Foolishness II.

This is coolbert:

Regarding the exclusion of Admiral Poindexter from future Homeland Security, anti-terrorist operations, there does seem to be precedent for this sort of thing.

Persons that can contribute in a significant way to the war effort, but for extraneous and sometimes outrageous reasons, are felt to be unsuitable and undesirable.

Persons that become pariahs.

Persons whose talents are wasted. To the detriment of all.

Such a situation existed in World War Two [WW2] also.

This was the case of Herbert Osborne Yardley. American cryptologist.

Cryptologist - - "A person who engages in the scientific study of cryptography and cryptanalysis."

Who had served admirably during World War One [WW1] and HAD also served the Nationalist Chinese government in a similar manner [as an advisor in cryptologic matters]..

Yardley's particular expertise was as a cryptanalyst.

"Cryptanalyst - - A person who engages in: 1 : the solving of cryptograms or cryptographic systems 2 : the theory of solving cryptograms or cryptographic systems : the art of devising methods for this."

Was also an excellent administrator, a hard worker, and a man possessing a particular persuasive charm.

Was also a man deemed untrustworthy by many in the field of intelligence. U.S. and British intelligence officers were loathe to deal with Yardley at any level. Yardley, in the early 1930's, DID write a tell-all book that scandalized many and DID reveal many secrets. This is a story in itself. NOT a subject for this blog entry. Let us say that Yardley was DESPISED by many.

[this tell-all book, the "American Black Chamber", to this day, is usually on the MUST READ list of those who are interested in the field of intelligence. Well written, easy to read, an enjoyable read, very entertaining. Yardley also wrote a book entitled, "Chinese Black Chamber". A chronicle of his Chinese experience. This book was Also an entertaining read, but NOT as good as his former work!!]

Nonetheless, in 1940, Yardley found himself back in the crypto business.

Working for the Canadians.

At this point in the war, the Canada did NOT possess an independent radio intelligence service

[a radio intelligence service intercepts SECRET radio communications of foreign powers and analyzes same for the purpose of developing intelligence.]

An independent service that would have an intercept capability coupled with analysis. In 1940, the Canadians DID have an intercept service, but DID NOT have an analysis capability. The British provided analysis, the Canadians told to merely copy and forward raw radio intercepts.

Yardley had assured Canadian authorities that in six weeks, with a minimum of say fifteen analysts, trained by himself, he could have an analysis bureau up and running. This was in extreme MARKED contrast to what other American authorities had told the Canadians.

[General Mauborgne, American Signal Corps officer, had told the Canadians that it would take a year of training and a minimum of two hundred fifty personnel to get an radio intelligence analysis bureau going!!!]

Yardley was duly hired as head of the brand new Canadian radio intelligence analysis bureau!!

It seems that Yardley WAS ABLE to deliver on his promise!!

"Within two weeks he confirmed his patrons' confidence in him by solving a cipher used by German agents in Brazil to report the movements of merchant ships. By September, Yardley was routinely reading German clandestine traffic out of South America and had cracked ciphers used by the governments of Vichy France and Columbia. By October he had solved a medium-grade Japanese system."

A pretty outstanding performance, by almost any standard!! Yardley even exceeded his promised expectations!

[these secret messages of Axis spies in South America were encrypted in relatively simple transposition cryptographic systems [what would classified as low-grade crypto systems]. NOT difficult for skilled cryptanalysts to read. This was well within the abilities of Yardley and his trainees. One would ask, however, if this stuff was so easy to read, why were not others doing the same? Were these secret messages from Axis spies going unread?? It may very well be that Yardley was doing what others could do, BUT WERE NOT doing!! What is one to make of this??]

Within several months, however, Yardley was curtly dismissed from his position. This at the insistence of American and British intelligence officers, who told the Canadians there WOULD BE NO further cooperation in cryptologic matters until Yardley was fired. Yardley, years after his major indiscretions, was still despised and loathed, his skills nothwithstanding!!

"When asked about Yardley's technical competence, Olmstead replied by asking the Canadians whether, if they were hiring a chef and one applied who was a known criminal, they would be interested in his ability to make an omelet."

[this argument is ABSURD!! You can find a whole bunch of cooks that can make good omelets. You CANNOT find but a few persons, such as Yardley, who have GOD-given innate talent in the cryptologic field. And that is what it is, GOD-given innate talent. It is even MUCH harder to find persons with GOD-given innate cryptologic talent that are intuitive auto-didacts [self-taught person] as was Yardley. And EVEN BEYOND THAT, it is much, much, more difficult to find such persons that are at the same time able administrators!! Yardley DID have considerable talents!!]

Was this a wise decision!! Firing Yardley and dismissing the man without regard to contributions he still may have been able to make??

I would think that during WAR TIME, you should avail yourself of all the help you can get. Including persons who are of dubious repute. There ARE ways to handle this type of individual you may not like. An amicable working relationship can in some manner be worked out, without regard to personal animosities, the greater good in the end always being kept in mind!!

This did not occur with Herbert Osborne Yardley!!

Yardley was given, years later, an honorable burial at Arlington National Cemetery, in light of his WW1 war record and his outstanding devotion to the defense of his country during that conflict.

coolbert.