Bush Looks to Beef Up Protection Against Cyberattacks

BUSH LOOKS TO BEEF UP PROTECTION AGAINST CYBERATTACKS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Siobhan Gorman siobhan.gorman@wsj.com]
President Bush has promised a frugal budget proposal next month, but one big-ticket item is stirring controversy: an estimated $6 billion to build a secretive system protecting U.S. communication networks from attacks by terrorists, spies and hackers. Administration officials and lawmakers say that the prospect of cyberterrorists hacking into a nuclear-power plant or paralyzing Wall Street is becoming possible, and that the U.S. isn't prepared. This is "one area where we have significant work to do," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. The White House's proposal has already dismayed lawmakers concerned about civil-liberties violations. Democratic lawmakers are also frustrated by what they see as the White House's refusal to provide details of the program, and say that could threaten the fate of the initiative.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120147963641320851.html?mod=todays_us_page_one
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