From: Jim Dixon <jdd@aiki.demon.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 94 20:33:12 PDT
To: ianf@simple.sydney.sgi.com
Subject: Re: URGENT:  Please Tell Congress to Allow Encryption Export
Message-ID: <3923@aiki.demon.co.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


In message <9408050823.ZM6861@simple.sydney.sgi.com> Ian Farquhar writes:
> On Aug 4, 10:08am, Chris Corpuz wrote:
> > The House and Senate Intelligence Committees, the only watchdogs for
> > the NSA, tend to follow the agency's wishes when they wave the magic
> > "national security" wand.
> 
> Reading this, I was reminded that I have rarely seen any mention on the net
> as to one of the reasons why the "national security" wand is so effective with
> many politicians.
> 
> Imagine this: you're a politician.  If you're a US politician in particular
> you will be correctly told that you are, by virtue of your position, a target
> for a lot of "extremeist" groups and terrorism.  [etc]

This has little to do with being a politician and even less with being
a US politician.  People at all levels everywhere at all times are willing
to pay for what they perceive as additional security.

Look at the world around you.  Just before the USSR collapsed, they were
well on their way towards building a world class navy, to counter the
"US threat".  This was a huge investment.  Singapore is armed to the
teeth, what the hell, most of Southeast Asia is armed to the teeth.  What
do the Chinese need nuclear missiles for?

At a more prosaic level, people everywhere splash out on life insurance
policies.  The insurance salesman's patter is much the same as the
generals' line when talking to the politicians in Washington.  Everyone
everywhere will pay for what they perceive as security.
--
Jim Dixon