National Security

Rep. Katko (R-NY): ‘We need to build our nation’s cyber defenses before it’s too late’

Published

10 months ago

April 1, 2022

New York Republican, Representative John Katko talked about the dangerous possibility of Russia engaging in cyber-attacks. Katko said even before the war against Ukraine began, everything the United States was doing in an attempt to deter Putin was absolutely not working and not enough.

Katko also divulged that Congress wanted to send lethal aid to the Ukraine even before Putin began any ground assaults, but it was President Joe Biden who “resisted” the notion. Now, says Katko, that the “Genie’s out of the bottle and Russia is in Ukraine” the President is doing a “decent job of ratcheting up the sanctions and trying to tighten the economic impact.”

Katko was then asked about cyber security specifically, saying “we are all concerned” and inquired as to how well equipped the United States and world is to defend itself. “Russia is one of the worst defenders on the world stage for cyber-attacks” said Katko.

As Ranking GOP Member on the Homeland Security Committee, Katko says he has been advocating to build up “our nation’s cyber defenses before it’s too late.”

I joined @BloombergTV to discuss potential Russian cyberattacks against the United States amid the Russia-Ukraine War. As Ranking Member on @HomelandGOP, I’ve been advocating to build up our nation’s cyber defenses before it’s too late. https://t.co/F57JEXm9Ok

— Rep. John Katko (@RepJohnKatko) March 31, 2022

Featured

Trump: Tanks to Ukraine could escalate to use of ‘NUKES’

Published

6 days ago

January 26, 2023

Alexander Carter

Former President Donald Trump stated bluntly on Truth Social, “FIRST COME THE TANKS, THEN COME THE NUKES. Get this crazy war ended, NOW. So easy to do!”

Trump was referring to the escalation of war in Ukraine. He, like many other commentators and lawmakers, are warning that the decision to continue sending weapons – and now tanks – could potentially lead to the use of “nuclear weapons.”

It’s mission creep and it’s dangerous, they say.

Why? Because Russian President Valdimir Putin has indicated in two different speeches that he would use nuclear weapons to defend Russia, if needed. Those warnings are not just bluster but a very real possibility.

And the escalation of war is visible.

Russia launched 55 missiles strikes across Ukraine Thursday, leaving 11 dead. The strikes come one day after the United States and Germany agreed to send tanks to Ukraine in an effort to aide the country. 47 of the 55 missiles were shot down according to Ukraine’s Air Force command.

Eleven lives were lost and another 11 were injured additionally leaving 35 buildings damaged in the wake of the attacks. According to The New York Times, Denys Shmyhal, said in a post on Telegram. “The main goal is energy facilities, providing Ukrainians with light and heat,” he said.

Ukraine is now demanding that they need F-16 fighter jets. In a post on twitter Ukrainian lawmaker, Oleksiy Goncharenko said, “Missiles again over Ukraine. We need F16.”

Morning. Missiles again over Ukraine. We need F16.

— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) January 26, 2023

The US has abstained from sending advanced jets in the chances that a volatile decision could foster more dangerous attacks like former President Trump’s post on Truth referred to. If the US did authorize the decision to lend Ukraine the F-16 jets Netherlands’ foreign minister, Wopke Hoekstra, would be willing to supply them. According to The New York Times, Hoekstra told Dutch lawmakers, “We are open-minded… There are no taboos.”

F-16 fighter jets are complex to work on, they are not the average aircraft that can be learned in a matter of weeks. It can take months for pilots to learn how to fly these birds. European and US officials have the concern that Ukrainian forces could potentially use the jets to fly into Russian airspace and launch attacks on Russian soil.

Western allies are trying to avoid such a provocation, because that could lead to nuclear warfare in reference to what Putin has said he would do to defend his country.