Nexus - 0605 - New Times Magazine-pages

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redefine the notion of "national security" to include economic, commercial and corporate concerns. The Office of Intelligence Liaison was created within the US Department of Commerce to forward intercepted materials to major US corporations. In many cases, the beneficiaries of this commercial espionage effort are the very companies that helped the NSA develop the systems that power the ECHELON network. This incestuous relationship is so strong, that sometimes this intelligence information is used to push other American manufacturers out of deals in favour of these mammoth US defence and intelligence contractors who frequently are the source of major cash contributions to both political parties. While signals intelligence technology was helpful in containing and eventually defeating the Soviet empire during the Cold War, what was once designed to target a select list of communist coun- tries and terrorist states is now indiscriminately directed against virtually every citizen in the world. The European Parliament is now asking whether the ECHELON communications intercep- tions violate the sovereignty and privacy of citizens in other coun- tries. In some cases, such as at the NSA's Menwith Hill station in England, surveillance is conducted against citizens on their own soil and with the full knowledge and cooperation of their govern- mant redefine the notion of "national security" to include economic, January 1998, detailed research conducted by independent commercial and corporate concerns. The Office of Intelligence researchers that uncovered a massive US spy technology network Liaison was created within the US Department of Commerce to that routinely monitors telephone, fax and e-mail information on forward intercepted materials to major US corporations. In many citizens all over the world, but particularly in the European Union cases, the beneficiaries of this commercial espionage effort are the (EU) and Japan. Titled "An Appraisal of Technologies of very companies that helped the NSA develop the systems that Political Control",' this report, issued by the Scientific and power the ECHELON network. This incestuous relationship isso Technological Options Assessment (STOA) Committee of the strong, that sometimes this intelligence information is used to European Parliament, caused a tremendous stir in the establish- push other American manufacturers out of deals in favour of these ment Press in Europe. At least one major US media outlet, the mammoth US defence and intelligence contractors who frequently New York Times,’ also covered the issuance of the report. are the source of major cash contributions to both political parties. The STOA report also exposed a festering sore-spot between While signals intelligence technology was helpful in containing the US and its EU allies. The widespread surveillance of citizens and eventually defeating the Soviet empire during the Cold War, in EU countries by the NSA has been known and discussed by what was once designed to target a select list of communist coun- European journalists since 1981. The name of the system in ques- tries and terrorist states is now indiscriminately directed against tion is ECHELON, and it is one of the most secretive spy systems virtually every citizen in the world. The European Parliament is in existence. now asking whether the ECHELON communications intercep- ECHELON is actually a vast network of electronic spy stations tions violate the sovereignty and privacy of citizens in other coun- located around the world and maintained by five countries: the tries. In some cases, such as at the NSA's Menwith Hill station in USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These coun- England, surveillance is conducted against citizens on their own tries, bound together in a still-secret agreement, UKUSA [pro- soil and with the full knowledge and cooperation of their govern- nounced "you-koo-za"], spy on each other's citizens by intercept- ment. ing and gathering electronic signals of almost every telephone This report suggests that Congress pick up its long-neglected call, fax and e-mail message transmitted around the world daily. role as watchdog of the constitutional rights and liberties of the These signals are fed through the NSA's massive supercomputers American people, instead of play its that look for certain keywords called current role as lap dog to the US . ao . the ECHELON Dictionaries. intelligence agencies. Congressional Despite the disintegration of Most of the details of this mam- hearings, similar to the Church and communism in the former Soviet moth spy system—and the UKUSA Rockefeller Committee hearings held agreement that supports it—remain a in the mid-1970s, ought to be held to Union and throughout Eastern mystery. What is known of targets the personal, politcal rei. | EUPOPE, the secretive NSA Fer cise and researchers around gious and commercial communica- continues to grow at an the world, who have laboured for tions of US citizens. A A decades to uncover the operations of The late US Senator Frank Church exponential rate in terms of our governments’ most secret sys- warned that the technology and capa- budget, manpower and spying tems. The 1996 publication of New bility embodied in the ECHELON ART Zealand journalist Nicky Hager's system represent a direct threat to the abilities. book, Secret Power: New Zealand's liberties of the American people. Role in the International Spy Left unchecked, ECHELON could be Network,’ provided the most detailed used by either the political elite or the intelligence agencies them- look at the system and inflamed interest in ECHELON as well as selves as a tool to subvert the civil protections of the Constitution the debate regarding its propriety. and to destroy representative government in the United States. This paper examines the expanse of the ECHELON system, along with the intelligence agreements and exchanges that support ECHELON AND THE UKUSA AGREEMENT it. The operation of ECHELON serves the NSA's goal of spying The culmination of the Cold War conflict brought home hard on the citizens of other countries, while also allowing them to cir- realities for many military and intelligence agencies who were cumvent the prohibition on spying on US citizens. ECHELON is dependent upon the confrontation for massive budgets and little not only a gross violation of the US Constitution, but it violates civilian oversight. World War II Allied political and military the goodwill of the United States’ allies and threatens the privacy alliances had quickly become intelligence alliances in the shadow _ of innocent civilians around the world. The existence and expan- of the Iron Curtain that descended upon Eastern Europe after the sion of ECHELON is a foreboding omen regarding the future of war. constitutional liberties. If a US Government agency can willingly But for some intelligence agencies, the end of the Cold War just violate the most basic components of the Bill of Rights without so meant a shift in mission and focus, not a loss of manpower or much as congressional oversight and approval, we have reverted financial resources. One such US governmental organisation is from a republican form of government to tyranny. tha NI, xr TNac tha Union and throughout Eastern Europe, the secretive NSA continues to grow at an exponential rate in terms of budget, manpower and spying abilities. ECHELON AND THE UKUSA AGREEMENT The culmination of the Cold War conflict brought home hard realities for many military and intelligence agencies who were dependent upon the confrontation for massive budgets and little civilian oversight. World War II Allied political and military alliances had quickly become intelligence alliances in the shadow of the Iron Curtain that descended upon Eastern Europe after the war. But for some intelligence agencies, the end of the Cold War just meant a shift in mission and focus, not a loss of manpower or financial resources. One such US governmental organisation is the National Security Agency. Despite the disintegration of com- munism in the former Soviet Union and throughout Eastern Europe, the secretive NSA continues to grow at an exponential rate in terms of budget, manpower and spying abilities. Other countries have noticed the rapid growth of NSA resources and facilities around the world, and have decried the extensive spying upon their citizens by the United States. A preliminary report, released by the European Parliament in THE UKUSA PARTIES The success of the Allied military effort in World War II was due in no small part to successes in gathering enemy intelligence information and cracking those military and diplomatic messages. In addition, the Allied forces were able to create codes and encryption devices that effectively concealed sensitive informa- tion from prying Axis-power eyes. These coordinated signal 20 - NEXUS AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1999