Army signals security & "Clansmen" series radios

[Owen Lewis]

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Hansen" <davidh@spidacom.co.uk>
To: <ukcrypto@maillist.ox.ac.uk>
Sent: 04 September 2000 17:20
Subject: Re: Army signals security & "Clansmen" series radios


> On 4 Sep 00, at 14:41, Owen Lewis wrote:
>
> > Do you suppose that there might be separate 'codes' for national and
> > international use? If so, why should the French, as a member of NATO,
> > be denied or otherwise not hold copies of the codes for international
> > use?
>
> The French are usually semi-detached members of NATO, except when it
> suits them. ISTR they have never taken part in the integrated
> planning aspects of the organisation.

NATO has two aspects to its purpose; political and military. France fully
participated in both until the early 60's when their participation in the
military aspect was largely reduced to the role of observer, though full
participation in the political aspect continued. This was accompanied by the
remove of the NATO supreme military HQ from Paris (Le Trocadero ISTR) to a
purpose built facility at Mons in Belgium (which also is host nation to the
political HQ).

Since the 80's France has sought opportunities to re-integrate its military
planning with that of the other NATO nations and, to my knowledge,
participated fully in the development and implementation of  a range of
military policies and plans. In parallel with this closer integration with
the rest of NATO, there was a particular and bi-lateral move to seek close
military integration with FRG. Though this is still in early stages, there
is little doubt that its goal is full military integration and the creation
of a viable nucleus for a European defence force - the logical military
partner to US forces in NATO.

Your view is one widely if mistakenly held in the UK and also in the US.
This is not happenstance but results from biased reporting. Not that lies
are told but in that a truthful balance has been suppressed - but that's
politics, folk lore and the Meejar for you. Should you wish to check the
truth of this, you will find the NATO press department should be very
willing to supply you with an unclassified synopsis of France's
participation in NATO.

Owen