karen, look at the link below, and check it again. You will see the reason for my question in the first place.
Re-reading the article, it doesn't appear like the FBI or the State Department knew exactly when the laptop was taken, nor where it was taken from (nor if for sure if it was taken) ... I wonder if they ever found it, from the original April 2000 loss???
>>>>>>>>>>>>The missing computer contained information classified in the most sensitive category. U.S. officials say there is concern some of the information on the computer was so-called "code- word" material -- a classification higher than top secret.
The officials caution they are not sure the computer was stolen but say the State Department has an inventory and security problem, given that this laptop was used in and possibly taken from a secure area.
>>>>>>>>>>>After the laptop was discovered missing, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright asked the head of Diplomatic Security, David Carpenter, to review State Department security procedures.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>High-ranking congressman calls for security hearings
The revelation led Rep. Charles Gilman, R-N.Y., chairman of the House International Relations Committee, to call for hearings in May into security lapses at the State Department.
Gilman said in a statement that the Bureau of Intelligence and Research was found by the State Department's inspector general last year to be "not in compliance" with several security procedures.
"The missing laptop is the latest in a long string of security failures at the State Department. It is obvious that the department lacks a professional environment that is sensitive to security," Gilman said.
Russian diplomat Stanislav Borisovich Gusev was expelled from the State Department last December after reportedly being caught gathering department information with an eavesdropping device.
In 1998, a man walked into the State Department executive secretary's office -- just six doors away from Albright's office -- picked up a bundle of classified briefing materials in plain view of two secretaries, and left.
"Such security lapses are not acceptable. Whatever changes are necessary at the State Department to better protect our nation's secrets should be undertaken," Gilman said.
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