CentCom Laptops Missing From HQ

The Tampa Tribune ^ | Aug 7, 2002 | GEORGE CORYELL and LENNY SAVINO

[Freebird Forever]

MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE - Two laptop computers are missing and may have been stolen from the closely guarded headquarters of Gen. Tommy Franks here, federal authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Maj. Mike Richmond at the Air Force Office of Special Investigations said his agency is one of those investigating the possible theft of the laptops. A spokeswoman for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Lt. Cdr. Barbara Burfeind, said late Tuesday that she would not comment ``on any ongoing investigation.''

Franks directs the U.S. and coalition forces searching for remaining al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan from the headquarters here of U.S. Central Command, also known as CentCom, where the computers were last seen.

The laptops have been missing since Thursday. Security was heightened at the base on Friday, but spokespersons for both the base and CentCom declined to say why, explaining that they couldn't discuss security issues.

CentCom would not confirm that the computers were stolen.

Besides Afghanistan, CentCom is responsible for U.S. military operations in a number of other countries in the region, including Iraq, and has been deeply involved in planning for a widely expected U.S. effort to topple Saddam Hussein.

Authorities would not speculate on who may have walked off with the laptops. Military leaders and strategists from coalition forces from the Mid- East and Europe occupy trailers next to CentCom's headquarters building.

Concrete barricades surround the massive headquarters, and guards with M-16 automatic rifles protect the compound.

Laptops typically are used by Pentagon strategists making presentations at CentCom and elsewhere. The briefings typically outline future tactical or strategic plans for military operations.

There is already an uproar in the Pentagon over security leaks and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has publicly pledged to ferret out those responsible.

Intelligence experts familiar with MacDill said the disappearance may simply have been a crime of opportunity - perhaps a case of someone grabbing the laptops because they'd been left unattended - rather than a foreign intelligence penetration.

[Salvation]

I think I just heard of FoxNews that they found two of the computers at someone's house. He was being held for questioning.

You do have a good point about the bugs possibly planted however.