President Obama and the Changing Cyber Paradigm

Abstract:     
Among the most important issues for American National Security is the national response to the growing threat from cyber activities. This threat is both ubiquitous and potentially catastrophic as recently demonstrated by both the recent decision by the UK to prioritize cyber capabilities over putting in service an air-capable aircraft carrier and the targeted effectiveness of the STUXNET worm. The evolving cyber paradigm will force the United States to reevaluate the way in which it thinks of both national security and the concept of armed conflict. To combat this threat, President Obama must refocus America’s attention, by both reallocating the primary governmental responsibility for cyber security and overhauling the public-private partnership that he has made a key component of his cyber strategy.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 11

Keywords: Cyber, Law of War, Law of Armed Conflict, Computer, Public, Private, Partnership, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, STUXNET

JEL Classification: K11, K12, K33, O33, O38

Accepted Paper Series