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As the Worm Turns

(National Interest) David Kay - A computer worm may be bringing Iran's nuclear program to an at-least-temporary standstill, something that repeated "red line" declarations from Washington, four sanction resolutions from the UN Security Council, and IAEA inspections and safeguards have failed to do. As one digs into the likely origins and motivations behind the "Stuxnet" computer worm, at the top of the list of obvious suspects would be the U.S. and Israel. But they are not the only suspects. The Russians have shown increasing unease at the prospects of an Iran that would really have nuclear weapons. The Chinese have well north of $100 billion invested in Iranian oil and gas, and an attack by the U.S. and/or Israel on Iran and the chaos likely to ensue could well render these investments worthless and be a serious brake on the Chinese economy. For the first time Iran must confront the logic of asymmetrical warfare against itself. If the Stuxnet worm can be inserted by stealth into the prized jewels of Iran's nuclear program, who can assure the Iranian leadership that the son of Stuxnet is not quietly sitting in the guidance- and flight-control systems of Iran's missile-delivery capability? The good news is that someone has shown a way other than sending in the bombers to give pause and buy time in confronting Iran's nuclear challenge.
2010-10-04 10:36:30
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