Letter to the Editor

Your view: Some secrets needed

Monday, May 22, 2006

Only once in my life have I become so enraged with the media and associated political agendas that I have been forced to comment publicly. This is the second time.

During WWII Germany's General Rommel's sly and cunning strategies earned him the knick name "Desert Fox". It seemed he was always one step ahead of our troops. He appeared to be a spectacular General with his brilliant military exploits in North Africa. But his victories were virtually assured before every battle. Germany had broken the Allies encryption system. Gen. Rommel knew every move we were going to make. The tide of battle in North Africa eventually swung our way when we were able to break his code and read his battlefield communications. Prior knowledge of an enemy's battle plans is a huge advantage. There is no substitute for good intelligence.

It is not always necessary to break a secret code to predict battlefield plans and operations. Often it is enough to perform "traffic analysis"; Trace their lines of communication. For example: A mobile field unit of ours triangulates radio traffic and hears 4 different enemy positions communicating in secret code. By analyzing the frequency, order, and duration of each transmission (A talks & B talks, A talks & C talks, A talks & D talks--you get the idea?) we should able to identify: Location of the Command Base, the size of the unit, the command structure, direction of troop movements. Knowing the location, size, and movements of the enemy we can predict their targets or objectives. Armed with this information it is possible to make effective plans to thwart their attacks, counter attack, and realize our objectives

When it comes to radio traffic analysis, our men in the Pacific Theatre were top-notch. They were often able to recognize individual radio operators just by their personal style & cadence as they transmitted. This skill allowed our intelligence to determine enemy troop movements and predict battle plans. On one occasion we analyzed traffic coming form several fast moving radios. We determined there were aboard 10 "Betty" bombers in formation. By plotting their course and speed we determined their target and their precise time over target. Of course we advised the target, a small island, that they should expect an attack by the enemy: "You will be attack by 10 bombers at 10:30 this morning". At 1100 hours the target replied: "Captain, next time I want you to be a little more specific. There were only 8 bombers and they arrived 10 minutes late. By the way, we intercepted them and shot down two." To be fore warned is to be fore armed.

I was much happier when most Americans did not know about the NSA, often confusing it with a typographical error for the NASA. The National Security Agency, headquartered in Fort Meade, MD., is home to the most sophisticated traffic analysis in the world. That's what they do, but for it to work it must be done in the background. They need to be invisible. Well, you can forget that now. Our best intelligence weapon is secrecy and we have completely lost it now. No longer can we claim the NSA is No Such Agency.

What were we thinking when we decided to tell the world (which includes our potential enemies) that we are doing traffic analysis across the board? It reminds me of the WWII reporter in Chicago that printed his big story; we had broken the enemy code. (Yes, we could read their communications as easy as clear text but we really didn't want them to know.) He should have been tried for treason. Of course they changed the code and it sent our intelligence back to square one, cost American lives, and lengthened the war. Is that what we want today?

Publicity is the last thing the NSA needs. Now they are on the front page and the lead story in evening news. We even forced the President to address their existence and purpose. Counter productive.

Are Americans opposed to the traffic analysis? One recent poll shows a small majority of Americans have believed the one sided media hype. Unfortunately these are uninformed decisions. What does the populace know about NSA's true function? "I only know what I read in the papers."

NSA is subject to congressional oversight, strict laws, and well established procedures. A few of our elected officials are in the loop and qualified to comment on NSA's function and tactics. It is only the uninformed, out of the loop with no "need to know" folks that are stirring the pot and wanting it to come to a boil.

Why are we exposing the NSA? It is all about personal ambition & politics, pure and simple. A few see this as an opportunity to enhance their own careers just as the Chicago reporter. Should these few put their personal ambitions above the security of the country?

I don't have any real problem understanding the media's motivation in propelling this into a top story. They are in it for the notoriety, ratings, circulation, and ultimately the money. But I draw the line when a politician's motives turn away from the good of their constituents and towards their personal ambitions, careers, and political future.

I for one will not forget their hypocrisy. Hopefully the opportunity will come for me to exact some revenge in the voting booth.

Sincerely

Charles Atchison