Conference 7.286::digital

    As a matter of fact, there was a story on the national news last night,
    Dan Rather et al, but it was more along the line of the dangers of
    information coming from E-mail.  Digital was mentioned as one of the
    main sources of information regarding what's happening in the Gulf, but
    the reporter was reluctant to share some of the data coming across the
    tubes as he regarded it as "sensitive".  

This is very dangerous for our employees.

This is a war, folks.

Articles like this make us targets.

/john

I saw a mail message indicating that the military had already gotten alarmed
at some war-related posting in a notesfile (I don't think it was the one
being discussed here).  I do share some of John Covert's concern.

				Steve

    
    re: .2
    
    That was my first thought.
    
    /prc

    
    Certainly any E-Mail system is a potential conduit
    of sensitive information - but so are the postal services,
    telephones, fax, and other media.  
    
    I think the news services are absolutely scraping the
    bottom of the barrel to sensationalize and dramatize
    anything they can lay their hands on.
    
    Of course in situations involving personal and national security
    we have to be ultra sensative to what we say, where and
    how we say it.
    
    d
    

There's a lesson to be learned from this.

Don Feinberg sent a mail message to 18 people.  There was no indication
in the message that it was for public consumption.  It was forwarded
around the net, eventually ending up in some widely-read notesfiles.
Part of that message made its way to the newspaper article in the base note.

It seems that some people feel it's OK to forward mail messages unless
"do not forward" is explicitly mentioned.  I'm not convinced that even
a "do not forward" prevents mail from being forwarded.

While you may be right about this EMAIL, etc, activity potentially attracting
terrorist attention, I believe that if you become afraid of this and stop
saying and doing what you believe you should be saying, then you have
already become a victim of terrorism and have nothing more to lose.

Recently I heard a story related to this.  A friend and his family are
planning to fly to California for vacation.  When they reserved their
seats, they requested Kosher meals.  Immediately when the war broke out,
they called and canceled their Kosher meals.  They said to me that they were
afraid that having Kosher meals onboard would draw attention to them and
"heaven forbid" what might happen if their flight were attacked (?) by
terrorists.  They were afraid that their Kosher meals would make them
particularly inviting targets.  They also said that they will not take
any matzo on board with them even though the flight is going to be during
Passover.

In my mind, they are ALREADY victims of terrorism.

Get my drift?

-steve-

re: .7

I understand what you are saying but, I see your friends actions as
smart precautions. We are ALL victims of terrorism, are not flights being
delayed? security precautions causing longer waits and lines?

So what are we to do, ignore suggested precautions because we dont want
to be victims?

Does email make us more of a target to terrorism?  I suppose its possible, but
*I think* that's stretching it. If Digital is a target it is because we are
a US based multi-national corporation.

*I* am more worried that the military would decide to censor the networks
because of the ability to circumvent the military censors. And, there is the
possibility that the networks cold be used for propaganda. 

An earlier note brings up the issue of fowarding mail. That is a big issue that
concerns me. The amount of indescriminate email boggles the mind. Rumors fly
through here sooo fast.

And, who released the quotes to the newspaper? Don't the rules of privacy pertain
to email as well as notes?


dave

    I think the concerns about "making ourselves targets" are valid ones,
    but there are also other concerns.
    
    If, in the interest of supporting the war, covering my backside, and
    generally keeping a low profile around terrorists, I totally censor my
    genuine interest in what's happening and stop all communications on the
    subject, I've lost my freedom of speech.  True, this is mainly a self
    imposed loss, albeit aided by some severe peer pressure, but it's still
    a goner, and I don't know when it'll come back.
    
    If, for the same reasons, I curtail all my non-essential travel, then
    I've just given away my right to unchecked travel within my country and
    the rest of the free world.
    
    If, for the same reasons, I cease any outward observance of my
    religion, then I've given away my freedom of religion.
    
    We can all hunker down and be good little citizens, being very careful
    to protect the interests of ourselves and our governments, and find
    ourselves having given away all our rights.  Yes, when it's over, we'll
    probably get them back, or we might not.
    
    In the mean time, huddled inside my darkened house (so as not to be
    seen from the air (or from a cruise missile)), watching some
    pre-sifted, pre-digested news substitute on the TV, I find that my life
    can suddenly become very similar to what we accuse life to be like in
    some of those "non-free" countries.
    
    Is it worth it?  Some diligence is prudent, responsible, and perhaps
    necessary.  Going overboard isn't.  I personally don't know where to
    draw that line, and I'm certainly not saying that anyone here has or
    hasn't crossed it - wherever it is. 
    
    But please, PLEASE, let me decide how much of my safety I can or want
    to trade away in the name of preserving my liberty.

    re .3
    
    Two notes were deleted from the COMET::DEFENSE_ISSUES conference.  As
    might be expected in a company with as many veterans and active
    reservists as ours, sometimes they talk about things they shouldn't. 
    In this case they revealed sensitive information, although there has
    been no suggestion of malicious intent.
    
    Knowledge is power.  The Easynet might be a great way of disseminating
    knowledge and information, but at the same time thought must be given
    to its potential for harm.

I thought this was relevent for posting here:

    Craig

Article 252 of alt.desert-storm.facts:
From: [email protected] (Maverick)
Newsgroups: alt.desert-storm.facts,alt.desert-storm,alt.desert-shield,soc.singles
Subject: Email for U.S. Armed Forces
Reply-To: [email protected] (Goofy)


		*** EMAIL FOR U.S. ARMED FORCES ***

   GEnie is proud to announce "LETTERS FROM HOME" - a program 
allowing families and friends to send FREE electronic mail 
messages to their loved ones serving with the U.S. Armed Forces in 
the Persian Gulf region.

   "LETTERS FROM HOME", offered in cooperation with the U.S. Armed 
Forces, the Saudi-American General Electric Company, GE Rents and 
Pitney Bowes Inc., allows individuals in the United States with 
access to a personal computer and modem to send personal messages 
to loved ones serving in the Persian Gulf region.

   Letters will be sent electronically via GE Information 
Services' worldwide teleprocessing network to GE's local 
telecommunications facility in Saudi Arabia.  The letters will be 
received and printed on computers and printers supplied by GE 
Rents.  The mail will then be folded, inserted and sealed in
envelopes using state-of-the-art equipment provided by Pitney 
Bowes.  The letters will then be given to the U.S. Armed Forces 
for delivery to the designated serviceperson.

   You may access the Letters from Home system by typing the word 
"LETTERS" at any menu prompt.  Non-subscribers can dial any GEnie 
local access telephone number.  Non-subscribers can access Letters 
from Home by typing LETTERS at a U#= prompt.

   To send a Letter From Home, you MUST know the Name & Rank, 
Social Security #, Unit or Ship and APO or FPO of the recipient.  
The Letters From Home system will automatically prompt senders for 
the appropriate information.

   The free "LETTERS FROM HOME" electronic mail service is in 
effect through February 28, 1991.

   The number to find out GeNie's local dialup call (voice)
1-800-638-9636
 
   Type: HHH  to get the U#= prompt.

   Type: LETTERS  to get into the "LETTERS FROM HOME" system.

--
"A freedom of speech is the right  | Internet: [email protected]
 to yell 'THEATRE' in a crowded    |      'Jay Weinshenker'
 fire!"                            | WWIV-Net: User #3 @5200
        -Abbie Hoffman             |            'Goofy'