An excellent overview, and it begs a few questions. 1/ https://twitter.com/BobbyChesney/status/1315766192758550531

@BobbyChesney suggests that Cyber Command's effort is "a shot across their bow." Whose bow? Is this a precedent for the military to conduct peacetime operations against organized crime? Or is it only reserved for those with suspected ties to state adversaries? 2/

Is this part of a deterrence strategy? Maybe, he writes. But this would be surprising, given that Cyber Command has stopped talking about deterrence. 3/ https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-08-25/cybersecurity

Did it work? Apparently the operation only caused a temporary headache. But a lot depends on whether similar efforts are in motion. Was this a showstopper or a shot across the bow? 4/

How do we measure long-term results? There are big methodological problems in measuring cumulative effects of these operations. But if Cyber Command is committed to using friction, it needs to work them out. 5/ https://www.lawfareblog.com/measuring-strategic-success-cyber-operations

Is this operation part of the intelligence contest in cyberspace? Maybe, inasmuch as it involves sabotage and counter-sabotage against rival networks. 6/ https://www.lawfareblog.com/intelligence-contest-cyberspace

But if the targets are only loosely tied to states, then this is more like law enforcement against organized crime. Is this an appropriate task for a Combatant Command? 7/7