With the ever increasing threat of world war scholars are often divided on where the brunt of attention the Department of Defense should be focused. In recent weeks Defense Chief Carter revealed a plan to curtail cyber warfare. Coupled with the final round of negotiations among P5+1 members much international relations has been dedicated to breaking a deal with Iran. Thus many believe a balanced approach to security is not being exhausted by the Obama administration. Although it is widely agreed that we are faced with a forever war, evidence proves peaceful results require a greater degree of attention given to cyber and military threats beyond those posed by Iran.

Cyber Threat

The common concern of most Iran deal critics is that the simmering of cyber attacks during negotiation meetings will only heighten if there is a less than favorable end to the talks. Like many others in the intelligence cyber security community, Mike Rogers Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee fear failed talks could propel Tehran to attack financial institutions within the United States.[1]  It’s often concerned scholars to see the growing strength of the Islamic regimes Supreme Council of Cyberspace. Developed at the start of President Rouhani’s leadership, the government entity meets monthly working closely with Russian researchers.

Fear of Iran is based on logical grounds that despite negotiations held on an almost weekly basis there is no promise the Islamic regime will become less of a cyber threat. The contrast between rhetoric from the Iran nuclear delegation team and the recently developed Supreme Council of Cyberspace are unfortunately inconsistent. Yet to focus most security efforts on deterring a volatile Islamic regime will permit other emerging world powers to further innovate malicious software. In reality the efforts of Congress members to stop the Iran deal in the name of America’s national security, has actually done the opposite by deterring public attention from cyber attackers working for the Chinese government.

In contrast, other policy scholars often argue China to be a greater cyber threat, deserving of more attention from the international community. With key decision makers laser eye focused on the Iran talks, this group of thinkers are rightly concerned that little effort to pivot to Asia has given China the green light in furthering research producing better cyber warfare tactics put to use when least expected. In the Diplomat, Brookings scholar Greg Austin, articulated concern that the Department of Defense Cyberspace Policy Report demonstrated an ill calculated strategy that wrongfully separated domains of warfare.[2] The present relationship with China has created an unhealthy insecurity for Asian counterparts that would lose trust in American allies. Like others he believes the report showed a dangerous reliance on offensive strategies, quest for superiority and not enough defensive policies to ensure a degree of peace.[3]

“ The latest Pentagon document, with one paragraph on dialogue with China (almost a perfunctory nod in the direction of strategic stability) and a footnote on suspended dialogue with Russia, gives the impression of putting the cart before the horse.” –Greg Austin

When analyzing Austin’s critique he makes a great argument and provides a breakdown of how best to approach lagging security intelligence on the Chinese cyber threat. Hackers have taken advantage of the great attention world leaders dedicated to the Iran Talks. Scholars are rightly worried of the increasingly sophisticated programs that can disrupt government websites or control computers of key policy makers. Although there is an understandable need to work with the Chinese by inviting government representatives to Silicon Valley, their non-democratic policy making should not be taken lightly while developing methods of encryption.

Military Force 

With the ever increasing concern of drone attacks, critic’s rightly fear Tehran’s sophisticated technology. Leading researchers like David Kennedy, CEO Trustedsec an information security company put Iran at the top of security threats. In his position he has monitored the deterrence of cyber attacks, where often times Iran’s efforts were the most complex to stop.[4] In support of this debate researchers from the United States Armies Foreign Military Studies Office, revealed the IRGC’s ambition to build a fleet of ‘suicide hamikaze’ drones and evidence of sharing technological innovation with Hezbollah.[5] Hence, there has been much concern the Iran deal will allow all levels of the Iranian military to make regular use of drones. 

Concern for the growing number of drones made in Iran are rightful but even Tehran looks at the bigger picture of regional competition requiring the need to appear strong. To focus much research analysis on the movements of Iranian General Moussavi, plays right into their often empty threats towards the west. Not to dismiss the global presence of Iranian drones, but knowing China is home to the worlds most innovative drone company valued at ten billion dollars, should sound a few alarms.

Others firmly believe there needs to be a more balanced approach when preparing for threats from emerging Asia powers. It is undeniable that China is increasingly strengthening its naval and military might evident in weekly papers documenting their progress. In the Washington Free Beacon, Bill Gertz expressed a concern for future strategic relations with China which the present White House administration has not acknowledged. Intelligence committee members share a similar fear that the United States often forgets China is not a democratic state. Their ever growing alliance with Russia has seen the rise of Chinese naval power now at seventy-seven principal combatant ships surpassing America.[6]   While their naval power has gone global Rep. Pompeo found Chinese cyber-warfare to remain the greatest aggressor, steeling military secrets and intellectual property,

“Chinese cyber hackers could possibly cripple the nation’s power grid.” –Rep. Pompeo 

Furthermore, many are disappointed in the rhetoric by United States defense officials who purposefully down play Chinese buildup in the Pacific even though its a serious threat to Washington’s interests.

There may be thinkers who would prefer to see less American policing in the Middle East yet withdrawal will encourage non democratic states to dominate an already volatile region. With a competitive number of executions annually, China does not have the best reputation for promoting human rights like the United States in the Middle East. One must question Beijing’s rapidly growing export of drones to its allies who happen to have anti-American sentiment such as Egypt and Pakistan.

Furthermore, the Iran deal and competition to fill the vacuum of power in the Middle East requires a more balanced approach to successfully defend United States national security. Research evidence has shown the emerging powers within Asia dedicated to improve cyber and drone supremacy will create greater regional instability.