Bannon's War Room - Episode 4126: Chinese Hackers Breach Major Telecom Companies
Release Date: December 14, 2024
Host: Stephen K. Bannon, WarRoom.org

1. Introduction to the Major Cyber Attack

Katie Tur opens the episode by addressing a significant cybersecurity breach dubbed the "Salt Typhoon" hack, which has compromised major U.S. telecommunications providers for over two years without notifying the majority of affected individuals.

• Katie Tur [00:00]: "Of the worst cyber attacks in American history...no plans to notify the majority of people whose phones and their metadata was breached."

She introduces Chris Krebs, former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to shed light on the extent and implications of the breach.

2. Deep Dive with Chris Krebs on the Chinese Cyber Attack

Chris Krebs provides an expert analysis of the cyberattack, attributing it to the Chinese Ministry of State Security and highlighting the sophistication and persistence of the Chinese hackers.

• Chris Krebs [01:07]: "The Chinese Ministry of State Security...very sophisticated, they are very capable, they're very patient, they're very quiet."

He explains that the hackers exploited vulnerabilities in a mix of modern and legacy systems within U.S. telecom infrastructures, allowing them to access sensitive data.

• Chris Krebs [02:02]: "They were able to pick off some vulnerable edge devices just sitting at the edge of the public Internet and the enterprise and they're able to just walk right through and get into the telecommunications providers."

Krebs underscores the espionage motives behind the attack, emphasizing that the primary goal is intelligence collection to monitor U.S. governmental and critical infrastructure operations.

• Chris Krebs [02:05]: "This is about espionage... intelligence collection. They want to know what the State Department's thinking, what the White House is thinking."

He warns of the broader implications, including potential disruptions to critical infrastructure and the looming threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan within the window of vulnerability between 2027 and 2032.

• Chris Krebs [03:07]: "The window of vulnerability is 2027-2032, where China has designs to go into Taiwan."

3. Stephen Bannon's Perspective on the Geopolitical Threat

Transitioning from Krebs’ insights, Stephen K. Bannon provides a comprehensive critique of the current geopolitical landscape, positioning China as the primary adversary to the American Republic.

• Stephen K. Bannon [04:33]: "The great question of the 21st century is who actually wins this great geopolitical struggle, the Chinese Communist Party or the American Republic? That's it. We win, they lose."

Bannon draws historical parallels, referencing the British Opium Wars to illustrate China's tactics in undermining U.S. sovereignty through economic and cyber means.

• Stephen K. Bannon [04:41]: "The British shipped in opium to break them... This is the Opium War in reverse."

He criticizes both the current administration and legislative bodies like the House Freedom Caucus for their handling of national security and economic policies, advocating for a more aggressive stance against Chinese influence.

• Stephen K. Bannon [05:19]: "We are already in a war with the Chinese Communist Party. They're at war with us."

4. National Debt and Economic Strategies

Bannon shifts focus to the United States' escalating national debt, warning of its unsustainable trajectory and its potential to undermine national security.

• Stephen K. Bannon [29:19]: "We have, I don't know, six, seven, $8 trillion of debt. It's not just the debt you got on, it's the velocity, what you're adding. We're adding a trillion dollars every hundred days."

He criticizes past and present fiscal policies, including tax cuts and defense spending, arguing that they exacerbate the debt crisis without addressing underlying economic vulnerabilities.

• Stephen K. Bannon [35:56]: "We shovel in a quarter of a trillion dollars that would to be 250 billion over to the Charnel house of Ukraine... $625 billion in the first two months of the fiscal year."

Bannon emphasizes the need for immediate spending cuts and fiscal responsibility to prevent economic destabilization.

5. Broader Security and Foreign Policy Concerns

The discussion broadens to encompass various international and domestic security issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, NATO's role, and the internal challenges posed by organized crime and border security.

• Stephen K. Bannon [43:30]: "We owe back taxes, right? Why is the IRS targeting you and not millionaires who owe a fortune compared to you?"

He highlights the complexities of global alliances and the inconsistent application of policies, criticizing NATO's effectiveness and the support extended to countries like Ukraine.

• Stephen K. Bannon [49:24]: "We have no business being in and more importantly, no business and no interest."

Bannon also touches upon domestic issues such as the southern border crisis, advocating for stringent measures to combat fentanyl trafficking and cartel activities.

• Stephen K. Bannon [52:50]: "They are putting fentanyl on your own country... They're destroying rural America and the inner cities."

6. Conclusion and Final Remarks

In his final remarks, Bannon reiterates the urgent need for a unified and strategic response to both foreign and domestic threats, calling for resilience and proactive measures to safeguard American interests.

• Stephen K. Bannon [55:00]: "All of us, everything that you do must be towards an answer for us to win and them to lose. We win, they lose."

He promises further discussions on related topics in future episodes, emphasizing the ongoing nature of these challenges.

Notable Quotes

• Chris Krebs [02:05]: "This is about espionage... intelligence collection."
• Stephen K. Bannon [04:33]: "Who actually wins this great geopolitical struggle, the Chinese Communist Party or the American Republic?"
• Stephen K. Bannon [05:19]: "We are already in a war with the Chinese Communist Party. They're at war with us."
• Stephen K. Bannon [35:56]: "We're adding a trillion dollars every hundred days."

Key Takeaways

• Extensive Cyber Espionage: The "Salt Typhoon" hack represents a severe breach of U.S. telecommunications, primarily for espionage purposes, with potential long-term national security implications.

• China as a Primary Threat: China is portrayed as the foremost geopolitical adversary, with strategic plans that could threaten Taiwan and undermine U.S. infrastructure and governance.

• Economic Vulnerabilities: The unsustainable national debt trajectory is a critical concern, necessitating immediate fiscal reforms and spending cuts to prevent economic and national security crises.

• Domestic Security Issues: Organized crime, particularly related to fentanyl trafficking, and border security remain pressing challenges that require decisive action.

• Political Critique: The current administration and legislative bodies are criticized for their handling of these multifaceted threats, with calls for more aggressive and strategic policies to counteract Chinese influence and manage domestic issues effectively.

This episode of Bannon's War Room provides a comprehensive analysis of the significant cyberattack by Chinese hackers, the broader geopolitical tensions with China, and the intertwined economic and domestic security challenges facing the United States. Through expert insights and pointed critiques, the episode underscores the urgency of addressing these multifaceted threats to ensure national sovereignty and stability.