-Caveat Lector- (Folks, "Please" be more careful who you vote for in the Future. Please! You decide if this is worthy of distribution far and wide!) ENERGY DEPARTMENT TO REVAMP SECURITY New 'Czar' Will Report Directly to Secretary May 11, 1999 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Stung by allegations of espionage at weapons research labs, Secretary Bill Richardson is consolidating Energy Department security operations under a "security czar" who will report directly to him, officials said. AP Energy Secretary Bill Richardson Richardson was to unveil details of the changes today. Under the plan, the department would still have a separate counterintelligence office, which Richardson previously beefed up, putting a veteran FBI official in charge. That office also reports directly to the secretary. The new consolidation, however, will put the department's $800 million physical security function at the DOE's nuclear weapons complex, including the national research labs, under a single security office, officials said. Retired general sought No one has yet been name to head the new office, but Richardson was said to be searching for a retired general to serve as the department's first security "czar" -- as Richardson has described the post. A DOE official, who asked not to be further identified, said Richardson also will announce new counterintelligence measures, separate from the consolidation of physical security programs. Related Stories: CHINESE ESPIONAGE: A GROWING SCANDAL RICHARDSON PLAYS DOWN CHINA SECURITY BREACHES The central security office also will be responsible for computer security, which has been the focus of attention in the alleged theft of nuclear secrets at weapons labs, especially the Los Alamos, N.M., lab. Currently, separate offices at DOE are responsible for classified and unclassified computer systems, and the physical security function is spread out across the $18 billion operation of the department and its contractors. Former CIA official hired Security at the DOE nuclear weapons facilities has been the subject of controversy at the department for years. In addition to the espionage scandal at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, questions were raised earlier this year about physical security and safety at the former warhead manufacturing plant at Rocky Flats in Colorado. But the apparent theft of nuclear secrets at Los Alamos -- in the 1980s, but possibly as recently as 1995 -- has put new pressure on Richardson to increase the department's security across the board. Earlier this year, Richardson beefed up the department's counterintelligence office and also directed that it report directly to him. He hired Ed Curran, a former CIA official and still one of the FBI's top counterintelligence experts, to head the office. Communications breakdowns blamed Congressional critics have assailed the department's security operation -- especially counterintelligence activities at the labs -- as lax and often ineffective. Richardson has acknowledged that communications breakdowns on security matters between the DOE headquarters and its field office and labs have caused problems in the past. For example, in 1997 it had been decided by senior FBI and DOE officials that a scientist under suspicion of espionage at Los Alamos could be removed from his sensitive job without jeopardizing the investigation. Yet he was left at his job for another 18 months because word never reached Los Alamos managers. http://www.apbonline.com/majorcases/china/1999/05/11/china0511_01.html "Thou Shall Not Steal!" because the Feds Don't Like the Competition! --- Anonymous (^) Bard (^) Passionate Charter Member of the International Society of Clinton-haters! Visit me at: The Center for Exposing Corruption in the Federal Government http://www.xld.com/public/center/center.htm Federal Government defined: ....a benefit/subsidy protection racket! DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om