But the idea of Galileo had irked the US Department of Defense, which controls the existing American system, because of the potential of the European network's signals to interfere with those intended for use by the US military.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | EU-US strike sat-navigation deal

BlackBerry is losing its tight grip on the market for mobile phones for the U.S. Department of Defense, as the Pentagon today moves to open its network to Apple iOS and Google Android devices.

FORBES: Connect

And then on Wednesday, November 14, Ellen Nakashima at the Washington Post reported that a secret Presidential Policy Directive (PPD 20) had been signed that grants the Department of Defense the legal basis it needed to engage in offensive network attacks to protect itself.

FORBES: Pace of US Cyber-Preparedness Accelerating

Dianne Feinstein of California said questions about the role of the Defense Department are significant in determining how to strengthen the nation's intelligence network.

CNN: Pentagon's prewar intelligence role questioned

According to AppleInsider , the Defense Department has unveiled a plan for opening up its network to a wider variety of devices starting in February 2014.

FORBES: Connect