DATE=6/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=HARD DRIVES (L)
NUMBER=2-263564
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S Energy Department says two missing
computer hard drives filled with nuclear weapons
secrets have been found. The drives disappeared from
a vault at a nuclear weapons laboratory, weeks ago
prompting great concern - and a criminal
investigation. V-O-A'S Jim Randle reports
TEXT: The computer information storage devices
were found away from their protective vault, but
still inside the building where they were
supposed to be kept secure.
According to one report, the missing devices were
discovered behind a photocopy machine at the Los
Alamos laboratory in New Mexixo.
The hard drives contain detailed information
about nuclear explosives that could help
officials disarm a nuclear weapon.
News reports say the hard drives contain
information about weapons from Russia, France,
China, and the United States.
Meantime, a government official says
investigators want to find out where the devices
were, who had access to them and whether or not
they were compromised.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has `dozens'
of agents working on this case which has been
front page news in the United States for several
days.
The Energy Department has custody of U-S nuclear
weapons and research. This incident is the
latest in a string of embarrassing security
failures that have prompted harsh Congressional
criticism of the department's vigilance, along
with some high profile hearings. (Signed)
NEB/PT
16-Jun-2000 19:08 PM EDT (16-Jun-2000 2308 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
