Computer systems link interoperability problems at CIA, NSA, DIA etc.

From: <reginal..._at_hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:24:04 -0800

"Open-Source Spying

"By Clive Thompson

"When Matthew Burton arrived at the Defense Intelligence Agency in
January 2003, he was excited about getting to his computer. Burton, who
was then 22, had long been interested in international relations: he
had studied Russian politics and interned at the U.S. consulate in
Ukraine, helping to speed refugee applications of politically
persecuted Ukranians. But he was also a high-tech geek fluent in
Web-page engineering, and he spent hours every day chatting online with
friends and updating his own blog. When he was hired by the D.I.A., he
told me recently, his mind boggled at the futuristic, secret spy
technology he would get to play with: search engines that can read
minds, he figured. Desktop video conferencing with colleagues around
the world. If the everyday Internet was so awesome, just imagine how
much better the spy tools would be.

"But when he got to his cubicle, his high-tech dreams collapsed. 'The
reality,' he later wrote ruefully, 'was a colossal letdown. '

......."

The article continues on for some 20 pages.

Reg Curtis/VE9RWC
Received on Sat Mar 02 2024 - 00:57:28 CST