Electronic Pearl Harbor x too many (From the Crypt Newsletter)

["Grugnog" <grugnog@tao.ca>]

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This was too long, so I had to cut it down (and tidy it a bit <g>) - the
full version is on the website:
<http://sun.soci.niu.edu/~crypt/other/harbor.htm>
Originally posted by rdom@thing.net
- Grug

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Sent: 18 October 1999 16:18
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From: rdom@thing.net

from the Crypt Newsletter http://www.soci.niu.edu/~crypt

__________________________________________________


Electronic Pearl Harbor (or "EPH"): a bromide popularized by Alvin
Toffler-types, ex-Cold War generals, assorted corporate windbags and hack
journalists, to name a few. EPH is meant to signify a nebulous electronic
doom always looming over U.S. computer networks. In the real world, it's a
cue for the phrase "Watch your wallet!" since those wielding it are usually
doing so in an attempt to convince taxpayers or consumers to fund
ill-defined and/or top secret projects said to be aimed at protecting us
from it. It has been seen thousands of times since its first sighting in
1993.

                         --from the Crypt Newsletter "Joseph K"
                         Guide to Tech Terminology

"Electronic Pearl Harbor" and variations on it, Crypt Newsletter has
noticed, are now some of the most over used buzz-phrases in the topic of
computer security and information warfare. Using Internet search engines, it
is possible to quickly find over 500 citations for the phrase in on-line
news archives, military research papers and press releases.

Paradoxically, overuse of the phrase has had quite the opposite effect
desired by those who unwittingly wield it.

One can easily imagine p.r. handlers coaching our leaders, generals and
corporate salesmen to not forget to say "electronic Pearl Harbor" at least
one time just before giving a speech or interview.

Since it is a gold-plated cliche, anyone with more sense than it takes to
pour piss from a boot can use it as an infallible detector of Chicken
Little-like cyber-bull.

Paraphrased: Anyone still caught uttering "electronic Pearl Harbor" in 1999
is either an ex-Cold Warrior trying to drum up anti-terrorism funding
through the clever use of propaganda, completely
out of it, or a used-car salesman/white-collar crook of some type.

Here then, Crypt News presents for your amusement, a selection of the
unclothed emperors speaking of "electronic Pearl Harbor."

[[[ Note: To underline how rich in history the cliche has become, Crypt
Newsletter recently began updating this list after skipping much of 1998.
Congressmen, Pentagon officials and hack journalists are those most

prone to deploying "electronic Pearl Harbor" ad nauseum. And at this
juncture, Crypt Newsletter receives about 2-3 articles a week from the big
mainstream press featuring cites on the potential for "electronic Pearl
Harbor."

These articles, all of which, obviously, are not included in this page, are
distinguished by their mind-numbing similarity.

The same cast of characters appear over and over, always uttering exactly
the same menacing declarations.

And -- again and again -- the same clueless media organizations recycle the
same clutch of quotes and cliches, uncognizant or indifferent to the fact
that they aren't actually producing anything
that is real news.

This phenomenon has unfolded over six years since the initial prediction of
"electronic Pearl Harbor" and national death by keyboard first reared its
head. ]]]

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