Cyberoffense, Deterrence, and the Dawn of a New Era of War

Do our leaders know enough about code and IT to develop sufficient cyberpolicy? Listen to David Rothkopf, Rosa Brooks, Kori Schake, and David Sanger explore the modern challenges facing cybersecurity.

FP_podcast_article_artwork-1-globalthinkers
FP_podcast_article_artwork-1-globalthinkers

Cyberthreats, in their many forms -- from espionage to criminal acts, from the theft of intellectual property to destructive attacks like Stuxnet -- remain wildly misunderstood and only to our great misfortune. On the international stage, discussions about this new era of warfare are in their infancy, and the gap between those who actually understand these highly technical issues and those who are developing cyberpolicy seems to be growing by the day. Following the massive U.S. Office of Personnel Management hack, how much more damage will the United States tolerate before fully confronting the great dangers chipping away at its security?

Cyberthreats, in their many forms — from espionage to criminal acts, from the theft of intellectual property to destructive attacks like Stuxnet — remain wildly misunderstood and only to our great misfortune. On the international stage, discussions about this new era of warfare are in their infancy, and the gap between those who actually understand these highly technical issues and those who are developing cyberpolicy seems to be growing by the day. Following the massive U.S. Office of Personnel Management hack, how much more damage will the United States tolerate before fully confronting the great dangers chipping away at its security?

About the participants:

Rosa Brooks teaches international law, national security, and constitutional law at Georgetown University. Follow her on Twitter: @brooks_rosa.

Kori Schake is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution where she focuses on military history. She is a former foreign-policy advisor to Sen. John McCain. Follow her on Twitter: @KoriSchake.

David Sanger is the chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times and is an expert on cybersecurity.  Follow him on Twitter: @SangerNYT.

 David Rothkopf is CEO and editor of the FP Group. Follow him on Twitter: @djrothkopf.

 Subscribe to The E.R. podcast and other FP podcasts on iTunes here.

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.