[MilCom] UN INTERCEPTS

[Shawn Levy]

Skywatch wrote:
> 
> Steve,
> 
> Like the military, they only transit things in the clear that they don't
> mind people listening to. Voice codes are very effective when used
> properly. EG "Paris, this is Denver, go to point New York Alpha and look
> for Vodka or Bourbon" - Not much info in those sort of comms unless you
> know in advance what is going on.  Just make sure that people are kpet
> up-to-date by other means (meetings, runners, satcom etc) so that there is
> no need to give _anything_ away on non-secure links. - It's worked for the
> military for years! (well, sort of ;-)    )

Brevity Codes, as they're called, are very effective
as long as the rest of the message content doesn't
reveal what they mean, and they're changed frequently
(at least every 24hrs). For example, COORS may mean
"we're in route to inspect site two". Now if some one
says, "we're in route to COORS", you may not know
WHERE it is, but you kind of got an idea WHAT means.
Add that to people shadowing an inspection team, on
site intel, plus I'm sure the UN hired locals in some
capacity (information leaks), and you can figure out
what the UN doing. 

A good Comm Intel team (Radio BN in the Marines for 
example), can usually get a picture of what's going 
on despite codes. The Soviets/Russians are very good 
at it too. Other countries are good at it too, but
USMC and Soviets (way back when down in GITMO)
were the only one I have experience with).

Hell, this folks on this list do it all the time!
We always see reports of a code used in the clear,
and either the sender or someone else knows what
it means.

IMO, I don't see the UN being that organized.

Shawn