Beltway Insider: Obama Restores Diplomatic Relations with Cuba; FBI SONY Deal With Cyber Terror Attack

President Obama formally announced, in one of the first real breaks from party standard bearers, a major foreign policy shift, ending fifty years of ineffective action, which will advance the effort to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba and the Castro regime.

 

According to Gallup, President Obama’s job approval, over the past week, increased four percentage points to 47% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President decreased three percentage points to 49%. 

Obama Restores Diplomatic Relations with Cuba

President Obama in announcing the sweeping changes, which effectually dismantles the isolation policy in place since 1961that has proved ineffective, outlined a three point plan that includes restoring diplomatic presence, modernizing Cuba through the exchange of technology and information and disassemble the terror ties and intentions of the communist island nation.

“I’ve instructed Secretary Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba to reestablish diplomatic relations that have been severed since January of 1961.  Going forward, the United States will reestablish an embassy in Havana, and high-ranking officials will visit Cuba,” Obama said in a released statement.

Determining Cuba’s terrorism position also barometer in furthering the reestablishment of diplomatic relationship were left to Secretary of State John Kerry.

“I’ve instructed Secretary Kerry to review Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.  This review will be guided by the facts and the law.  Terrorism has changed in the last several decades.  At a time when we are focused on threats from al Qaeda to ISIL, a nation that meets our conditions and renounces the use of terrorism should not face this sanction,” the President said.

Communism remains the government structure for Cuba and a shift in structure is not on the Obama agenda as a condition in order to facilitate the opportunities outlined for change, modernization, economic stability and reform and the Cuban government is welcoming the changes.

The Obama Administration also addressed the rigid retaliation directed by the Castro government against family members of those who safely, although illegally, made the 90 mile boat journey across the Florida straits to seek political asylum in the United States.

The Obama action will lift travel restrictions, allowing U.S. Citizens to travel freely to Cuba from origination points within the United States and Cubans to travel to the United States, legally, the policy shift will also include lifting trading restrictions that will ultimately allow business from each country to engage in free trade and commerce with the other.

Prisoner Exchange

The major hurdles in completing the policy changes were, of course, the release of any political prisoners. A prisoner exchange would be necessary in assisting any changes or furtherance of foreign policy shifts between the two nations.

Alan Gross, a U.S. citizen and USAID contractor held for nearly five years in a Cuban prison remained at the center of conversation between the Obama Administration and Raul Castro, the President of Cuba and brother to Fidel, the former dictator.

The United States had held, for fifteen years, three Cuban officers in prison.

Foreign leaders and even the Pope John Francis had reached out to both Obama and Castro in an effort to bring out the release of Mr. Gross and the three Cubans. Without the release agreement, none of the changes would be possible.

Alan Gross will be spending Christmas 2014 home, in the United States, with his family, after five years as a political prisoner.  Accompanied by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and  Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) the heavily guarded clandestine exchange was carried out with as much secrecy as a military operation.

Cuban Response

Raul Castro has indicated the changes in policy are welcome and his country, his rules basically as Cuban citizen will continue to be subject to the imposed rule of law within the Cuban government.

A former lynchpin for anti-democracy and a western hemisphere hold out, Obama’s plan to neutralize relationships advance shared global interests and create a free trade flow, that will quickly endear Castro to his people, no matter the structure of government.

Castro will also have access to the global coalitions, parallel partnerships and as Cuba experiences an increase in its Gross Domestic Product as the policy of isolation passes away and the new strategy relies on increases all around to maintain the solidarity of the Castro regime.

FBI Determines North Korea Responsible for SONY Cyber Attack

SONY Picture Entertainment, (SPE), one of the largest studios in the world, announced this week they were buckling under the pressure of recent weeks and following the demands of a terrorist organization that has caused the entertainment giant much embarrassment.

After weeks of public mortification and as the date of the release of the film, The Interview, which is apparently at the center of this recent, and not the first, cyber attack, it was announced SPE has agreed to  meet the demands of the terror group and pull the dark comedy.

The Guardians of Peace, a typical terror group, immediately issued new demands which called for deconstruction of all theatrical marketing built across every platform, which depicts the assassination of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, literally erasing the films social and traditional media marketing campaign, public awareness and interest.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation concluded last week the cyber attack was consistent with previous malicious cyber activity that had been linked directly to North Korea.

Additionally the FBI discovered “several Internet protocol (IP) addresses associated several Internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with known North Korean infrastructure communicated with IP addresses that were hardcoded into the data deletion malware used in this attack.”

The FBI issued a report on its initial findings and provided an update on the investigation. Determining a clear credible cyber attack against the Entertainment giant, the FBI did not advise further.

Decisions on pulling the film or meeting any of the demands issued by the “Guardians of Peace” were not discussed publically or separately.

Guardians of Peace Issues Violence Threat

The SPE Cyber Attack, devastating, incapacitating and humiliating, took a violent turn throughout the week as the film became to gain grass roots supporters demanding a patriotic stand be taken against the demands of this little known organization and have the film released on some level.

