In this particular case, Bert, restitution for WHAT? The inconvenience of deleting a message pointing out that the Pentagon system is wide open to any over-enthusiastic pewter nerd operating from his bedroom? Or the cost of protecting the system from such people? (This might be hard to do without inconveniencing terrorists too.)

If you're after financial compensation for damaged reputation, I don't think the poor chap could afford to pay. He's made a laughing stock of the world's biggest military empire and you can't put a price on that.