Free Republic

or more than half a century, governments all over the world trusted a single company to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret. The company, Crypto AG, got its first break with a contract to build code-making machines for U.S. troops during World War II. Flush with cash, it became a dominant maker of encryption devices for decades, navigating waves of technology from mechanical gears to electronic circuits and, finally, silicon chips and software. The Swiss firm made millions of dollars selling equipment to more than 120 countries well into the 21st century. Its clients included Iran,...

NORAD Monitors U.S. Skies to Protect the Homeland By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2003 - On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the staff at the North American Aerospace Defense Command was poised to identify a missile test or space launch anywhere in the world, or to tell exactly how many items of "space junk" were circling the globe. What they didn't know was that four commercial airplanes hijacked within U.S. borders were launching an orchestrated terrorist attack on the United States. That's because, at the time, the eyes and ears of NORAD were focused...