UNIPATH STAFF Navies have grappled with the same problem for thousands of years: They often lack the manpower and materials to patrol the breadth of the seas and protect maritime trade against predation. Multinational naval forces engaged in the February 2022 International Maritime Exercise (IMX 22) tested a solution to that perennial problem, one that could transform the way fleets operate over the next several decades. Unmanned vehicles — slithering underwater like metallic serpents, sailing on the surface under wind and solar power, and tracking ship movements from the skies — are reinventing the way navies fulfill their duties. These…
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Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command, discusses innovative efforts to maximize operations across Central Command through the employment of new technology and concepts, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and unmanned systems. He then takes questions from participating journalists. MODERATOR: Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Dubai Regional Media Hub. I would like to welcome our participants dialing in from the Middle East and around the world for this on-the-record briefing with General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, Commander of the U.S. Central Command. General Kurilla will make opening remarks and take questions from participating reporters. We are…
JAVLON VAKHABOV, UZBEKISTAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES In 2022, we celebrate the 31st anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence, which we value as sacred and absolute. More than ever, we treasure our sovereignty, independence and freedom and remember the founding generation who pledged their lives, fortunes and honor to secure our country’s independence. To quote Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev: “Uzbekistan is moving from a period of national revival to a period of national prosperity.” We greatly appreciate the United States for supporting Uzbekistan along this path and mark another important milestone with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic…
I would like to thank United States Central Command for giving me the opportunity to write the editorial for this edition of Unipath magazine dedicated to protecting cyberspace. The more the world advances and relies on technology, the more the risk of chaos increases if computers and servers that control the online infrastructure are destroyed. This includes transportation, electricity, gas, desalinization plants or financial services by banks, stock exchanges and financial centers, whether caused by an actor or natural disaster. It would be the stuff of nightmares and could actually mean the return of the world to the Stone Age.…
LT. GEN. CHARLES MOORE, DEPUTY COMMANDER OF U.S. CYBER COMMAND In November 2020, more than 158 million Americans voted in our national elections. Because voting is so foundational to our democratic republic, Americans must have confidence that our election processes and outcomes are free of foreign interference and that covert foreign attempts to influence voters are mitigated. Four years earlier, malicious cyber actors sought to influence voters using operations in cyberspace. Determined to prevent similar activities during the 2018 and 2020 national elections, agencies across the U.S. government established a cross-functional and collaborative team to identify threats, share information and…
ISLAMIC MILITARY COUNTER TERRORISM COALITION The internet is globally decentralized, which allows for anonymity and contributes to its use as a platform for illegal activities, including property crimes and the promotion of violent extremism. Against such a backdrop of susceptibility — the exploitation of the internet by extremists and terrorists — governments face a challenge to contain these criminals who seek to undermine the legitimacy of the state and commit acts of violence. Cyber terrorism is the No. 1 national threat to many governments; it brings about enormous damage because of the global dependence on information technology. The main…
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Ouda Shudeifat, media and cultural advisor, General Command, Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army News flows in from far and wide, accompanied by analysis, commentary, communication and dialogue. Based on the convictions, opinions and objectives of the media outlet or guest, programs can strike an accusatory, defensive or neutral pose on issues of the day. On many broadcasts, the features, emotions and modes of expression shift; patience wears thin and voices rise, perhaps even to the point of shouting and swearing, until the viewer gets confused. It is often difficult to come away from this melange of opinions with something…
DR. HUSSEIN Allawi, ADVISOR TO THE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER ON SECURITY SECTOR REFORM Cybersecurity is a strategic priority for the government of Iraq. Iraq has established a cyber incident response team (CERT), activated a cybersecurity policy and crafted an electronics crime law extensively debated in the Iraqi parliament. The main task of the CERT is to combat cyber-attacks in all ministries, work with security and intelligence agencies to monitor hackers and terrorist groups, and pursue organized cybercrime gangs. These precautions are necessary in contemporary societies such as Iraq’s that rely increasingly on the internet to transfer money and conduct the…
SALTANAT BERDIKEEVA More than 85% of Kazakhstan’s population uses the internet, the highest rate in Central Asia. Major areas of the country’s economy and the government have become fully digitized. In 2018, the Kazakh government launched the Digital Kazakhstan program, which has encouraged government agencies and businesses to shift from brick and mortar to online access for more efficient customer service. But with Kazakhstan’s massive transition to digital economy, cybersecurity has grown more urgent, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced many people to work and study remotely. This has inspired Kazakh authorities to advance serious measures…
UNIPATH STAFF With the rapid development of the internet and mobile phones, technology has become a necessity in people’s daily lives. These technologies have improved all sectors of society, including education, medicine, engineering, security and economics. However, organized criminal gangs and terrorists have exploited these technologies, leading countries to form cybersecurity teams to protect networks from cyberattacks. Unipath magazine met Staff Maj. Gen. Raad Shakir al-Kanani, director of the Military Communications Directorate in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, to discuss the tasks and accomplishments of the ministry’s cybersecurity team. Unipath: What steps has your directorate taken to secure Iraq against…