In what could be called the first major policy speech by a defense secretary on cyber security, Leon Panetta said that the US military could be called upon to act preemptively if it detects an imminent threat of cyber attack such as that perpetrated against the White House Military Office. During the remarks made at a gathering of business leaders in New York, Panetta decried insufficient investment by US business leaders in internet security measures, and mentioned that a presidential executive order was being considered "while we wait for Congress to act."
