Congressmen: NASA Ames gave secrets to China Issues Beyond Palo Alto, posted by Editor, Palo Alto Online, on Feb 15, 2013 at 1:25 pm
The director of Mountain View's NASA Ames Research Center is embroiled in what is either a scandal or a witch-hunt over accusations that secret rocket propulsion technology was given to China.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, February 15, 2013, 11:13 AM
Posted by NASA guy, a resident of another community, on Feb 15, 2013 at 1:25 pm
From: Centerwide Announcement
Date: February 12, 2013
MESSAGE FROM THE CENTER DIRECTOR
Ames and National Security.
Last week a news story appeared regarding national security and access to Ames by foreign national individuals. The article referenced letters written by US representatives. The article and the letters mentioned in it are littered with inaccuracies. I take very seriously our responsibility to safeguard sensitive information, so I wanted to let you--Ames employees--know the facts. To the best of our knowledge I am not, nor have I been, the subject of an International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) investigation. I have offered to talk to the news reporter, meet with the US representatives and/or testify under oath regarding export control issues at Ames.
Since NASA's inception, the contribution of foreign nationals has been an important element in making the agency the world's leading space program. Indeed, NASA's most successful space project- the International Space Station - inherently involves ongoing collaboration with Russia, the European Space Agency and numerous other international partners and that very collaboration is recognized as the core to its success.
I am justifiably proud of our international collaborations at Ames. We have had more than 50 International Space Act Agreements in the past five years. Last year we conducted a successful audit of all 114 projects and programs where there might be ITAR concerns. The next Ames export control audit, which includes ITAR, will occur in the next two weeks.
A goal of our country's National Space Policy, ( Web Link ) is to "Expand international cooperation on mutually beneficial space activities to: broaden and extend the benefits of space; further the peaceful use of space; and enhance collection and partnership in sharing of space-derived information."
Working with international partners is, has been, and will continue to be, a central part of our civil space effort. Ames will continue to exercise the fullest diligence in monitoring these collaborations and ensuring their compliance with ITAR policy as well as making sure NASA export control procedures are followed.
"Melinda Haag, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, released a statement to The Washington Times denying that her office had sought an indictment. "I am aware of allegations our office sought authority from [the Justice Department] in Washington, D.C., to bring charges in a particular matter and that our request was denied," Ms. Haag said. "Those allegations are untrue. No such request was made, and no such denial was received."
Posted by Joe, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 15, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Spying is a fact of life. Sadly, too many people who claim to be scientists, or engineers, are so detached from the reality of the extent of the massive espionage efforts that they dismiss the possibilities that they might be the target of espionage.
China, and Japan before WWII, have been very active here in California—
Virtually every major project that was central to the winning of WWII was infested with Soviet spies—the Manhattan Project, Los Alamos, Bletchley Park, and who knows how many other projects that have not been identified by the government yet.
This CRS Report discusses China’s suspected acquisition of U.S. nuclear weapon secrets, including that on the W88, the newest U.S. nuclear warhead. This serious controversy became public in early 1999 and raised policy issues about whether U.S. security was further threatened by China’s suspected use of U.S. nuclear weapon secrets in its development of nuclear forces, as well as whether the
Administration’s response to the security problems was effective or mishandled and whether it fairly used or abused its investigative and prosecuting authority. The Clinton Administration acknowledged that improved security was needed at the weapons labs but said that it took actions in response to indications in 1995 that China may have obtained U.S. nuclear weapon secrets. Critics in Congress and
elsewhere argued that the Administration was slow to respond to security concerns, mishandled the too narrow investigation, downplayed information potentially unfavorable to China and the labs, and failed to notify Congress fully.
---
We’re left with asking a few hard questions:
1) Does NASA Ames have a mandatory espionage awareness program for every employee, up to the director?
2) Does NASA run an on-going espionage detection program, that involves using Chinese “plants”, who are actively trying to elicit secrets from NASA employees.
3) If not—why not?
Dismissing the on-going espionage against the US defense/scientific community is typical of people who have no understanding of the real world, or the documented history of espionage here in the US.
