In an unusually strong speech last October, Panetta warned that the U.S. would strike back against cyberattacks, even raising the specter of military action.

WSJ: US weighs tougher action over China cyberattacks

E-mails obtained by CNN indicate he was looking for a way to strike back against "foreign infidel forces" he believed were oppressing the Muslim world.

CNN: By the CNN Wire Staff

He was hired in 1994 to strike back against Focus, a colourful upstart, which he managed by livening up the magazine's appearance, grooming its prose and publishing more provocative covers.

ECONOMIST: A brave tale of journalists who sacked their editor

The issue of wages has dominated the conference, with unions voting unanimously on Tuesday to back co-ordinated strike action against public sector pay freezes.

BBC: TUC Congress: Balls pledge over scams in building industry

Another hacker known as th3j35t3r, who has previously sided with the U.S. military against online extremist groups, promised in his twitter feed to strike back at LulzSec.

FORBES: Testing The Limits, LulzSec Takes Down CIA's Website

As the Americans, French and Russians were offering them more than they could have ever imagined possible - including the prospect of US personnel serving as human shields against a possible Israeli air strike on Iran's nuclear installations - back in Teheran they ratcheted up their demands.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Waging diplomatic war