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
.