The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
Oman’s quiet diplomacy is back on display in Washington this week with the Gulf country's foreign minister set to discuss mediation efforts on two fronts: Israel-Palestine and Yemen.
Minister Yusuf bin Alawi touched down in the US capital in his second visit since July and is expected to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday as wells as members of Congress.