[MilCom] Pentagon New Terrorism Stategy to Affect Hobby Mail lists?

[Milspec390 at aol.com]

Summer '92, friend and I bicycled around former Quonset Pt. NAS, RI. We set 
out to explore former HF transmitter site, NE corner base near CBC Davisville. 
Site paired with long demolished shoreline blockhouse near main entrance U.S. 
1, where receivers and tech control were located. Ca. '67, sites closed, HF 
comms 'shipped' via landline to NAVRADSTA (T) Beavertail Pt., Jamestown, and 
NAVRADSTA (R), Sachuest Pt., Middletown, RI. Mitter site featured Collins FRT-24 
transmitters and well preserved HF wire-cage sleeve antennas. We hoped to 
photograph the latter - highly unclassified as they were.
  Rounded corner near Ocean Approach V/UHF xcvr blockhouse at entrance to 
transmitter site. Jogging junior officer attached to CBC Davisville skeleton 
staff rats us out. Security arrives. Silly questions remarking the obvious asked. 
We play 'the dumb civilian' and pleasantly cycle to Air Ops building where a/c 
watching was fine. 

 From early '80's forward - when AF-1often present for discreet re-fuel & 
catering - you could drive anywhere on base free from intrusive rudeness. Not any 
more. 'Post-Desert Storm Security' cited.

 Shortly thereafter we stopped by ATT Long Lines Green Hill Transatlantic 
Cable terminal. Built '69, 30' below ground. Above stood 300' microwave tower 
sporting four horns & several thick UHF cylindrical-radome antennas for 
AF-1/2/VIP GEP Hi-Power UHF on 374.55, etc. Challenged by corpulent geriatric 
rent-a-cop who rudely stated failure to leave meant arrest. 
  We asked how to obtain tour. Reply same. Cited 'Post-Desert Storm Security'.

Doesn't latest inanity make perfect sense? Clever dullards promoted ECPA '86 
claiming it protected we little ones from evil prying ears of scanner-wielding 
subversives. Goose-grease paid, bait taken. Shortly thereafter, point becomes 
moot as digital replaces analog. Tedious.

Now? More dangerous silliness. Military traditionally taught that the enemy 
was always listening - The Cornerstone of COMSEC. Why then this intrusive 
rudeness re monitoring milcom websites? If they don't want us to hear it, we don't. 

  Are funds formerly spent on COMSEC self-monitoring now  squandered on yet 
more inane hazardous waste clean-up projects involving former typing pools? One 
thing's for sure. We'll all enjoy a lot of petty torments while the enemy 
laughs.

                                                                              
                       =Z.=

Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasoviet Key, FL
BT