How do we respond to the Sony hack and the intrusion by NK into our county, coupled with a domestic terror threat? In other words, what do we do?
My starting point is if we ignore it, or just make jokes or laugh nervously while doing nothing, that is very dangerous and will predictably invite more attacks of this type. Weakness is provocative, and always has been over the millennia when confronting evil.
Currently, NK is the most likely culprit, although it’s possible they could have been aided by Iran, China or Russia. It doesn’t really matter … in the world’s perception, NK is viewed to have told US citizens (in effect) I don’t want you to see this movie and, if need be, I‘ll blow up the movie houses to keep you out.
All four of those countries have an advanced cyber warfare capability as do we. At the same time, it’s not smart to get embroiled in a cyber-war as there’s no telling where it would lead, such as shutting down the American electric grid as one example.
Thus, we need a non-military solution to start with, and which addresses the issue head on.
My recommendation …
The President takes a forward leaning leadership role, and addresses the nation telling us and the world that this will not stand. I.e. we will not allow any foreign entity, NK or whoever, to impinge on our 1st amendment rights, nor allow terror threats to intimidate us etc. Among other things, he should encourage Sony to release, and the theater chains to show the movie. He should also tell the nation he will make it a point to go see “The Interview”, and encourage all Americans to go see it too as a protest. Lead by example.
He should then work with the Congress and they should immediately pass some type of insurance indemnity bill that in effect, removes the legal risk from the theater owners or Sony in the event that someone does attempt an attack on a movie theater. (Unlikely but possible)
Thus, the movie should do well, many would see it and the NK objective will fail.
This must also be coupled with a credible threat from the President in consultation with Congress, that should someone attack an American movie theater that we will consider it an act of war, and engage whoever did it militarily with whatever force we need. (The threat needs to be credible).
We also need to deal with the cyber-attack on Sony … not that I have any great love for that company, but that can be done behind the scenes with our intelligence services and military doing their thing.
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