Public Vs Private Disclosure & Monitoring Stories Re: [FedCom] Monitoring Status?

[Dave Holford]

Denny B wrote:

>Somewhat related:
>
>I've seen some postings here that I've wondered about,
>i.e. posting information that reveals movement of
>troops, aircraft, military exercises etc. Also
>revealing 'content" of communications as opposed to
>just listing the frequency,time, callsign. 
>
>Would there be some exposure for the partie(s)
>involved in this? The former could be a national
>security issue, The latter is covered in the
>Communicatons Act of 1934?
>
>Just playing devils advocate in this post 9/11 world.
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>FedCom at mailman.qth.net
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/fedcom
>  
>
I tend to believe that if anyone divulged anything of potentially 
serious consequence some action would be taken, but more likely against 
those who have violated COMSEC (Communications Security). After all, if 
we hobbyists heard it you can rest assured that the pros in the 
embassies and other places not only heard it but gained much more 
information from it than we did.

Some time ago, before 911, I was a contributor to some speculation 
regarding the communications of a particular military unit with 
extensive Communications, Command, Control and Intelligence (C3I) 
significance. I posted my analysis of multiple HF, VHF and UHF 
communications - I don't remember which reflector or newsgroup the 
discussion was on. Within a few hours I received a very friendly e-mail 
from an officer of the unit involved confirming some of my analysis and 
filling in a few innocuous holes; but making the observation that since 
I was 95% correct they would be reviewing their COMSEC. They also 
provided me with their "Company HF frequency" which I decided not to 
disclose since the e-mail was sent specifically to me.

Since this was pre 911 and obviously, at least some individuals at some 
of our targets were lurking, I feel quite sure that there are 
significantly more official lurkers now; and that any serious, or 
potentially serious breaches of COMSEC will be taken care of at their end.

I would imagine that monitors such as ourselves would have been 
considered a godsend to those planning the D-Day invasion if monitors 
had reported the extensive communications of non-existent major units 
whose purely fictional communications were intended to mislead the enemy.

I recall, many tears ago, in a former life, sending lengthy coded 
messages which contained text such as "I am being attacked by a 
supersonic enemy rubber dinghy" - they sounded real to anyone who could 
not read the code.

Dave - who started serious military monitoring during the Berlin Air Llift.