[Am-info] Re: IBM RESPONSIBLE FOR M$ AND ARMY's SCREWUPS?

[Erick Andrews]

On Tue, 18 Mar 2003 15:17:21 -0600, Glenn T. Livezey, Ph.D. wrote:

>Surely you jest, I hope.
>
>>From: "John J. Urbaniak" <jjurban@attglobal.net>
>>Subject: Re: [Am-info] Software bug bites US military
>>This is outrageous. I believe that IBM should be cited for treason. It
>>was IBM after all who gave Microsoft their monopoly and allowed this
>>dangerous situation to arise. If one soldier is killed or injured 
>>because of this, that soldier's blood is on IBM's hands. John
>
>According to the version at
>http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/hacking/story/0,10801,79478,00.html?nas=AM-79478
>
>...our armed forces are hacked (Army and perhaps Airforce), the Army
>reports it by filling out an online bug report, which is totally 
>ignored by Microsoft for 6 days... and this is IBM's fault?

IBM's fault?  IBM's "dirty hands"?  I think so; perhaps it may *still* be 
so unless we're doomed to repeat history.  It seems like John has a sound
theory...but let's move on...

>That's a bit like assigning fault to the farmer that grew the corn
>that was fermented into the booze that the someone drank before getting
>into their car and plowing into another vehicle down the road.

Not a good analogy.  At least it's not a sobering one.  Vehicles on the road 
and vehicles on the Internet are fundamentally different communication's
structures.  The next car I choose to buy will be more reliable, cheaper to
own, and have more MPG's.

>I guess even the Army can't get tech assistance from Microsoft in a 
>timely fashion. I wonder if they would have responded faster if it was
>Dick Cheney's campaign contribution database server that got hacked?

The U.S. Army is the largest organization in the world, as far as I know.

Has VP Cheney's 'campaign contribution database server' been hacked?

Although I have no specific knowledge, MS must have government contracts
with the military, including comprehensive support, else we're all really in 
very big doo-doo.

Sorry, what's your point?

-- 
Erick Andrews