The Daily Caller - Sen. Marshall: The Colonial Pipeline Attack Is a Wakeup Call

Op-Ed

By Roger Marshall

As Americans wait in line at gas pumps across the country, many will see for the first time how devastating cyber attacks can be on our way of life. While these attacks against our country have been going on for decades, the seriousness of this recent attack on one of America's largest gas pipelines should serve as a wakeup call for our nation.

For all practical purposes, any cyber attack against our nation's critical infrastructure -- infrastructure that Americans depend on for their way of life -- should be viewed as a major terrorist attack, and receive an equally strong response from our government.

As a congressman and now senator, I have made several observations: First, the vast majority of cyber attacks originate from hostile countries, namely China and Russia.

Second, federal agencies and private businesses continue to lack coordination, often not sharing enough information and solutions on how to fight off Russian and Chinese hackers intent on stealing intellectual property and trade secrets.

We let these cyber terrorists go unpunished, and pay little or no attention to their failed attempts and successful attacks. They steal our intellectual property, trade secrets and classified information with zero consequence. We continue to remain reactive, rather than proactive. This inaction is not consistent with American justice and values.

Sadly, America's indifference to these attacks from our adversaries proves to them, "if the bank vault is open, the gold is ours for the taking."

On the other side of the coin is how America will deal with cyber terrorism coming from within our adversaries' borders, but denied by their leaders. One should realize nothing happens within Russia and China's borders without the government and military knowing, and usually abetting. Does anyone really believe a major cyber attack carried out in Russia against American critical infrastructure without Vladimir Putin turning a blind eye? The common sense answer is of course not.

Similar to some nations allowing terrorist operations to exist and grow within their borders, China and Russia turn their eyes away from their own cyber terrorists; actively promoting a culture of theft and sabotage that benefits these organized crime organizations.

We need an all of government approach, to engage, solve and punish those who would try to engage in cyber attacks. And, if the Kremlin and Chinese Communist Party have nothing to do with the hackers within their borders, then I'm sure they would be more than happy to extradite these terrorists to America so they can be prosecuted to the fullest.

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