Fair use for educational purposes:

(Drudge Report) TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1999 20:28:41 ET XXXXX

"WHITE HOUSE PROPOSES MASSIVE COMPUTER MONITORING SYSTEM; WILL TRACK BANKING, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER NETWORKS

The Clinton administration has developed a plan for an extensive computer monitoring system, overseen by the FBI, that will track banking, telecommunications and other industries, it will be reported on Wednesday.

The National Security Council is conducting a legal and technical review of the new Clinton plan, a final report is scheduled to be made public in September.

NEW YORK TIMES reported John Markoff has been shown a draft, according to publishing sources, and was busy on Tuesday afternoon [preparing a story.

In some government circles, the propsed system has been nicknamed "Hillary."

The plan calls for the development of a "sophisticated software system to monitor activities on non-military government networks" and a separate system to "track all transactions used in the banking, telecommunications and transportation systems."

This system is intended to alert law enforcement officials to computer attacks that might cripple governmental or the nation's economy. But it could also become a massive government utility used for surveillance of citizens, critics contend, with great potential for misuse.

"Law enforcement agencies obviously would be under great temptation to expand the use of the information in pursuit of suspected criminals," the TIMES will report..."

My goodness, it's almost enough to make be believe in conspiracy theories...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), July 27, 1999

Answers

Tiptoe through the checkpoints, past the sentries, near the laser sensors,

Tiptoe through conspiracies with me...

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), July 27, 1999.

Its not being paranoid, but rational, to realize that:

"But it could also become a massive government utility used for surveillance of citizens..." should read "But it WILL ....",

based on virtually all previous experience with and observation of government programs. Theres also good reason to believe thats its intent in the first place.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), July 27, 1999.

oooooo, so soon too, Andy proved a middle-roader

-- con con (conspiracy?@con.con), July 27, 1999.

I think this ties in with the article that Diane posted yesterday. A piece written by Sec of Defense Cohen, and published in the Washington Post entitled, Preparing For A Grave New World.

Here is a Link to that thread.

This is a truly disturbing article. I read it three or four times, because I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. I knew Cohen must have had a very specific reason for coming out with something like that. I believe that this new 'computer monitoring' system is what he was eluding to in the following statement that he made.

He said:

(snip)

"But merely managing the consequences of an attack is not sufficient. We must be vigilant in seeking to interdict and defeat the efforts of those who seek to inflict mass destruction on us. This will require greater international cooperation, intelligence collection abroad and information gathering by law enforcement agencies at home. Information is clearly power, and greater access to information will require the American people and their elected officials to find the proper balance between privacy and protection.

I am afraid that this is only a small portion of the picture that he painted of things to come.

-- flb (fben4077@yahoo.com), July 27, 1999.

I'm surprised they haven't formulated a plan yet to start issuing spouses, since the current method doesn't seem to be working too well!

"If the Army had wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one!" ...Yadayadayada

-- (snowleopard6@webtv.net), July 28, 1999.

Why does the Phil Collins song " I Can Hear Thru These Walls" keep coming to mind?

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), July 28, 1999.

Right. In the middle of a computer crisis that might even bring down the whole government, they are talking about building a giant computer system to monitor all transactions. Get real....

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), July 28, 1999.

So, have we written our congressmen to protest Clinton's proposal and have them know our views? Just wondering..

-- Barb (awaltrip@telepath.com), July 28, 1999.

I'm sure they have already taken a poll that determines we don't care about the president's sex life or his Marxist agenda.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), July 28, 1999.

Say, thanks Mad Monk. Don't get to hear from you much lately. Been busy? It's just been hotter than heck out here in Kansas. Chicken's are laying hard boiled eggs. Sure miss your trade winds! Hope things are good with you and yours!

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), July 28, 1999.

Privacy, what privacy? We are already being monitored ALL THE TIME and IN EVERY COMMUNICATION MEDIUM, only in more subtle ways with little fanfare.

Why is this a big surprise? Gubbermint wants to protect people so they can be big studly heroes on TV. Who cares if a few "civil liberties" and the Constitution get in the way.

-- coprolith (coprolith@rocketship.com), July 28, 1999.

whoops. wrong link. here's the correct link

-- coprolith (coprolith@rocketship.com), July 28, 1999.

Y'know, most folk think I'm nuts to suggest our near future will include the remnant of us in chains.

Please re-read the piece Cohen wrote about Bio-terrorism, and then immediately read what mad Monk posted here. See a frightening picture emerging?

Remember what I said, the government will do EVERYTHING to secure and provide for its survival and expansion in the upcoming crisis. Y2K is just a trigger to many, many things that will prove ugly for the average American citizen.

Think about the possible implications of this program...in the hands of an Administration that has stolen over 900 secret FBI files on possible political enemies...and then you do the math.

George Orwell may indeed prove to be the greatest prophet of our time.

Be afraid people...be very afraid.

...or you will be licking your taskmasters boots upon your necks.

-- INVAR (gundark@sw.net), July 28, 1999.