Post 9/11 IT database project has big flaws

Sophisticated computerized databases were cited by the Bush Administration as a key element in keeping track of potential terrorist plotters and keeping them out of the country. But now, a congressional subcommittee says a $500 million IT project intended to "connect the dots" on terrorists and help prevent another 9/11 is a failure, and cannot even handle basic Boolean search terms.

"The end result is a current system used to identify terrorist threats that has been crippled by technical flaws and a new system that, if actually deployed, will leave our country more vulnerable than the existing, yet flawed system in operation today," wrote Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC), chairman of the House Science and Technology subcommittee on investigations and oversight.

The subcommittee looked at the data integration project called Railhead that was supposed to combine and upgrade existing databases. The project, said Miller, is suffering from delays, cost overruns and big technical glitches. Software tested by the Hewlett-Packard Quality Center found that it "passed 148 tasks, but did not complete 26 others and failed 42. The National Counterterrorism Center said Miller's assertions are "inconsistent with the facts."
 
 
For more: on these database flaws:
- see this CSOonline.com article