(Henry Spencer) wrote in :

In article . com,
wrote:
...says that it launched "overcoming a mechanical problem
with the Russian-built erector on its floating launch pad". This
hardly seems embarassing enough to require a news blackout, nor
something that ITAR would be concerned with.

There is basically no such thing as an issue too trivial for ITAR to be
concerned with. The folks who enforce the ITAR rules make no pretense
of being rational.

With the complexity of ITAR and the onerous penalties levied for
violations, they can't afford to be. It is always safer to say "no" than to
say "yes", and from *that* point of view, their actions are perfectly
rational. The problem is that ITAR itself, as written, is irrational. The
solution is not to replace the people enforcing ITAR with rational people
(as they will inevitably gravitate back toward the stance of the people
enforcing it now), but to reform ITAR itself.

--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.