June 29, 2017

`Russia attempts to interfere in U.S. election.’ Gasp! Really? Indignation and outrage pour forth from an incredulous Congress in the wake of Trump’s election.
Are you kidding me? Does anyone remember STUXNET in 2010 when the U.S. attempted (with some success) to dismantle Iran’s nuclear laboratory using cyber tech bots? Now we have botnets. Remember Obama’s wiretaps of German Chancellor Merkel’s phones 2010? Satellites and drones peer into the darkest corners of every nation on earth, every day, courtesy of our NSA.
Not only are we the masters of snooping; we are masterfully inept at keeping secrets.
Of course Russia tries to interfere in our leaky political system; so does China, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea and countless others. That’s what countries do. It’s as natural as a cow swishing its tail. The best talent should be dedicated to preventing it from happening. But alas, that’s not working.
I’ve long argued in this space that the pace of technology has surpassed the ability of society to absorb its changes. Today’s pace has left Moore’s Law (transistors/chip will double every year) in the dust. Last week’s round of cyber attacks in Europe affecting Merck, Rosneft, Maersk Shipping, the Ukranian banking system and various telecom suppliers makes it clear that governments, including the U.S., are powerless to stop these incursions. It now appears that social disruption, not financial gain, was the objective of Ukraine’s cyber interlopers who reportedly used a NSA developed program called Eternal Blue. If you doubt the technical competence of our government ‘experts’ to protect their secrets I have one word that should convince you – ObamaCare.
Those who stand to profit from the discordance are exploiters of technological chaos for financial, political or religious gain (Zuckerberg, Putin, Assad, ISIS, Trump). One inevitable result has been the resurgence of nationalism, exemplified by Brexit and Make America Great Again. (I agree with the sentiment but not the implementation.) Building walls, erecting trade barriers, imposing sanctions, etc.; will all prove counterproductive in the face of an evolving global economy. You can’t unblow technology’s horn.
Adding to the paranoia is the fear of a cyber war wherein the enemy is unknown. Attacking power grids, air traffic control systems, Social Security Admin or the IRS will cause mass hysteria at the least; countless casualties at worst. Against whom does one retaliate?
The nattering nabobs of the main stream media would have us believe that homophobia, racism, bad cops and global warming are the greatest threats to our (and our children’s) futures. I disagree. Leon Panetta is correct: An accidental WW III, triggered by an unknown, evil-doing hacker tops his list and mine. I’ll take, same-sex-bathrooms, expensive health care and rising sea levels any day. Trump’s domestic focus may waver in the face of criticism, but I believe he knows a real enemy when he sees one. Hopefully, that will remain his top priority.
You are welcome.
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