Former Republican House speaker and failed GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has weighed in on Sony Pictures decision to pull the comedy “The Interview” from theaters on Christmas in the wake of a massive cyberattack against Sony. Newt says America has lost its first cyberwar. And he’s completely wrong.
In a Tweet, Gingrich wrote:
Newt Gingrich ✔ @newtgingrich Follow
No one should kid themselves. With the Sony collapse America has lost its first cyberwar. This is a very very dangerous precedent.
Now I’m not sure how a business decision by a Japanese company means American lost a cyberwar. But the hackers working on behalf of the North Korean government have certainly won a battle and this is far from over.
The hackers made a big mistake in threatening theaters with 9/11 styled violence which has resulted in a stepped up investigation by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and almost certainly elements of the CIA and DoD. And less than 24 hours after the threat was made, the US Government has firm proof that North Korean, likely using surrogates, is responsible for the hack.
But make no mistake, the United States is second to none when it comes to engaging in cyber warfare. All one has to do is a little research on the Stuxnet virus to know this. There have been worse hacks against US corporations and business interests in the past two years. The only thing unprecedented about the Sony hack is the brazenness of the hackers, their daily taunting, and the release of embarrassing records.
But for the speaker to make a distinction that a business decision made by a corporation is somehow a cyberwar loss for America is a stretch at best and a bad attempt to politicize an attack on a foreign corporation. The speaker seems to not be able to distinguish a battle versus a war.
Nation/state attacks like this can be considered an “Act of War” so it will be interesting to see the extent our government responds to this. But this is far from over.
Dan, have to agree with you on Newt overeaching in his comments. This is merely one shot across our bow, to let soft Americans know we are not as protected from the bad guys as we think. If we had a government with a backbone, an appropriate response might be hitting the North Koeans with an electronic surge or virus knocking their electronic capability back into the Stone Age. That would be a stong message to all who wish to screw with the United States to expect blowback. Of course, we know Obama will not take that type of action. He is more likely to send the great negotiator, John Kerry to meet with the North Koreans and offer to lift the trade embargo if they promise to be nice? Where is Teddy Roosevelt and his “big stick” philosophy when we need him the most?
Pat, are you forgetting the influence of China in North Korea? Diplomacy does work you know
China has it’s own hands full these days and while North Korea is still their puppet, I doubt they encouraged the fat boy in the pajamas to kick the sleeping bear. North Korea needs to be bodyslammed hard enough to where they will think twice before doing it agian. If not, what will be next for the hackers, perhaps the power companies or the energy grid? It will be interesting to see how hard the Presidents slaps them.
China hacks us daily; they obtain all sorts of information from this county … probably billions
All the more reason for strong action against North Korea to send a message to China and any other intruders that the United States will not tolerate their actions. Sometimes the carrot works and other times the stick has to be used.