America’s Achilles’ Heel

In his June 1999 Trumpet personal, editor in chief Gerald Flurry warned about “America’s Achilles heel”—its reliance on technology coupled with the vulnerability of its computer systems. In the last year, that danger has begun to manifest itself. The public first became aware of a recent spate of attacks when several supercomputer laboratories were hacked in April 2004.

Then, last May, a team of security specialists discovered that software for Cisco Systems had been compromised. Cisco’s products provide security for computer networks all over the world—the lock on the door, so to speak. But the violation of their security, and the subsequent public posting of their programming, was just a small problem: NASA, American military computer systems, research labarotories—in fact, thousands of computer systems—were penetrated in the same way as Cisco Systems by hackers based in Europe.

The damage done in the Cisco theft has apparently been plugged, but in the year-long investigation since, no one has been able to ascertain how much data was taken or destroyed in the overall attack on our nation’s most important computer systems.

As Mr. Flurry wrote, “One of the main reasons we won World War ii was because the British broke German radio code. We knew about most of their war plans in advance! Quite a gigantic advantage. Some experts think we would have lost the war without that knowledge.

“We could lose the next war before we even begin, if somebody breaks our military codes.”

Treating these types of threats with anything but the utmost seriousness could lead to the worst consequences imaginable. Computers don’t protect themselves; they don’t protect you and your loved ones, or even your nation from exploitation.

Mr. Flurry also warned of a network of young computer hackers in Germany and the warning message that should send to those who understand German history and Bible prophecy. German military personnel have been granted access to American military bases, learning a great deal about our military operations and our technology.

Winston Churchill warned about the inherent danger of trusting a country that has a history of surprise attacks on its allies, and the demonstrable vulnerability of U.S. computer systems should make officials that much more cautious. There is no situation more potentially threatening than one that could leave a nation utterly defenseless in a military conflict like the terrifying danger of America’s Achilles heel.