Posted by Joe, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 8:01 am
There is little that goes on in China that doesn’t sooner, or later, involve the Chinese military. Many businesses are run by the PLA, so they have a motive for stealing information that has both military value, as well as commercial value—
NASA Ames certain has a treasure trove of information for which the US taxpayer has paid dearly. It would be a real shame if the NASA Director is more interested in “science”, rather than national security.
Everyone working at NASA Ames needs to understand that they could provide bits of information that can be integrated by a well-designed espionage effort. Unfortunately, details about infrastructure security are not likely to be revealed to benefit public relations—so we taxpayers are left crossing our fingers that the people in high management positions are doing their jobs. Historically, we (the US people) have been disappointed, time-and-again, by the people in such places.
The current NASA Director’s response doesn’t seem to offer much hope that he’s fully on-board with the idea that NASA Ames is going to recognize this threat, and be pro-active in combating it.
Posted by Den, a member of the Nixon School community, on Feb 19, 2013 at 10:05 am
"There is little that goes on in China that doesn’t sooner, or later, involve the Chinese military."
A communist dictatorship. Perhaps one should look for products not made in China. Pay a dime more for a tee-shirt. Pay a quarter more for a pan made elsewhere. Maybe delay that electronics purchase for a year.
China wins because of an absurd level of consumerism.
Posted by News media reports, books, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 1:24 pm
The current issue of Bloomberg Businessweek, Feb 18-24, 2013) has a cover in large type:
"Yes, the Chinese Army is spying on you."
Eric Schmidt's new book is getting a lot of coverage, "Schmidt's book to call out China on cyberattacks," San Jose Mercury News, Tues., Feb 19, 2013, p. 1....
PLUS
"Chinese Army tied to hacking," (see above, San Jose Mercury News)
But oh, we should all be friends and throw open our doors, whether IP or other forms of valuable information, to these "friends."
Posted by Just heard, a resident of the Greater Miranda neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 3:00 pm
I heard this morning at 8:00 on CNN that the Chinese govt has been hacking into the computers of American businesses and companies.
There have been major busts of Chinese spies at NASA and Lockheed, even at Intel .
People from China arrive here sick, and are not even pulled aside coming thru customs, according to my doctor.
Why are they allowed to get away with all this? Criminal behavior is cri inal behavior and should be punished. Regardless of any mo etary debt our govt owes China!
Posted by Just heard, a resident of the Greater Miranda neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 5:55 pm
It is really hard to find ANYthing not made in China! Their cheap junk has killed markets world-wide. It is so cheap that you can replace it 100 times and still spend less than the cost of one item of good quality As much as I can, I do not buy Chinese products, especially not children's toys. They don't seem to care if they poison their own kids, why should they care about ours? But with some things, like clothing, it is hard to fin China-free versions. And I hate that!
Posted by Den, a member of the Nixon School community, on Feb 19, 2013 at 6:09 pm
" It is so cheap that you can replace it 100 times and still spend less than the cost of one item of good quality "
Frankly, I'm not sure it's wise on my part to enter discussions with the king of hyperbole. A cheap item at 1/100th the price of a quality item?!?!?!?!?
Clothes are easy, look at the tags -- our trade agreements bring a LOT of non-Chinese clothes into the US from VN (more commies) and Central America especially.
Some things, you have to search, but that's why you have google. Other things, just find alternatives, or delay your consumerist ways. Your budget will be thrilled!
Beats buying from the #1 enemy of the United States of America. Stay away from Walmart, tell them you want American made goods represented better in their stores.
Posted by Dr. JRLF, a resident of the Palo Alto Hills neighborhood, on Feb 23, 2013 at 10:51 am
I worked with former Brig. General Simon "Pete" Worden when he was a USAF Colonel, within the Directorate of Requirements, at Air Force Space Command Headquarters. After he left ASPC Hqs, he went to work in one of the most sensitive and highly classified areas of space research within the U.S. Govt. For anyone to think or to even suggest that Brig. General Pete Worden would give highly classified information to China - that's utter nonsense and totally ludicrous -for this is an individual who worked for the USAF and for the U.S. Govt- for 3 decades - in the service of the National Security of the U.S.
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