Re: U.S. to Curb Computer Access by Foreigners

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

Forwarded from: Elyn Wollensky <elyn () consect com>

> http://www.latimes.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=la%2D030702ban

> Experts said barring foreign nationals from certain computer
> projects opens the prospect that key jobs will go unfilled because
> of a shortage of qualified citizens--a situation exacerbated by the
> relatively small number of U.S. students who pursue advanced
> technology degrees. Costs may also rise sharply as higher-paid U.S.
> citizens replace foreign workers.

<snip>

> Even Richard A. Clarke, top cyber-security advisor to President
> Bush, views the restrictions as a misguided priority.

<snip>

> "In general, trying to restrict the [information technology]
> professional that we use to American citizens is not going to be an
> effective approach," Clarke said. "The United States does not
> produce enough American citizens who are IT-security-trained to
> operate our networks."

Saying the US doesn't produce enough Security/ IT talent is complete
and utter bullsh*t.

Put any five Security/IT professionals in a room and you will hear
from at least three that they are unemployed or scraping by on
contract work & looking for something full-time, and at least two will
discuss how they once worked for the .gov/.mil but had to leave due to
the pay being unlivable -- and generally there is an overlap in these
groups. So perhaps if the government paid people a competitive wage,
equal to what they could get in private industry, they would be able
to retain talent and get other US citizens to work for them.

I think the overpaid, so-called experts should start analyzing this
little Catch-22 and stop crying wolf over an imaginary lack of
available talent.

- elyn



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