[myrryr]

They gain HEAPS pointing at North Korea. They can say that it shows the threat that the US has from other countries on a hacking front, and that they need more funding around a cyber defense initiative. IT can't be - oh anonymous (or some group like them) since no one will take it as seriously.

They want to point at a country that will say "damn straight we did it" even if they didn't (North Korea is perfect!)

[knorby]

No matter what you believe, some group just caused massive damage to Sony. If the US was looking to justify "cyber defense" spending, how would a rogue group not be a bigger threat? A rogue group better fits the terrorism narrative that has justified much of the last decade's military and intelligence spending. You're reaching.

[cmdkeen]

China is busy providing all that justification, which is why Cybersecurity is getting massive military investment already. Sony being hacked is nothing, in terms of national security, compared to what China is getting up to.

[personZ]

They can say that it shows the threat that the US has from other countries on a hacking front

There have been attacks on the US government IT infrastructure. Stolen designs and files from military contractors. Attacks on energy and distribution systems. Attacks on the banking system.

On the grand hierarchy of attacks, this is really, really low. I mean, given the severity and regularity of attacks against things that really, really matter, no the US certainly didn't need this to justify anything. The concern is very real, and significantly more important than some Sony Entertainment emails or movie leaks.