The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
A panel discussion with:
General Tad Oelstrom, director, Kennedy School's National Security Program; Lt. Gen., U.S. Air Force and Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy (1997-2000); combat pilot in Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia;
General John Reppert, Executive Director, BCSIA; Brigadier General, US Army (1995-1998); Director, America's Arms Control Inspection Agency (1997-1998);
Sarah Sewall, program director, KSG's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy; Deputy Asst. Secy. of Defense for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance (1993-1996);
John White, lecturer in public policy, KSG; Chair, KSG's Middle East Initiative; US Depy Secretary of Defense (1995-97);
Graham Allison (moderator), director, BCSIA; and assistant secy of defense for policy and plans (1993-94)