Secretary of Defense Cohen in a speech yesterday to
the VFW about how the US "Superpower" name
invites "asymmetrial attacks," stated:
What we have to do is intensify our anti-proliferation types
of measures to cut down on the technology that so many
of our friends or allies or adversaries are helping to spread
around the world.
Note linking of friends and allies to adversaries in the spread
of threatening technology. Thus, the need for Echelon.
Then, he goes on to say:
Today, technology is empowering the average citizen in ways
that none of us contemplated just 10 or 20 or 25 years ago.
But there are two edges to this sword. The hand that wields it,
as Toffler pointed out, can sever the hand that's holding it. It's a
double-edged sword, and we have to be very, very concerned
about how we are empowering our citizens, our businessmen
and women and our consumers. We also have to be concerned
that it is not turned and used against us.
Thus, the need for Garden Plot and domestic spying for homeland
suppression.
Cohen boasts that he has fought hard to increase defense spending
well above the amount agreed upon by the President and Congress
when he took office, and that the threats of foreign and domestic
terrorism loom large in his argument, especially the threat of spreading
technology. And comments that Clinton is about to increase defense
spending to the highest level ever -- against foreign and domestic
enemies: allies, citizens, businessmen and women, consumers,
and foes.
Cohen's full speech:
http://cryptome.org/dod082100.htm
The State Department reported yesterday:
"The world's top 10 military spenders in 1997 were (in billions):
United States $276 billion United Kingdom $35 billion
China - Mainland 75 (rough estimate) Germany 33
Russia 42 ( " " ) Italy 23
France 42 Saudi Arabia 22
Japan 41 South Korea 15
