President Barack Obama asked the Department of Defense last June to carry out a cyber attack.
The revelation was made by a non-profit organization Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
According to the Mashable, the U.S. Air Force declassified a 15-page policy directive, containing a single sentence that is enough to prove Obama ordered the military to carry out an aggressive operation in cyberspace.
FAS said that text is full of jargon, but reveals two important details. First is the word 'offensive'. This means whatever the U.S. was doing during this operation, it involved more than defending the country from cyberattacks, the report said.
The second is the phrase 'execute order'. According to the Department of Defense, an execute order is 'an order issued by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, at the direction of the secretary of defense, to implement a decision by the president to initiate military operations,' it added.
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is America's highest-ranking military officer, meaning the president asked the Pentagon to carry out an online 'military operation,' the report added.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
