Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ncis.llnl.gov!afit-ab!wbralick
From: wbralick@afit-ab.arpa (William A. Bralick)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: USSR International Computer Club (was: Information on the ICC)
Message-ID: <833@afit-ab.arpa>
Date: 20 Jan 89 22:12:38 GMT
References: <10127@well.UUCP> <1315@orion.cf.uci.edu> <810@afit-ab.arpa> <10870@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU> <824@afit-ab.arpa> <1560@cps3xx.UUCP> <825@afit-ab.arpa> <1568@cps3xx.UUCP> <24426@apple.Apple.COM>
Reply-To: wbralick@blackbird.afit.af.mil (William A. Bralick)
Distribution: na
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology; WPAFB, OH
Lines: 52

In article <24426@apple.Apple.COM> desnoyer@Apple.COM (Peter Desnoyers) writes:
>
> [conserving bandwidth...]
>
>IT DOESN'T
>MATTER if news is posted to the Soviet Union or not. If you publish
>something freely to the public (i.e. in a journal, newspaper, or
>USENET) that is export-controlled, you are in violation of the law.
>Period. (unless it is a classified journal.)

I am not a lawyer, but I do know the difference between classified 
information (and hardware) and softw/hardware that is export-controlled.
For example, the design documentation for a "spy" satellite is
classified.  It is not only illegal to sell it to a Soviet citizen,
but it is also illegal to sell it to an American citizen -- the
American (or some foreign nationals for some classes of information)
can have it if he (1) has the appropriate clearance, and (2) has a 
need to know.  On the other hand this same American citizen (or
British citizen, for example) can purchase a Vax 8650 (tm) with a
DEC Ada compiler -- no problem.  The Soviet cannot have the design
diocumentation, the Vax 8650, nor the Ada compiler.  The American (or
other) can have the Vax, the Ada compiler, and in some cases the 
design documentation.

I am not sure about broadcasting (not publishing) the export-controlled
information.  As I said, I am not a lawyer.  I merely suggest that 
this is an issue that affects more than just "well-connected"
individuals, and thus is a matter for elected representatives to 
address.

>
>Therefore, any activities that will be illegal on USENET under export
>control laws after Soviet sites are connected are already illegal. 

This is not clear.  It looks like an opinion.  Does anybody have an
informed legal opinion on this matter?

>Does Mr. Brady have any other arguments against connecting Soviet
>sites? Besides his personal dislike of the Soviet system?

Yes.  They are in a previous posting.  Trivializing my position
does not negate the fact that the Soviet Union (unlike other nations
whose "systems" are repugnant) has openly declared and never
retracted the goal of world domination.  Until and unless they
do, I vote no direct connection with the USSR.

Regards,
-- 
Will Bralick : wbralick@afit-ab.arpa  |  If we desire to defeat the enemy,
Air Force Institute of Technology,    |  we must proportion our efforts to 
                                      |  his powers of resistance.
with disclaimer;  use disclaimer;     |               - Carl von Clauswitz