US lab sent N-secrets over e-mail (pulsed ultraviolet laser(

Los Alamos National Laboratory officials have discovered in recent weeks that secret information at the nuclear weapons facility was repeatedly transmitted over an unclassified e-mail system, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Officials at the New Mexico lab confirmed Sunday that the incidents were reported to Energy Department headquarters in Washington, and said that they were taking measures to improve security and "prevent significant risks to national security", the paper said.

Last week, the lab's director disclosed that two disks containing classified nuclear weapons information were lost. The disks contained information about a possible test or experiment the lab was conducting, said the article.

'The breakdown marks yet another case of lax internal security at the lab, which is run by the University of California. In one other instance, at least two computer disks containing sensitive weapons information were discovered missing July 7 from the facility,' the Los Angeles Times said.

Top Energy Department officials arrived at the lab Sunday to begin an investigation of the problems, which had prompted an indefinite suspension Friday of all lab activities. Among other items, the officials are planning to examine a report that 19 electronic storage devices with classified data are also missing, according to a lab memo dated Thursday.

According to the Times, 'the latest security crisis comes after more than a decade of turmoil at the lab and general management failures that have also included financial fraud, violations of nuclear safety and the illegal firing of employees who blew the whistle on potential problems.'

The improper use of e-mail "goes to the heart of why we are suspending activities here," said James Fallin, director of public affairs at the lab. "It is a lack of attention to detail. It is exactly why lab director [Pete] Nanos has said we are going to stop everything."

Speculation has grown that the flurry of security breakdowns may involve a problem with US warheads, although Los Alamos officials strongly disputed recent allegations by a former scientist at the lab who said there were defects in one bomb design, the article said.

"The lab is absolutely certain about the reliability of the warheads," Fallin was quoted as saying.

But, in broadening a shutdown of classified work on Thursday to include the entire laboratory on Friday, G. Peter Nanos, the laboratory's director, cited safety and environmental concerns as well as security issues, said The New York Times.

According to the article, 'the latest injury occurred Wednesday, two days before the shutdown, when a 20-year-old woman suffered eye damage from a laser beam. The woman, a student intern who was not identified, had just finished working on a series of experiments involving a pulsed ultraviolet laser, but lingered in the laboratory.'

'Half an hour later, she complained of blurry vision in her left eye, and it was discovered that the laser had not been turned off. She suffered bleeding at the back of her eye from a lesion one-fiftieth of an inch wide, and arrangements are being made to fly her to Johns Hopkins medical center in Baltimore for treatment, The New York Times quoted an official as saying.

Ya know, geeky math types have a reputation for being scatter-brained, but this is just ridiculous. There is a serious Leadership problem out there that somone had better get thier arms around.

They had problems similar to this on Plum Island -the Dept. of Agriculture lab.Rigid security and safety measures got "set aside",inspections of critical equipment(such as filters) went by the board,because somebody wanted to use the money it would cost for new equipment instead,or to buy a new commuter ferry.

According to the article, 'the latest injury occurred Wednesday, two days before the shutdown, when a 20-year-old man suffered eye damage from a laser beam. The man, identified as David Banner, had just finished working on a series of experiments involving a pulsed gamma ray laser, but lingered in the laboratory.'

Half an hour later, he complained of blurry vision in his left eye, and it was discovered that the laser had not been turned off. He suffered bleeding at the back of his eye from a lesion one-fiftieth of an inch wide, and arrangements are being made to fly him to Johns Hopkins medical center in Baltimore for treatment where he turned into a giant green freak and destroyed the building.

Speaking of Laser Beams, does any one recall (don't remember when) the military pilot who was flying off the coast of California and checked out a freighter (Russian I think) that shot Laser Beams at him, damaging his eyes?

My memory is failing me but, perhaps one of you can recall this story.

I remember when this type of oversight was completely unthinkable, and rather than facing 'loss of employment' the offender would be looking at something MUCH more serious.

Oh well, I guess ship-of-fools is as ship-of-fools does.

Capt. Pat Barnes' right eye is still sore more than two years after an apparent laser attack. But his biggest pain these days is government bureaucracy. Barnes, whose retina was damaged as his helicopter shadowed a Russian ship on the West Coast, is grounded, has been denied a standard pilot's bonus and is fighting for a disability pension. "It's a slow process," Barnes, 42, said in a rare interview from his home in Aurora, Ont., north of Toronto. "I don't hold out much hope."

Barnes' troubles began April 4, 1997, when the Sea King helicopter he was piloting buzzed a Russian ship suspected of spying on U.S. nuclear submarines in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, off Vancouver Island. The eyes of a fellow crew member -- Lieut. Jack Daly, a U.S. intelligence officer -- showed clear laser damage after the mission to photograph the cargo ship as it passed through American waters. Pentagon officials have since said there is no proof that the crew of the MV Kapitan Man was responsible, but have never explained how Daly was hurt.

http://www.ltjackdaly.com/articles/Pat%20Barnes_101199.htm

Unfortunately, it can take years for rot to be discovered in a neglected ship. To find the source of rot, sometimes one needs to dig deep. Fortunately, in the relative short 13 year history of Dept of Energy makes the search easy.

Google the background and history of the seventh Secretary of Energy, Hazel R. O'Leary

Have you ever wondered what happened to the promise of nuclear power plants relieving our nation's energy crisis?
Hazel O'Leary, a wolf in sheep's clothing, decimates the nuclear electrical generation industry...

Have you ever wondered what happened to our nation's unprecedented superiority in nuclear weapons technology.
O"Leary declassifies nuclear secrets!

Have you forgotten the endless cloud of scandal?
Mrs. O'Leary's Chinese Cash Cow?
O'Leary record, by Free Republic's AlamoGirl
O'Leary, Congressional Lightning Rod
The Trouble with Hazel
etc., etc., etc....

Incidents infers ignorance.

I don't believe these folks are stupid or ignorant.

I think they did it on purpose knowing it could/would be intercepted.

Can you say treason?

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