Kent Borg, remove X for real email wrote:

I've been thinking about the secret briefings the CIA/NSA/pick-your-TLAs have given to folks such as the House National Security Committee, the briefing that caused them to gut SAFE. What did they say? What are they after? <http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-09/14/155l-091497-idx.html>

CIA-run agents who had infiltrated terrorist groups in recent years aided in intelligence gathering that helped prevent two attacks in the past seven months against U.S. embassies abroad, new CIA Director George J. Tenet told Congress earlier this year. Tenet declined to provide details of the operations, including where they occurred. I myself prevented at least two dozen attacks in the same period of time, through use of strong crypto. Naturally, I decline to provide details of the operations. (Also, Jim Bell prevented four attacks on U.S. embassies through use of his AP Bot.) Reflecting new threats that face U.S. policymakers, major covert actions are now being aimed at disrupting terrorist plans, stopping narcotics shipments or fouling up financial transactions of missile makers, sources said. Which helps to keep the CIA's competition in these areas down to a minimum. (The definition of 'terrorist' in the 1997 CIA Lexicon is, "Illegal activities business competitor.") For instance, computer hacker technology has been used to disrupt international money transfers and other financial activities of Arab businessmen who support suspected terrorists. And 'God only knows' (TM) what they do to dark-skinned businessmen who support 'proven' terrorists. Does anybody remember what that reason they gave for promoting weak encryption was? Didn't they say they wanted to control all of the money to keep the rich 'good' guys happy? Or was it the 4 Horsemen? Military research and development operations of hostile governments, such as North Korea, Iraq and Iran, have been sabotaged by having European, Asian and other suppliers sell them faulty parts that will eventually fail. Such as faulty parts for the U.S. Stealth Bomber that crashed at an air show this week and the Iraquin hostage rescue helicopters. Hey! Wait a minute...!?!? "In the past five to seven years, the sophistication of the new tools of covert action have helped bring about a sea change in operations from the old days," according to a senior intelligence official. "However, in spite of these earth-shaking advances in spying on and manipulating foreigners with all manner of nasty business, absolutely no progress at all has been made in doing the same to U.S. citizens." he quickly added, looking down at his shoes and blushing. "There are a large number of hidden activities going on to meet transnational threats," he said, "but I'm reluctant to call them covert action." OK, then call them murders, assassinations, crimes on foreign soil, destabilization of dark-skinned governments, etc., etc. Tenet told reporters recently he was turning to "a world renown operator" who can "run quality operations that generate unique information" on which action can be taken. But not 'covert' action--just "hidden" action. (I'm certain that everyone on the C'punks list understands the difference.) In addition, new CIA and Justice Department investigations into past agency operations in Central America are expected to be released shortly, guaranteeing more criticism for the agency's cooperation with drug dealers who were also aiding Nicaraguan contra operations and for training Honduran special forces that later committed human rights violations. So, of course, we can expect to see a lot of former CIA agents being put in jail, like other citizens who do even the smallest amount of drugs. Say, wasn't President George Bush...never mind. And later this year, the CIA and Justice Department's inspectors general are to deliver their reports on allegations the agency operatives supporting the Nicaraguan contra rebels at the same time aiding Central American drug dealers who brought narcotics into the United States. Of course, Colonel Oliver North will be going to jail, along with ex-President Reagan, for stealing an election by using drug money to buy weapons for 'terrorists' in exchange for holding American citizens prisoner until his inauguration day. Get real... remove clothes for The Real Guy