Bush announced he would create the board last week when he appointed long-time electronic security aide Richard Clarke to serve as his special adviser for Internet security. Clarke will chair the infrastructure protection board, which Bush has directed to "propose policies and programs to appropriate officials to ensure the protection of the nations information systems for critical infrastructure."
As chairman of the infrastructure protection board -- which will be made up predominantly of representatives of executive-branch agencies -- Clarke will report to National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and to newly appointed Director of Homeland Defense Tom Ridge.
The new board will also be directed to make sure that state and local governments and non-governmental organizations are doing their respective parts to maintain effective warning systems and share information they receive about threats and attacks.
In addition, the board will be required to "coordinate outreach" to the private sector companies that control the telecommunications, information and energy networks that make up the vast majority of the nations so-called critical infrastructure.
Appointed by President Clinton in 1998 to serve as the nations first national coordinator for security, infrastructure protection and counter-terrorism, Clarke has remained at that post under President Bush.
One of the nations foremost experts on Internet security, Clarke has repeatedly warned that the United States could face an "electronic Pearl Harbor" unless its electronic defenses are bolstered.
David McGuire, Newsbytes
