Date: Fri, 17 Jun 1994 05:17:24 +0000 From: "Martin L. Schoffstall" <schoff@us.psi.com> To: weber@world.std.com (Bob Weber), com-priv@psi.com Subject: Re: Self-Righteous, Self-Anointed Defenders of the Public Trust I'm encouraged that you support their first amendment rights! At Internet world in California a couple of weeks ago during a press conference with some Internet luminaries under the kleig lights of CNN and the McNeil/Leher report I saw first amendment issues tossed out the window - by the luminaries. I don't intend to defend either of these individuals (other than their 1st amendment rights, Gordon can tell you himself how we get along like oil and water) but I think you are lumping two very different people together with two very different objectives. Gordon's role is that of an investigative reporter, he ferrets out FACTS and then creates surmises as to the why's. It you read his publications and messages it is pretty easy to differentiate the facts from the surmises. This is appropriate. Gordon reported a fact which IS interesting to many people - a "NewYork" NAP in NJ almost in PA very close to an infamous NSA facility. Here is another one to add to his collection - in 1992 MFS bought a competive CAP in DC who's principal fiber plant connected many Federal facilities including all the hush hush ones. This company had many security cleared staff and facilities. These facilites are now merged with the commercial MFS facilities in a manner that is NOT known to the general public. NSF has openly wiretapped the backbone of the NSFNet since day one and is quite proud of it. There is a clear interest in the Federal Police Forces and the current administration to wiretap every communications device manufactured in the US, as the FBI's chief counsel, he's going to defend Americans through microchips. The postal service is going to issue us all ID cards, and the FINCEN is all setup to take in all banking transactions in realtime, next step all electronic commercial financial transactions. Historically both the NSA and the FBI have wiretapped outside of the warrant process and outside of the law and in the case of the NSA domestically which is both illegal and outside of their charter. How does this all fit together? Don't know, I'm just a dirt farmer from upstate NY, but Gordon's got a PHD so he'll continue to work on his surmises, and others will too. Having the facts is a good thing, old Jefferson would have probably agreed. One of the requirements that every Internet service provider should put on their NAP contract should be that the NAP provider will not wiretap, and will not aid or abet any wiretap knowingly outside of a federal warrant. Many people have lied for their country so this is not by any means a sure test, but it is a right first step. Since you questioned both of their motivations (personal grudges), let me question yours - are you owned in anyway by the US government or under their influence (even financially) to post your message binding those two very different people together? Have your or do you hold a Security clearance. Or maybe you hold a personal grudge against Gordon? Undoubtedly the answer is no except for the security clearance, and you can always lie for your country. It just seems strange that you would think that no one is interested in wiretapping issues in the current enviroment where the media talks about it weekly. Sitting here in the PSI Tokyo office the Japan Times has articles on it. I know you don't live under a rock. Marty