I take your point, but frankly, anyone who connects command & control system to an external network, let alone The Internet is just asking for trouble. I can see remote access out-of-band, using dialback and caller ID screening. Also, we cannot let ourselves get stampeded into more regulation by fearmongering like this. Folks who take the time to think about it will realize that this rapidly becomes a game of diminishing returns. If you think the budget deficit's big now, just wait until we add a new agency, and regulations for them to enforce. I might add that we are going to trust the Fed to get it right, and these are the people who could not get systems implemented for the IRS, the FAA, etc. Need I go on? Ah, but I hear you say, they can hire some of the best and brightest consultants in the business! Sure, but they've done that before as well. How's that new FBI case management system working out for ya, Sparky?

Speak for yourself. I'm a /.er who bitches, moans, and runs two private networks, the one at work, and the one at home. I agree that the government cannot be trusted to be impartial, but I also agree that cooperative action must be taken to forestall a network issue. Perhaps the best way to handle this would be a mutual cooperation agreement between the upstream ISP, and the private network admin. That would be sufficient for most problems. Since the Internet is non-deterministic, anything widespread enough to require a national response is going to have probably brought down the net anyway. Top-tier ISPs, (if they don't already) should have co-op agreements in place. This means that the fed only has to coordinate with the Tier 1 ISPs on national/international issues. I would also point out that the government cannot (and in many cases will not,) act to preserve data that it considers irrelevant to it's current concerns.

+1, would read again.