Re: [dvd-discuss] Photocopying machine parts...

["Arnold G. Reinhold" <reinhold(at)world.std.com>]

At 12:44 PM -0800 1/4/02, Michael A Rolenz wrote:
>How about supercomputers? I read that the Prez. is allowing them to be
>exported now to the 36 countries that the last administration banned to
>prevent proliferation....of course...no other country would ever ever ever
>think to use one to do encryption research would they?
>

They've been trying to control the export of superconductors since 
long before the Clinton administration. The problem is that computers 
keep getting more powerful at an incredible rate. Pretty much our 
entire nuclear arsenal was designed using computers FAR less powerful 
than the cheapest desktop PC you can buy today.

Any old PC will do fine for making codes. As for code breaking, there 
has been a lot of work in distributing cryptographic computation over 
many independent processors. A few thousand desk top PCs doing word 
processing at a ministry by day can be a powerful code breaking 
machine by night.  The real pro will probably want a large supply 
(perhaps millions) of programmable logic array chips (FPFAs). I 
believe these are still subject to export controls.

Arnold Reinhold

>
>
>"Arnold G. Reinhold" <reinhold@world.std.com>
>Sent by: owner-dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
>01/04/02 09:40 AM
>Please respond to dvd-discuss
>
>
>        To:     dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
>        cc:
>        Subject:        Re: [dvd-discuss] Photocopying machine parts...
>
>
>Krytrons have always been the poster child for dual-use technology
>export controls. They have important civilian uses, but are
>considered critical for building nuclear weapons. Nukes depend on the
>simultaneous detonation of a number of conventional explosive charges
>surrounding a fissionable material core, so a device that can switch
>on detonator power quickly and precisely is essential.  You can find
>out more about export controls at http://www.bxa.doc.gov/
>
>Arnold Reinhold
>
>
>
>At 10:28 AM -0500 12/29/01, mickey wrote:
>>... illegal for export?
>>
>>"Fugitive Physicist Pleads Guilty to Exporting Potential Nuclear
>Triggers"
>>
>>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,41821,00.html
>>
>>"The original 30-count indictment involved the alleged export of
>>krytrons, two-inch devices that can be used in nuclear weapons or
>>photocopying machines. A license or approval from the U.S. State
>>Department must be obtained to ship them."
>>
>>Here is a (functional?) description of a krytron:
>>
>>http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/~schmaus/elect/pas5.html
>>
>>I guess that it might count as a dual-use high technology (in the
>>early eighties?), but I didn't realize that photocopier parts
>>distribution was potentially a federal crime if done without a
>>permit. 
>>mickeym