DATE=3/22/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42918
TITLE=MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS WEAKNESSES
BYLINE=DAVID MCALARY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A NEW STUDY SAYS U-S MILITARY INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE
INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE TO ATTACKS BY MALICIOUS COMPUTER
OPERATORS OUTSIDE THE DEFENSE SYSTEM. AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A
SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY, THE REPORT REQUESTED BY THE
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE MILITARY MUST MAKE ITS COMMAND,
CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATION STRUCTURE MUCH MORE SECURE.
TEXT: THE U-S ARMED FORCES -- LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD -- IS
ADAPTING TO THE REVOLUTION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. RETIRED
I-B-M EXECUTIVE JAMES MCGRODDY SAYS THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT IS
RELYING EVERMORE ON COMPUTERS TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
ITS FIGHTING FORCES.
// MCGRODDY ACT //
I THINK OF THIS AS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE MILITARY
WHICH IS IMPROVING IN CAPABILITY BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS AND
MAKING THE MUSCLE MORE EFFECTIVE AND, IN FACT, MAKING
SMALLER MUSCLE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE THAN BIGGER MUSCLE
COULD DO BEFORE.
// END ACT //
BUT A COMMITTEE MR. MCGRODDY CHAIRED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
GOVERNMENT'S NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL SAYS THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT IS FALLING BEHIND IN A RACE TO PROTECT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS CRITICAL TO MILITARY OPERATIONS. IN A NEW REPORT, THE
PANEL -- MADE UP LARGELY OF EXPERTS IN COMMUNICATIONS AND
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY -- URGES QUICK IMPROVEMENT IN SECURING
INFORMATION SYSTEMS FROM INCURSION BY PEOPLE IN THE NETWORKING
WORLD CALLED CYBERSPACE.
// MCGRODDY ACT //
AS YOU BUILD THIS MORE INTRICATE AND MORE COMPETENT
NERVOUS SYSTEM TO CAPITALIZE ON THE HUGE PROGRESS IN
TECHNOLOGY, YOU POTENTIALLY BUILD INCREASED
VULNERABILITY. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS
ON PROTECTING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM FROM INFORMATION
WARFARE ATTACKS AS FAST AS THEY'VE INCREASED ITS
VULNERABILITY TO INFORMATION WARFARE ATTACKS.
// END ACT //
WHILE THE MILITARY KNOWS HOW TO PHYSICALLY PROTECT COMMUNICATIONS
FACILITIES, THE REPORT SAYS IT IS WEAKER IN GUARDING AGAINST
ELECTRONIC INCURSIONS. SUCH PROBES OCCUR DAILY. EVEN HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PENETRATE THE SYSTEMS AND CAUSE
DISRUPTION.
THE PANEL SAYS TROOPS IN THE FIELD DO NOT APPEAR TO TAKE
PROTECTION OF SUCH SYSTEMS AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY DO OTHER ASPECTS
OF DEFENSE. IT POINTS OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE ONE OF
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT THAN OF TECHNOLOGY. JAMES MCGRODDY SAYS
SECURITY PRACTICES FOR MILITARY INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE FAR
INFERIOR TO THE BEST COMMERCIAL PRACTICES.
// MCGRODDY ACT //
THE WORRY IS THAT IF YOU ARE AT WAR WITH SOMEBODY OR IF
SOMEBODY IS REALLY INTENT ON ATTACKING YOU IN THIS WAY,
THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE THAN A COUPLE OF HIGH SCHOOL
KIDS.
// END ACT //
IN RESPONSE, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THE WEAKNESSES.
BUT SPOKESWOMAN SUSAN HANSON SAYS THE AGENCY HAD ALREADY BEGUN
LOOKING INTO THEM IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE THE STUDY BEGAN.
// HANSON ACT //
THERE HAS BEEN MUCH PROGRESS ON SECURITY OF DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS, DEVELOPING NEW ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE FOR OUR COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS, AND
INTELLIGENCE OFFICE. SO, WHILE WE AGREE WITH MANY OF
THE THINGS THAT THEY RECOMMENDERD, A LOT OF THAT IS
ALREADY UNDERWAY HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT.
// END ACT //
AMONG THE SOLUTIONS THE PANEL RECOMMENDED WERE TO EMPHASIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO MILITARY LEADERS, RAISE
THE STATURE OF COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL TO THAT OF TRADITIONAL
COMBAT FIELDS, AND CREATE A NEW CAREER SPECIALITY IN MILITARY
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. BECAUSE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CHANGES
FASTER THAN WEAPONS SYSTEMS, THE PANEL ALSO RECOMMENDED
SEPARATING THE MILITARY ACQUISITION OPERATIONS FOR EACH TO ALLOW
SPEED AND FLEXIBILITY IN COMMUNICATIONS PURCHASES.
// REST OPTIONAL //
// MCGRODDY ACT //
TANKS MAY NEVER FIGHTS TANKS AGAIN. IT MAY BE THAT IT'S
A MUCH BETTER INVESTMENT TO BUY THIS SORT OF STUFF AND
TO STOP BUYING TANKS. SO THERE'S AN ISSUE OF
REPRIORITIZING THE BUDGET AND NOT BUYING BUGGY WHIPS.
// END ACT //
THAT IS PANEL CHAIRMAN JAMES MCGRODDY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DEM/PT
22-Mar-99 7:03 PM EST (0003 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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