Unfortunately, the wire bonder episode reveals that these pledges amounted to little more than empty lip-service paid to appease momentarily the legitimate concerns of an important United States Senator in order to facilitate confirmation.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

In practice, however -- as first the computer decontrol and most recently the wire bonder decisions have amply illustrated -- the Commerce Department apparently believes it is not obliged to be either truthful or rigorous in assessments it makes about foreign availability, or to refute documented evidence from the national security community which contradicts its assessments.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy