Pentagon Labels YouTube/Twitter Hacking 'Cyber Vandalism'

Pentagon Labels YouTube/Twitter Hacking 'Cyber Vandalism'

7:01 AM, Jan 14, 2015 • By JERYL BIER

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/pentagon-labels-youtubetwitter-hacking-cyber-vandalism_823725.html

The Pentagon called the hacking of the Central Command's (CENTCOM) YouTube and Twitter accounts Monday "cyber vandalism" in a letter to service members and their families to allay concerns about the incident. General Lloyd Austin said that the FBI is investigating the "alleged breach" of the two social media sites by hackers who claimed to be aligned with the Islamic State (ISIS). While Austin said that "CENTCOM network was not compromised and no classified information," he acknowledged that the hackers posted "information obtained from the accounts," he did not go into further detail.

Austin also referred to "the threat of ‘lone wolf’ attacks by individuals who align with or are sympathetic to radical Jihadist elements," examples of which, according to Austin, are the "recent tragedies in Paris...New York City and Ottawa, Canada." The general acknowledged that Monday's hacking included threats, but said there were no "no credible threats made to U.S. military personnel or their families." 

In any case, Austin said, the military is taking the threats "very seriously" and will "take all possible measures" to keep military personnel and their families safe.

The full text of General Austin's letter is here:

This week, hackers claiming to be aligned with the extremist group ISIL took control of CENTCOM’s Twitter and YouTube accounts for approximately 30 minutes. They posted tweets with information obtained from the accounts and they also posted threats against military members and their families. 

I recognize that this has caused significant angst among family and friends who are understandably concerned about their loved ones’ safety. I want to personally reassure you that we are taking this matter very seriously and we continue to take all possible measures to keep our personnel safe. 

With respect to the alleged breach of our Twitter and YouTube accounts, The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in the process of conducting a full investigation. However, you should know that the CENTCOM network was not compromised and no classified information was obtained by the group. Also, as yet, there have been no credible threats made to U.S. military personnel or their families. 

That said, we do not take these threats lightly, and we will do what is necessary to mitigate them. Unfortunately, the threat of ‘lone wolf’ attacks by individuals who align with or are sympathetic to radical Jihadist elements exists today, and we’ve seen this demonstrated with the recent tragedies in Paris and before that in New York City and Ottawa, Canada. We must all take the necessary precautions and be highly vigilant to protect against these threats.

Our people are our most important assets and our top priority and that includes our family members. And, we need to make sure that we are looking out for one another. All of you are an important part of our CENTCOM team, and I want to thank you for your many contributions and your strong support. If you need anything or have additional concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to your service member’s chain of command or the headquarters. 

Be safe!
GEN AUSTIN
COMCENT

Although General Austin referred to the Paris attacks as 'lone wolf' events, there have been some possible links to al Qaeda uncovered as Thomas Joscelyn reports in the January 19 edition of THE WEEKLY STANDARD, including an eyewitness account that one of the killers said "You can tell the media that it’s al Qaeda in Yemen" during the attack on Charlie Hebdo's offices.

Central Command

Lloyd J. Austin III is the commander for the U.S. Central Command.

Note: U.S. Central Command is a unified combatant command for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Pentagon is the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Chuck Hagel is the secretary at the U.S. Department of Defense for the Barack Obama administration, was a professor at the Georgetown University, and the chairman for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding is a center at Georgetown University.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies is a center at Cambridge University.

Alwaleed bin Talal is a benefactor for the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, the Saudi Arabia prince, and an investor in Twitter Inc.

Chas. W. Freeman Jr. was the U.S. ambassador for Saudi Arabia, the assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Intelligence Council chairman nominee for the Barack Obama administration, and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Madeleine K. Albright is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and

a professor at Georgetown University.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding is a center at Georgetown University.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies is a center at Cambridge University.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), the Climate Reality Project, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Colin L. Powell is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), Michael K. Powell’s father, and a strategic adviser for Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers was an investor in Twitter Inc., and is an investor in Google Inc.

YouTube is a video service for Google Inc.

L. John Doerr is a director at Google Inc., a general partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a director at the General Dynamics Corporation.

Lester Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, was a director at the General Dynamics Corporation, and a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

James N. Mattis is a director at the General Dynamics Corporation, and was a commander for the U.S. Central Command.

Lloyd J. Austin III is the commander for the U.S. Central Command.

Michael K. Powell is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and Colin L. Powell’s son.

Albert A. Gore Jr. is a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, and a senior adviser at Google Inc.

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers was an investor in Twitter Inc., and is an investor in Google Inc.

YouTube is a video service for Google Inc.

Sheryl K. Sandberg was a VP for Google Inc., and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

John R. Allen is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and was the deputy commander for the U.S. Central Command.

Lloyd J. Austin III is the commander for the U.S. Central Command.