Terror watchlist "upgrade" is "imploding," legislator say

[apnu]

Source: ars technica

The database used to produce the government's terror watch lists is "crippled by technical flaws," according to the chairman of a House technology oversight subcommittee—and the system designed to replace it may be even worse.

In a letter to the inspector general at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence last week, Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) complained that the National Counterterrorism Center's "Railhead" initiative, designed to upgrade the government's master database of suspected terrorists, "if actually deployed will leave our country more vulnerable than the existing yet flawed system in operation today."

Miller, who chairs the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Science and Technology Committee, cited "severe technical troubles, poor contractor management, and weak government oversight," which he said had brought the Railhead program to the "verge of collapse."

Read more: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080825-terror-watchlist-upgrade-is-imploding-legislator-charges.html

[n2doc]

1. This is one area where I want them to fail

Crash, baby, Crash!

[Roland99]

2. I'll Fifth this!

[Kelvin Mace]

3. Glad to see Miller is finally

waking up.

Back in 2005 he about blew a fuse when I gave him hell for supporting Patriot Act II: The Final Stupidity. He lectured me about terrorists and drug dealers when I asked him how come we defeated the Soviets, a country with REAL nuclear weapons capable of ending all life on the planet, but we didn't have, nor did we need, a Patriot Act.

[apnu]

4. LOL! "Patriot Act II: The Final Stupidity" You kill me. (nt)

[billyoc]

5. Add more names, that'll do it.

:rofl:

[kansasblue]

6. I wondering who's building it. They protect the names of the corporations

that are paid to do. That's very hard to find. They are paid millions in tax payers money.

Other countries can't believe how forgiving we are on these projects. We just get to a point and then we'll scrap the project and start again and say 'oh well'.

[apnu]

8. Yeah, business as usual in DC. (nt)

[valerief]

7. I won't fly again until this nonsense is gone. nt

[apnu]

9. Me too, largley because I think they've screwed the pooch at airport security.

And the hassle just isn't worth it. Besides, driving is more fun and interesting, IMO.

[mogster]

10. Oh, they're now so corrupt they can't even make a db work

Great, I suppose.

Note the flawless performance of the Democratic Underground, lol ;-)

[RedLetterRev]

11. Miller is my rep

and I'm glad he's finally coming around.

It's not like my partner and I haven't blistered him a new arsehole for years now, either. I thank my fellow constituents and also the folks at BlueNC for staying on his back. He's a good man -- he just needed to hear the truth enough times for it to sink in.

Now -- will he be man enough to run with it? There is a glimmer of hope. Brad, we put you up to it. We still have your back. If you have the balls to see it through, we have the balls to stand with and beside you.

Kick and rec'd.

[aquart]

12. I want every single person in America on that list.

If we can't get a name off it, then destroy it by turning it into the White Pages.

[paparush]

13. TRUNCATE TABLE tblWatchAllLiberals nt

[Fovea]

14. The nine scariest words in the English language.

I'm a consultant, and I'm here to help you.

Without apologies to Ron Raygun.

[droidamus2]

15. Problem

The big problem with these kinds of government projects is they move so slowly by the time they actually get around to implementing them they are already out of date. If you really wanted to do it right (from a programming not a policy prospective) you would need a group of people dedicated to going beyond the bleeding edge of technology and getting ahead of the game (sort of like going to the moon but not as hard). Having multiple contractors working on one project of this size is nearly impossible to manage and still come out with a decent outcome. Again I am speaking strictly from the 'is it possible side' not the 'should it be done at all' side.

[Fovea]

16. Propriatary products, trade secrets

Profit driven development without adequate oversight.

The Medicare billing database is huge, decidedly not cutting edge, and it was not designed a bunch of greedy fucks.