I was packing my bags this morning, getting ready for tomorrow's trip to South Korea. My daughter answered the phone. "It's some guy, he says he's from the White House." I was told that I had been placed on the short list for Obama's new cyber czar position, behind Melissa Hathaway and some person whose name I didn't catch.

The man from the White House wanted to ask me if there was anything in my life that would make it "difficult" for me at a Senate confirmation. I stopped him in his tracks. "Take me off your short list," I said. He was dumbfounded.

"I'm like that soldier who refuses a promotion because he doesn't want to lead from the rear," I told him. I explained that I was on my way to protect South Korea's cyber infrastructure if North Korea should attack with missiles or even nuclear weapons. "I don't have the time or the inclination to deal with presidential politics, so take me off your list."

He thanked me for my time and we hung up.

My wife & daughter are scared to death for me, becuase they think I might get vaporized in a nuclear blast. All of it to protect a bunch of computer networks. But this is somthing I have to do. The cyber threat is too important. I'd rather lead from the front than sit at a desk in the White House.