Fighting back against cyber-attacks

[Commentary] Reports of foreign cyber-attacks on U.S. industries and government are usually handled delicately. An online break-in or a malware-induced shutdown is followed by finger-pointing at unnamed foreign sources and demands that it never happen again. But that tone gave way to a far tougher one in Washington this week as top security officials and President Obama simplified the stakes and amped up the warnings.

China has to clean up its act, the White House said, and the Pentagon is ready to go on the offensive with cyberattack teams that will target intruders. It's an overdue step on Washington's part, though it comes with risks. This frankness is too long in coming, especially as hacking and cyber-thefts increase. Washington is right to confront a serious issue with blunt words and a plan of action.