Wow... “Army Security Is Like A Band-Aid On A Sunken Chest Wound” - EmptyWheel

[WillyT]

Former Army Intelligence Analyst: “Army security is like a Band-Aid on a sunken chest wound”
By: emptywheel
April 15, 2011 6:38 am

<snip>

Evan Knappenberger, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War who served in roughly the same position Bradley Manning did (but several years earlier), was interviewed by his college newspaper about my latest obsession, DOD’s network security. (h/t Asher_Wolf)

What kind of access did you have here and in Iraq?

Army security is like a Band-Aid on a sunken chest wound. I remember when I was training, before I had my clearance even, they were talking about diplomatic cables. It was a big scandal at Fort Huachuca (Arizona), with all these kids from analyst school. Somebody said (in the cables) Sadaam wanted to negotiate and was willing to agree to peace terms before we invaded, and Bush said no. And this wasn’t very widely known. Somehow it came across on a cable at Fort Huachuca, and everybody at the fort knew about it.

It’s interesting the access we had. I did the briefing for a two-star general every morning for a year. So I had secret and top-secret information readily available. The funny thing is, Western’s password system they have here on all these computers is better security than the Army had on their secret computers.

There are 2 million people, many of them not U.S. citizens, with access to SIPRNet (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, the Department of Defense’s largest network for the exchange of classified information and messages). There are 1,400 government agencies with SIPR websites. It’s not that secret.

<snip>

We basically gave (the Iraqi army) SIPRNet. It’s not official, but if you’ve got a secret Internet computer sitting there with a wire running across from the American side of the base, with no guard, you’re basically giving them access.

Then in every Iraqi division command post, you have a SIPRNet computer, with all the stuff Bradley Manning leaked and massive amounts more.

I could look up FBI files on the SIPRNet. In fact, I was reading Hunter Thompson’s “Hell’s Angels” book, and I was like “this sounds cool,” and I looked up all the Hell’s Angels.

<snip>

More: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2011/04/15/former-army-intelligence-analyst-army-security-is-like-a-band-aid-on-a-sunken-chest-wound/

:kick:

[DiverDave]

1. It's SUCKING chest wound

just sayin

[cbayer]

2. I was just about to post that - pretty embarrassing for the reporter, imo

[WillyT]

4. But I'm Not Really Allowed To Edit It, Right ???

And I doubt she is either. Just sayin...

Plus... she's reporting what was reported in a college newspaper: http://www.westernfrontonline.net/news/13331-manning-peer-sheds-light-on-wikileaks-former-military-intel-analyst-shares-his-thoughts-on-the-motive-of-alleged-leaks

Apparently many a reporter/editor have missed this mistake.

:shrug:

[cbayer]

8. I just feel bad for her - it's such a glaring error, but I can understand how it happened

:hi:

[Luminous Animal]

6. As Marcy Wheeler (the reporter) states in the comments, "Understand that. But I can’t change the ...

direct quote."

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JackRiddler]

17. It could be a correctly quoted mistake, or it could be the editor.

So? People misspeak all the time. Changes the gist not at all. It's a metaphor for "very bad."

[Brigid]

11. Beat me to it.

Yep, that would be sucking chest wound.

[Angry Dragon]

3. There is no reason bush should not be tried for war crimes

and treason ......... he put this country in harm's way for no reason except his ego

'Somebody said (in the cables) Sadaam wanted to negotiate and was willing to agree to peace terms before we invaded, and Bush said no. And this wasn’t very widely known. Somehow it came across on a cable at Fort Huachuca, and everybody at the fort knew about it.'

^

This should be investigated

[WillyT]

5. Yep...

All those lives for Bush's Daddy Complex.

:argh:

:puke:

:mad:

[valerief]

9. The rich might stop getting richer. That must be avoided at all costs.

If people knew the truth, they could take money from the rich. We all know the most important thing in the world is for the rich to not only stay but to get richer, too.

[Obamanaut]

7. An article that starts out wrong sorta loses the impact it might have had. nt

[WillyT]

12. True... But It's Also An Opportunity To Test Whether People...

Actually READ the Original Posts, get the significant meaning contained in those posts, read the reactions and information contained in the various response posts, update their posts with newly acquired information and opinion, or...

are just hyper-critical, snarky, children, who yearn to criticize those who don't see the world exactly the same as they do.

:shrug:

[Obamanaut]

13. So the wrong title was a test, passed along by various people, and posters.

Ok, if that makes you feel better, hold on to it.

[WillyT]

14. LOL !!! - See... The "Title" Was Not Wrong...

And if you read some of the responses... you'd know why.

But, thanks for taking the test.

:evilgrin:

[Obamanaut]

15. Really LOL. Sunken vs sucking not the same. When one is used incorrectly,

especially in the title to an article, the accuracy of the whole piece comes into question.

It was the wrong word, pointed out even as early as response #1.

But cling to it if it makes you feel better.

[WillyT]

16. Dude... Read Posts 4, 8, & 6...

The college reporter got it wrong, but those wishing to put the article out for its newsworthiness, are not allowed to edit it... only the original reporter and their editor can do that.

:shrug: