the rifle position is suggesting which random key encryption table they will be using for the message to follow? Assuming 8 easily discernable positions (12 O'clock, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, etc...) they could have 8 variations on which pre-defined encryption scheme to use... That's just one possibillity... I heard that pixel counts on images can be used for coordinates. A lot of information COULD be transmitted with one graphic file in a web page, depending on how much one wanted to convey. It's very disturbing from an intelligence gathering standpoint that so much can be hidden in plain sight.

But I would assume that gov computers are looking for that type of activity. It would be better to hide things in plain sight. When I was working in intell back when dinosaurs roamed the planet, we would transmit our most sensitive information via regular old mail.

The thinking was, if it was encrypted, someone would suspect it was sensitive and try and decrypt it... If we made a big deal about it, people would get suspicious... You get the drift. The stuff that was highly sensitive was dropped in a regular old letter and mailed first class - no insurance, no priority, nada. This only worked when time was not of the essence, but it happened very frequently.

The overall game is to never arouse people's interest when you are doing anything covert. The same paranoia I've had when I read the "surf the web with anonymity" fluff. I'm almost certain that the anonomous surfing web servers are FBI... Have been since I first heard about them. Any confirmation out there?

what the "real" game was most of the time. I would assume that most of the intelligence gathered in Nam was time sensitive (at least theater of battle type) and so they wouldn't be able able to send a plain old letter to Sam the custodial engineer at Fort George S..

It is my deepest hope that the intelligence community doesn't let the bureaucracy above dictate anything SOP filter down to the field. More specifically, nothing is worse IMHO for an intelligence agency to be than "predictable"... As I said, it is my hope.

I know in your latest thread with the B. you were describing (pretty accurately, I'm affraid) the general incompetence of the military as an organization and it's individuals. As a general rule of thumb, I can't disagree... but I would add that a few of the brightest people I have ever run across were 30 and 40 something Warrant's and Sergeants. I even met a couple of remarkable "real" officers ( :p ) at the Colonel level. (Like teachers) they weren't in it for the pay, most probably not "duty" either, but they really had just found a niche and didn't feel they wanted (or could) do anything else... I also know the military has a way of burning these folks out and Mickey Mousing them out, but some of them still survive. I base my hope on them. I know it's not much to grab onto, but I try to think that they are still there and protecting the rest of us.