An obvious concern, the terror organization immediately issued an additional warning that a “September 11, 2001” type of attack could be next if SPE proceeded in releasing the film.

Citing public safety, the movie was pulled.

This decision only increased the grass roots and grass top campaign, not for the value of this film, but for the simple fact that a foreign entity, a sworn enemy of the United States is holding one of the largest corporations in America hostage and the people are increasingly angry at the compliance.

Pulled by SONY over unsubstantiated terror threats, that included violence, without consultation or comment from the Obama Administration or the global coalition recently formed to combat the continued threats from radical and extreme terror groups. SPE also refused to consult Homeland Security and formally or informally local law enforcement commissioners to determine the credibility and readiness of tactical teams for critical response over the time frame the film would have had theatrical placement and following.

SONY negated the efforts of the global community to combat ISIS/ISISL, the Taliban and every other terror organization not to mention every life lost including the 147 children murdered this week when the Taliban stormed the Pashawar Army Military School as well as James Foley, Peter Kassig, Steven Sotloff, David Haines, Herve Gourdel, and Alan Henning all beheaded by ISIS/ISIL and the more than 3,000 Americans who died on September 11, 2001 in the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and courageously in Shanksville, PA as fighting and dying for freedom was a more suitable option than allowing any terror group ground.

SPE Vulnerable Cyber Target

This round of hacking is not the first for the entertainment giant. From May 27, 2011 to June 2, 2011 the computer systems, according to the FBI were compromised and those responsible, the group LulzSec  a domestic group, used an SQL injection attack against the SPE computer infrastructure.

The success of previous cyber attacks invites more sophisticated and deeper attacks.

The use of an SQL injection attack against its website, a technique commonly used by hackers to exploit vulnerabilities and steal information, was not utilized in this attack.

Members of LulzSec were indicted and brought to justice.

FBI Official Statement

As a result of our investigation, and in close collaboration with other U.S. government departments and agencies, the FBI now has enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible for these actions. While the need to protect sensitive sources and methods precludes us from sharing all of this information, our conclusion is based, in part, on the following:

  • Technical analysis of the data deletion malware used in this attack revealed links to other malware that the FBI knows North Korean actors previously developed. For example, there were similarities in specific lines of code, encryption algorithms, data deletion methods, and compromised networks.
  • The FBI also observed significant overlap between the infrastructure used in this attack and other malicious cyber activity the U.S. government has previously linked directly to North Korea. For example, the FBI discovered that several Internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with known North Korean infrastructure communicated with IP addresses that were hardcoded into the data deletion malware used in this attack.
  • Separately, the tools used in the SPE attack have similarities to a cyber attack in March of last year against South Korean banks and media outlets, which was carried out by North Korea.

We are deeply concerned about the destructive nature of this attack on a private sector entity and the ordinary citizens who worked there. Further, North Korea’s attack on SPE reaffirms that cyber threats pose one of the gravest national security dangers to the United States. Though the FBI has seen a wide variety and increasing number of cyber intrusions, the destructive nature of this attack, coupled with its coercive nature, sets it apart.

North Korea’s actions were intended to inflict significant harm on a U.S. business and suppress the right of American citizens to express themselves. Such acts of intimidation fall outside the bounds of acceptable state behavior. The FBI takes seriously any attempt—whether through cyber-enabled means, threats of violence, or otherwise—to undermine the economic and social prosperity of our citizens.

   

 White House Quiet; Politicians Vocal on SPE Decision

The White House issued no statement during any of the week’s press conference in which White House press pool had asked specifically what retaliation would be in place should North Korea be found guilty of engaging in cyber terror acts against the United States.

Josh Earnest, White House Press Secretary, was quick to send all inquiries into the SONY Hacking Cyber Attack to the F.B.I.

When pressed if the White House has plans to normalize relations with North Korean in order to extract more civilized and appropriate behavior on a global stage. To which Earnest replied simply, “no.”

President Obama, however, did speak publically indicating he believed SONY made a mistake ”in pulling the film.” Sr. Arizona Senator John McCain (R) himself a victim of five years of torture in a POW camp during the Vietnam War also blasted the entertainment giant with

The final decision to pull the film was met, across the board, unilaterally across the board with concern and public outcry from journalists to directors to Hollywood to Washington.

Party Politics apparently having a new bone to chew stopped attacking each other and collectively issued support for the film’s release that included rank and file membership direct marketing to assist. To date SONY SPE has not reversed its decision.

Recent Developments

An ever evolving and fluid situation, the people, to whom SONY ultimately depends upon, have through every platform and every genre spoken in one voice.

David Boise, SONY’s attorney, said during the Sunday political appearance “The Interview” would be distributed.”

This was met with an even greater challenge to the heart of America as the Guardians of Peace announced they would to bomb the White House, the only September 11 target not realized.

The terror group believes the heart, soul, loyalty and devotion to democracy, independence and the principals of freedom lies in buildings and monuments, and should they be destroyed the American people will be crippled and incapacitated with fear rendering our society mute and useless.

For more information on President Barack Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.org, Wikipedia.com,

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