Personnel at Risk From Computer Thieves

The North Vietnamese propaganda machine used Jane Fonda's (L.) visit to North Vietnam to curry favor with the American public despite its repulsive treatment of American prisoners held in North Vietnam. Fonda was briefed about the pilot's identities and 'war crimes" before she was taken to meet them during her visit to the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison.

Personal information about combatants has been used during interrogations, as well as for propaganda and psychological operations in previous wars. In POWs and Politics: How Much Does Hanoi Really Know the authors detail splendidly how the enemy uses personal information for propaganda purposes.

Ft. Carson officials have posted a website advisory entitled the Ft. Carson Leader's Guide that explains what sort of claims are payable by the Claims Division of the Administrative Law Division of the Staff Judge Advocate. These claims include losses by soldiers to "vandalism, theft, and unusual damage occurring on post," and "death, personal injury, or damage/loss of property when the injury or damage is negligently caused by soldiers/government employees while performing their duties."

The thefts also raise a more immediate question – where were Ft. Carson's civilian gatekeepers while the burglars rampaged through the post not once, but twice, ultimately stealing the most sacred information a soldier and his family possesses - their identities? The disappearance of such privileged information leaves one wondering how three potentially sensitive computer thefts could happen during an elevated DHS Yellow security status on a post as important as Ft. Carson?

"This could happen in any corporation," McNutt said. "It's always good to be aware that your personal information could get out there and you should know the steps you need to protect it."

Attorney Michael S. Woodson is a Contributing Editor for DefenseWatch Magazine. He also writes on military, civilian, international and other public affairs. His email address is Mike7Woodson@aim.com. Please send Feedback responses to dwfeedback@yahoo.com.

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This article is provided courtesy of DefenseWatch, the official magazine for Soldiers For The Truth (SFTT), a grass-roots educational organization started by a small group of concerned veterans and citizens to inform the public, the Congress, and the media on the decline in readiness of our armed forces. Inspired by the outspoken idealism of the late Colonel David Hackworth, SFTT aims to give our service people, veterans, and retirees a clear voice with the media, Congress, the public and their services.

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