Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. speech to International Securities Management Association , August 8, 2000

Speech to International Securities Management Association August 8, 2000 C Potential speech theme: We are the beneficiaries of an era of unprecedented prosperity, and such prosperity brings with it the need to renew an emphasis on security. Why is security so important? Some simple observations: we live in a world in which • One college student in the Philippines can launch an electronic “love bug" that costs billions of dollars in damage in 24 hours. • One Secretary of Energy can lose 2 highly classified disk drives behind a photocopier in a supposedly secure Los Alamos Nuclear Lab. • One Chinese Spy acting as a scientist can transfer nuclear secrets on some of our most sensitive weaponry. • One Secretary of State can lose 16 laptops, some with classified information, belatedly discover listen devices outside her door, and fail to notice a lurking Russian spy outside the building for several months. • One CIA Director can blatantly violate national security rules by transfering national secrets to his home computer. • One President and Vice President can nominate seven individuals for ambassadorial posts who have committed a total of 102 documented violations of State Department security procedures. • One city, which many of us in this room call home, is on track again to witness the tragedy of over 300 murders in one year. • And our nation suffers billions of dollars a year in retail thefts. As you can see, the definition of security is wide-ranging and touches on all aspects of life: I see four levels of security: 1) national security 2) high-tech security 3) physical loss prevention 4) personal security and law enforcement. Each of these is crucial to protecting America’s business and national interests. Part 1: National Security Issues - Recent U.S. national security failures underscore the importance of security in every environment. C Let me paint for you a picture of our current abysmal national security record: • Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, too busy unsuccessfully campaigning to be A1 Gore’s