Re: [NTLK] [OT] Travel and the Newt

From: Eric L. Strobel (fyzycyst_at_comcast.net)
Date: Fri Sep 06 2002 - 07:02:14 PDT


on 9/6/02 9:26 AM, Robert Locatelli at sickofthecrap_at_mac.com wrote:

> The need to travel could be reduced to an absolute minimum.
> Videoconferencing and the like could be developed much further in such a way
> that everybody would like to avoid travelling. We have all the necessary
> abilities to do that but there's to much artifically created needs which
> waste many efforts and finally lead into destruction. We'll also need more
> time to really understand what happend @ 9/11 last year and to realize what
> the real background was.

Videoconferencing = the paperless office; that is, it's a pipe-dream to
think that it'll really happen in a significant fashion any time soon. And
for good reason, since many times there's no real substitute for the (for
lack of a better term) social dynamic. Granted, there are times when VTC is
OK.

> This is a pure assumption using probability rules and does not apply under
> other circumstances. Any next attack could be completely different from what
> we've ever seen before.

This is a defense problem and using probabilities an entirely correct way to
look at it. One can quibble about the exact number used for the probability
of a single 'leaker', but the analysis is basically correct. Further, this
is part of a layered defense that includes a flying public that isn't going
to meekly stay seated any longer, sky marshals and reinforced cockpit doors
(and possibly now, given yesterday's news, armed pilots). No guarantee is
absolute, but I think we can all consider this particular barn door pretty
much closed. The system can and should be improved, but that doesn't negate
the value of the present precautions.

The real problem, as I stated, is that we always seem to be "fighting the
last war". As we both seem to agree upon, there is a real need to move
forward and anticipate/pre-empt whatever the NEXT form of attack will be.
(Of course, if proactivity IS successful, you never hear about it because
the attack never happens, which may be why it *seems* we always fight the
last war...) But just because we need to anticipate the next attack doesn't
mean we should shortchange precautions related to the previous one, as some
sound like they're saying.

- Eric.

-- 
Eric Strobel (fyzycyst_at_NOSPAM^mailaps.org)
=====================================================================
Bioweapons?  HA!  I laugh at them!!  *I've* cleaned the coffee urns
at work!!!!
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