IP: Test of Strength -- reform the NSA

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

For two years, Air Force general Michael Hayden has waged a secret struggle 
to overhaul the world's most powerful spy agency. Nothing's riding on his 
success but the future of America's national security


The call came after dinner on a Monday night, as the general was watching 
the TV news at home. There was a computer problem back at the agency. A 
software failure had knocked out the network.

"Give me a sense," the general commanded the duty officer over the secure 
phone line. "What are we talking about?"

"The whole system is down," the duty officer said. A result of overloading. 
Plus, the network had become so tangled that no one really seemed to know 
how it worked. There was no wiring diagram anyone could consult.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/style/postmagazine/A44781-2001Jul24.html



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