.
Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, who heads each Cyber Command and the Nationwide Safety Company, stated that “in my 35 years” he has by no means seen a greater sharing of correct, well timed and actionable intelligence than what has transpired with Ukraine.
The worth of sharing info and intelligence with allies is that it “builds coalitions” and might “shine a light-weight on disinformation” campaigns just like the one Russia used to put the groundwork for his or her invasion, Nakasone added. The query got here all the way down to “how will we share info that’s related … and usable by the Ukrainians” within the battle.
When requested particularly about “deep fakes,” together with a current faked video the place Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is telling his countrymen to put down their arms, Nakasone stated, NSA “is working to know the important thing items of what’s actual and what’s pretend” and go that info on to different components of the Pentagon, the manager department and the personal sector the place applicable.
“We proceed to observe very rigorously and react shortly” to those efforts to unfold lies and add to the confusion over what is definitely occurring in Ukraine and around the globe.
Rep. Austin Scott, (R-Ga.), stated, “the world has benefitted from declassifying that info” about Russian intentions in Ukraine and its makes an attempt at “deep fakes” and “false flags” to tilt the data marketing campaign within the Kremlin’s favor.
Nakasone added the “secret sauce” for NSA’s success has been its capacity to work exterior the nation, seeing “what our adversary is doing” and the way that may have an effect on america. He stated the nation wants platforms as established as Air Pressure KC-135s, house satellites and sensors and on-the-ground assortment to be efficient.
As as to if one particular person ought to proceed because the senior officer in Cyber Command and in addition direct the NSA, Ronald Moultrie, undersecretary for intelligence and safety, stated there was “sentiment on either side to not do any hurt” if the choice was made to separate the tasks aside.
Gen. Paul Nakasone testifying earlier than Congress in 2019. U.S. Cyber Command Photograph
Cyber Command was established in 2010.
Nakasone stated having the command and company underneath a single management supplies a “unity of effort” and agility to answer all the things from issues with Iran to ransomware assaults and Russian aggression in Ukraine.
When the query of creating a brand new subordinate command to coordinate U.S. info operations in CYBERCOM was raised on the listening to, Nakasone stated, “we’d like extra info ops skilled personnel” coming from the companies. “That’s what we received to get to first” earlier than establishing a brand new command.
As to how DIA ought to go about shopping for “open supply” materials – imagery and knowledge – for its use, Berrier stated the company was creating questions concerning the scope of the acquisition and whether or not it may very well be restricted to purchasing what is required solely when it’s wanted. “There are open supply [materials] that may assist us in Afghanistan,” he added.
Proper now, america is conducting over-the-horizon intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in Afghanistan that has main limitations, outgoing Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie informed Congress this week.
Relatively than asking a direct query of Berrier, Scott stated he believed DIA also needs to be gathering info now on the impression of the battle in Ukraine on the world meals market since Kyiv has exported previously “50 million metric tons” of wheat and was “the biggest provider to the World Meals Program.”
Compounding the issue is “Russia is saying it’s not going to export grains” or fertilizers and the identical is true with its associate Belarus, stated Scott. By shutting down the Black Sea grain export market that features corn, barley, and sunflower seeds in addition to wheat and fertilizer, “Vladimir Putin has began World Conflict III relating to meals provide.”
He famous availability and rising prices are already having an impact on nations like Sri Lanka, 4,000 miles away from the combating.
Scott added he has mentioned with regional combatant commanders the impression of the battle on meals provide of their areas of duty.
The Washington Publish in an editorial Friday famous “the lack of a few of these crops can’t be made up in a single day, as a result of it takes months to plant and harvest grains. In some ways that is more durable to rectify than the oil provide disaster.”
