[sci.military] "Deep Black"

gray@uxc.cso.uiuc.edu (Ron Gray) (06/30/89)

From: convex!gray@uxc.cso.uiuc.edu (Ron Gray)


>From: smb@ulysses.homer.nj.att.com (Steven M. Bellovin)
>
> I just finished reading ``Deep Black'', a book about satellite surveillance
> systems, and I was curious to hear opinions about its accuracy.  My own
> guess is that there's a wild mix of fact, fiction, and speculation in it.
> Certainly, there were any number of statements about computer science
> that ranged between suspect and laughable, and that doesn't give me
> much confidence in the rest of the book.  On the other hand, the author
> seems to have read (and cited) just about every issue of Av Leak, and
> interviewed lots of knowledgeable folks.  Comments?


Obviously the individuals who can attest to the accuracy of the 
information contained in the book "Deep Black" are going to be 
unable to give specific or corrective information due to the classified
nature of the subject matter.

However, as a Computer Scientist specializing in "Supercomputers" and 
enjoying a "working-relationship" with certain organizations mentioned 
in Deep Black (I have read the book) I will venture a "novice" opinion 
that the information contained in Deep Black is accurate. The field of
Computer Science within these organizations is many years ahead of their
commercial counterparts.

Another book (Good information on the KH-11) on the same subject matter is 

               "American Espionage and the Soviet Target" <1987> 
                Author:  Jeffrey Richelson
                ISBN  :  0-688-07954-7

(Richelson's other works include "The U.S Intelligence Community" <1985> and 
 "The Keyhole Satelite Program" <1984> .)


Ronald W Gray, 
Convex Computer Corp , 
3000 Waterview Parkway, P.O. Box 833851
MS ADM, Richardson, TX 75083-3851  
Tel (214) 497-4000 

(The opinions expressed herein are those of the author only)

"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum."   
Let him who desires peace, prepare for war.