Preventing cyberattacks should be a top priority for U.S.
In early May part of America was held hostage by mercenary enemies of the United States who were seeking over $4 million after hacking Colonial Pipeline, which supplied fuel to many Southeastern states.
That crisis was followed by other cyberattacks — against a large food processing company, a subway system and other smaller public services and businesses. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been paid in cyber ransom incidents over the years.
The Colonial Pipeline cyberattack on a key part of our energy supply was quite possibly perpetrated by one man sitting in his basement and eating pretzels. Yet, this individual was able to bring much of the East Coast to its knees. We need oil. We need energy. Forget about eliminating fossil fuels in the year 2040 — we all just need to get through today, the next day, the week, etc.
As the nation observed the long lines at the gas pumps and the frustration that gas stations had no fuel to sell, it was a flashback for some to the 1970s and the presidency of Democrat Jimmy Carter. Those of that era remember the “oddeven” gas rationing because of the fuel crisis. Carter’s tenure also witnessed a sudden increase in inflation and bombings in the Middle East — the similarities to today are disconcerting.
To have one company control the gas supply of 45% of the East Coast should be a concern for everyone. Colonial Pipeline obviously must beef up their cybersecurity efforts as should all businesses and industries.
I am pleased and thankful that the Biden administration is no longer taking a laissezfaire attitude about business cybersecurity. We must have an all-hands-on-deck approach. There is the potential in the
21st century for the use of cyberattacks much as nuclear submarines and ballistic missiles were used in the last century. Like our past successes, America must be superior in defeating cyberattacks.
Hospitals across America are not fazed by power outages caused by storms. They just switch to a back-up generator and operations continue.
Back in the 1990s when I was the ranking member of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, I used that same argument when it came to the defense security of the U.S. and the awarding of the next generation submarine. I fought for the production to be performed in my home state of Connecticut. The state of Virginia was insisting that the Seawolf submarine, part of our stealth military infrastructure, should be made in Virginia along with various other naval vessels. I protested and strongly encouraged the George H.W. Bush administration that it would endanger America. Our foes would just need to shut down or take out the Virginia shipyard and our capacity to respond to military conflicts would be seriously diminished or at the very least impaired.
The Seawolf submarine was awarded to a Connecticut manufacturer. For more than two decades, advanced submarines have been produced in two locations.
As a former vice chairman of the House Energy & Power Subcommittee, I advise we look at the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack as a wake-up call. If that bad actor who held us hostage weeks ago trains others or repeats his activities — worse if they are state sponsored — we will dread the day we did not start to place alternatives to our energy infrastructure and delivery capabilities on the top of our list of critical priorities.
Damaging and/or crippling a society in the 21st century can all be done with the speed of a person’s fingers, a thirst for quick money and a sinister mind.
Gary A. Franks served three terms as U. S. representative for Connecticut’s 5th District. He was the first Black Republican elected to the House in nearly 60 years and New England’s first Black member of the House. He is host of the podcast We Speak Frankly. Follow him on Twitter @GaryFranks.