US also involved in cyber warfare
Dear Sir,
The diplomatic standoff between the US and Russia over allegations that Moscow was actively involved in influencing the outcome of the American presidential election must be cautiously reviewed.
According to media reports, 17 federal intelligence institutions have concluded that Russia was behind the hacking of US computers and e-mails in an attempt to influence the elections.
Cyber war is now being waged by every nation on earth.
History grimly reminds us that during the presidency of George W Bush, the US intelligence establishment produced documents, claiming that Iraq had an arsenal of offensive weapons, including missiles capable of threatening neighbouring countries. Those claims were proven to be false but it cost innumerable Iraqis their lives.
Cyber war is a reality across the globe, including in the USA.
Any number of malicious actors — from powerful states to sophisticated global criminals — could leverage an attack against the US using a variety of stealthy methods.
During 2015, there were 228,000 cyber incidents in the USA.
Hillary Clinton’s unwise decision to use a private e-mail server, was an invitation for any hacker, private or state-sponsored.
In mid-2015, Chinese hackers stole the security clearance of more than 22mn Americans, in what was the largest and most catastrophic cyber data breach in US history.
The United States is itself a world leader in global hacking.
The National Security Agency (NSA) is reported to have gained access to 258 targets in 89 countries.
The fact is that Russia, China and the USA have fallen into each other’s cyber crosshairs.
Farouk Araie, Johannesburg
Solar energy ideal for Sulba project
Dear Sir,
No doubt the Bu Sulba logistics hub (Gulf Times, January 2) is a great leap forward towards the economic development of Qatar, especially at a time when countries in the region are looking for non-oil revenue.
It is true that small- and medium-size companies also would benefit from this project.
For the conservation of the environment, authorities concerned may consider generating solar energy for this massive project spread over 51,7375sq m.
It will go a long way in tackling global concerns like carbon emission and ozone depletion.
Hashim KT Ellora, Doha
Remembering actor Om Puri
Dear Sir,
An era has come to an end with the demise of iconic Bollywood actor Om Puri. With him we have lost a truly a versatile actor who excelled not only in commercial cinema but in “parallel” cinema as well.
Om Puri had an illustrative film career spanning over four decades, during which he wooed the audience with his stellar performance in movies of different genres. He was a highly acclaimed film artist and a multifaceted personality who excelled in all types of roles. He made everyone laugh with his superb performance in films like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Malamaal Weekly and Hera Pheri. On other hand he left everyone in awe with his acting prowess in films like Ardh Satya and Gandhi. He also acted in Marathi and Kannada films. His performance in films like Gandhi directed by British director Richard Attenborough and Tamas by Govind Nihalani was truly laudable.
Om Puri’s name came into prominence in the 1980’s with the emergence of alternative art cinema that found a niche among the Indian audience. He played several memorable characters that depicted the anger of people of those times.
He was conferred many awards and citations, including Filmfare Best supporting actor award for Aakrosh (1981) and National film award for the Best actor Ardh Satya (1983). He was also a recipient of Padma Shri (1990), the fourth highest civilian award, in recognition of his contribution to cinema.
Ramesh G Jethwani, Bangalore, India
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