Today’s lesson – Don’t try to answer a question when you have no idea what the hell you’re talking about –
From Boing Boing:
Last week’s Clinton town-hall with the State Department featured an apparat begging to be allowed to use Firefox:
MS. GREENBERG: Okay. Our next question comes from Jim Finkle:
QUESTION: Can you please let the staff use an alternative web browser called Firefox? I just – (applause) – I just moved to the State Department from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and was surprised that State doesn’t use this browser. It was approved for the entire intelligence community, so I don’t understand why State can’t use it. It’s a much safer program. Thank you. (Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, apparently, there’s a lot of support for this suggestion. (Laughter.) I don’t know the answer. Pat, do you know the answer? (Laughter.)
UNDER SECRETARY KENNEDY: The answer is at the moment, it’s an expense question. We can –
QUESTION: It’s free. (Laughter.)
Let’s have a round of slow clapping for Pat Kennedy, everyone.
On the bright side, Firefox is rated “secure” by the “intelligence community.” I feel safer already, don’t you?
I worked at the Department of State for six months a couple of years ago and they don’t adapt to new technology very quickly. For example, they still have to send cables to and from posts overseas when officials request travel. It can’t be e-mailed, faxed or phoned. It has to be sent by cable. I imagine there is a room at the Truman building where the world’s last telegraph operator works all day.
The browser issue may have something to do with desk officers having both a secure and an unsecure hard drive for their computer. I don’t know why that would be an issue. Its just a guess…
Good one. lol