Wartime Wireless Worries Pentagon

[PfcHammer]

Wartime Wireless Worries Pentagon
By Xeni Jardin
Story location: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63604,00.html

02:00 AM May. 26, 2004 PT

The rapid proliferation of digital cameras, phonecams and wireless gadgets among soldiers and military contractors is giving senior military officials concern, in the wake of images that showed abuse in an Iraqi prison and snapshots that showed rows of coffins of American soldiers.

The Defense Department said it hasn't banned the devices and doesn't plan to -- as the Business Times of London and two wire services have reported. But the Pentagon is telling commanders in the field to strictly monitor the use of consumer wireless technology through Directive 8100.2 -- Use of Commercial Wireless Devices, Services and Technologies in the Department of Defense Global Information Grid -- issued last month.

"We're in the situation today where everyone is using a cell phone, BlackBerry or some sort of wireless device that can be carrying voice, imagery or text -- and we either need that to be highly encrypted, or off of DOD systems altogether," said Department of Defense spokesman Lt. Col. Ken McClellan. "We don't want to be in a situation where anyone with a scanner can figure what we're about to do."

In a nutshell, the directive tells all soldiers, contractors and visitors to Defense Department facilities that they can only carry wireless devices that conform to the military's security standards. These specify that the devices use strong authentication and encryption technologies whenever possible. In addition, the devices cannot be used for storing or transmitting classified information. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz signed it in April after two years of internal debate.

[UpInArms]

1. more freakin' lies

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=8&id=299750

Rumsfeld bans camera phones among military in Iraq

LONDON — Cell phones fitted with digital cameras have been banned in U.S. army installations in Iraq on orders from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a business newspaper reported Monday.

Quoting a Pentagon source, The Business newspaper said the U.S. Defense Department believes that some of the damning photos of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad were taken with camera phones.

"Digital cameras, camcorders and cell phones with cameras have been prohibited in military compounds in Iraq," it said, adding that a "total ban throughout the U.S. military" is in the works.

Disturbing new photos of Iraqi prisoner abuse, which the U.S. government had reportedly tried to keep hidden, were published Friday in the Washington Post newspaper.

...more...

I am just sick and tired of the denials that are issued when the truth is published - whether in picture or print - and the lies and obsfuscations that continue to be printed -

[Barkley]

7. Great Information!

Kick!

[RC]

2. If they would wage war in a humane manor

they would not have to worry. :eyes:

[rex 555]

6. Don't you mean manner?

Humans are never humane. Laws and social pressures have worked in the past. Power makes war. Witness lately, "they did it because they could". War has humanity only as a by product of the carnage. R.E.Lee said " It is good that war is so terrible,lest we become fond of it".
Of course he never quit. Once you buy into WAR you can never return with humility until you lose. Humanity in WAR is trying to clean up the carnage( and so we do so). Its an after thought. That is who we are,all of us. In the USA we have broken the social abhorrence for carnage. Now we have thrown the laws that forbid over too.
The only good news is that we know.

Carry on good folks,We can do it. As Hughes, the poet wrote we can be
what we missed on our way to the empty promise. Not exactly but that's how I feel this morning.
HOW MUCH BETTER CAN WE DO?

[amber dog democrat]

3. and well it should.

The Pentagon war planners need to be looking over therir shoulders apprehensively from now on. We are entering an era where a lot less can be hidden.

[Atman]

4. Well, maybe YOU don't, but WE do...

"We don't want to be in a situation where anyone with a scanner can figure what we're about to do."

Maybe if your actions were visible in the light of day, you wouldn't be taking them. If your only concern is in regard to getting CAUGHT, and not about doing something "wrong," then something is seriously fucked up.

Note: they deny reports that they are banning digital cameras...but in that second 'graph we see that they merely want the soldiers' phones and cameras be equipped with DOD-approved encryption. IOW, no digital cameras or cell phones.

[maggrwaggr]

5. how 'bout that Freep in Iraq who announced Bush was on his way to Baghdad

anybody remember that?