Military Secrets, Equipment Walking Off US Base in Afghanistan
Jim Kouri, CPP
April 15, 2006
US military forces in Afghanistan are investigating allegations that stolen computer hardware containing military secrets are being sold at an outdoor marketplace adjacent to a US base.
The military investigation is expected to focus not only on detecting and apprehending thieves, but also on security protocols for protecting the vulnerable military installation. Defense Department investigators are reportedly already in-country conducting their inquiry.
According to investigators, salespeople at a market near the Bagram base, outside of Kabul, have been selling pilfered computer drives from the installation. It's believed some contain classified military files such as military defenses and intelligence on enemy targets.
The military is looking into allegations that sensitive military items are being sold in local bazaars. Coalition officials regularly survey bazaars across Afghanistan for the presence of contraband materials, but thus far have not uncovered sensitive or classified items.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the disks on sale at the market outside Bagram contained the names of allegedly corrupt Afghan officials, reports on enemy targets and details about US defenses.
US officers have been buying back stolen computer drives, many of which contain sensitive military data, from an Afghan market near a key airbase.
A separate report by the Associated Press news agency appeared to confirm sensitive information could be acquired from the market. AP said its reporter bought several disks from the Bagram market, some of which contained confidential information about US soldiers. One file reportedly described the type of training a group of soldiers had received. Another file is said to have contained a manual for flying the US military's Chinook helicopter.
According to the military and news reports, the computer drives were on sale alongside other items, apparently also from the Bagram base. These items included US military uniforms and equipment such as compasses and binoculars.
An Afghan businessman interviewed by the Associated Press news agency said he was not interested in the value of the information on the computer drives. He reportedly said he was selling the items for their value as hardware alone.
Hundreds of Afghans are working as cleaners, laborers and auxiliary staff at the Bagram military base. The key base has been used by US forces since their invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
In the past, most security decisions have been linked one way or another to assumptions about threats. These assumptions frequently entailed security against an all-knowing, highly competent enemy. Against this danger, the US military tries to avoid security risks by maximizing their defenses and minimizing their vulnerabilities. Today's threats are more diffuse, multifaceted, and dynamic. Unfortunately, while concentrating on the intricate, many security managers forget the simplicity of pilferage of equipment such as computers, communications equipment, office materials, etc.
Some vulnerabilities can never be eliminated fully nor would the costs and benefits warrant trying. However, a key component of any assets protection plan -- whether in the military or the private sector -- is the restriction of movement of non-security clearance personnel such as maintenance, cleaning crews and other facilities management workers.
Military facilities and installations have designated Physical Security Officers whose duties entail the protection of infrastructure, classifed information and personnel protection through the use of physical measures such as alarms, locking devices, identification protocols, barriers, and others. Many military bases contract private security firms to provide the manpower to implement the DoD security policies.
The consequences of some security failures are exceptionally dire and require exceptional protection measures. In most cases it is possible to balance the risk of loss or damage of disclosure against the costs of countermeasures.
The military investigation is expected to focus not only on detecting and apprehending thieves, but also on security protocols for protecting the vulnerable military installation. Defense Department investigators are reportedly already in-country conducting their inquiry.
According to investigators, salespeople at a market near the Bagram base, outside of Kabul, have been selling pilfered computer drives from the installation. It's believed some contain classified military files such as military defenses and intelligence on enemy targets.
The military is looking into allegations that sensitive military items are being sold in local bazaars. Coalition officials regularly survey bazaars across Afghanistan for the presence of contraband materials, but thus far have not uncovered sensitive or classified items.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the disks on sale at the market outside Bagram contained the names of allegedly corrupt Afghan officials, reports on enemy targets and details about US defenses.
US officers have been buying back stolen computer drives, many of which contain sensitive military data, from an Afghan market near a key airbase.
A separate report by the Associated Press news agency appeared to confirm sensitive information could be acquired from the market. AP said its reporter bought several disks from the Bagram market, some of which contained confidential information about US soldiers. One file reportedly described the type of training a group of soldiers had received. Another file is said to have contained a manual for flying the US military's Chinook helicopter.
According to the military and news reports, the computer drives were on sale alongside other items, apparently also from the Bagram base. These items included US military uniforms and equipment such as compasses and binoculars.
An Afghan businessman interviewed by the Associated Press news agency said he was not interested in the value of the information on the computer drives. He reportedly said he was selling the items for their value as hardware alone.
Hundreds of Afghans are working as cleaners, laborers and auxiliary staff at the Bagram military base. The key base has been used by US forces since their invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
In the past, most security decisions have been linked one way or another to assumptions about threats. These assumptions frequently entailed security against an all-knowing, highly competent enemy. Against this danger, the US military tries to avoid security risks by maximizing their defenses and minimizing their vulnerabilities. Today's threats are more diffuse, multifaceted, and dynamic. Unfortunately, while concentrating on the intricate, many security managers forget the simplicity of pilferage of equipment such as computers, communications equipment, office materials, etc.
Some vulnerabilities can never be eliminated fully nor would the costs and benefits warrant trying. However, a key component of any assets protection plan -- whether in the military or the private sector -- is the restriction of movement of non-security clearance personnel such as maintenance, cleaning crews and other facilities management workers.
Military facilities and installations have designated Physical Security Officers whose duties entail the protection of infrastructure, classifed information and personnel protection through the use of physical measures such as alarms, locking devices, identification protocols, barriers, and others. Many military bases contract private security firms to provide the manpower to implement the DoD security policies.
The consequences of some security failures are exceptionally dire and require exceptional protection measures. In most cases it is possible to balance the risk of loss or damage of disclosure against the costs of countermeasures.
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