Write a Memorandum to the National Security Advisor .
Provide a memorandum to the National Security Advisor regarding the advisability of the covert action detailed below and how the proposed covert action can be justified (or not) by ethics and practice:
Cyber Collateral Damage
You were part of the team that developed a variant of the STUXNET virus, which temporarily shut down an Iranian nuclear facility several years ago. There has been great interest in attempting to utilize this virus and cyber capabilities against another nuclear proliferator, North Korea. This is being done in response not only to ongoing North Korean threats but intelligence information indicating that the leader of North Korea, Kim Jung-eun is ready to sell nuclear know-how and weaponry to unnamed terrorist groups. The covert action has the “go ahead” via Executive Order of the President when you discover a previously unknown “complication”. It appears that the unleashing of this new virus/malware will take down servers (industrial control systems) running the electric grid in North Korea, resulting in a shutdown of civilian facilities, such as Hospitals. It is unclear whether North Korea’s poor system of utility backups can run essential medical systems under these circumstances.
What should you advise your boss and ultimately, the President of the US?
Ensure that
a. Ability to use ideas from the readings provided and the issue of covert action.
b. Provide a clear discussion and conclusion.
c. Use resources provided.
