The article said that people knew the potential existed since the mid 90's so the problem was't ignorance it was arrogance and apathy.
The WSJ reporter fell into the same trap: Iraqis and Afghans couldn't have figured out how to tap a video feed on their own; they must have had Iranian help.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-10-26-serb-stealth_x...
"At times, they acted like amateurs," Dani said, listing some ways the Serbs managed to breach NATO communications security, including eavesdropping on pilots' conversations with AWACS surveillance planes.
According to Wikipedia, that is how you turn $737M into smoke.
It was an F-117. Yes, most "F" aircraft are air-to-air fighter aircraft. However F-117 is mostly used to attack ground targets, so it's "F" should be more like an "A" (If you want to nitpick that is ;-) )
It's also not the first attack aircraft to carry a fighter designation; the F-111 long-range attack aircraft also carried that designation (though in that case it was because the aircraft was originally meant, in part, to fill an Naval air-defense fighter role).
http://www.deagel.com/Long-Range-Attack-Aircraft/B-2A-Spirit... http://www.deagel.com/Strike-and-Fighter-Aircraft/F-117A-Nig...
The officials came to that conclusion, not the WSJ. Also, see @pmorici's answer.
Nobody claimed this was logical or reasonable...
As opposed to other "smart" countries that have nuclear technology but are noble dogoodies?
"Seriously man, you're going to want to encrypt this. I know it's an extra 10k, but you've already spent 50 million. And I really think we should stick with Blue on the wings."
"Nah, ditch the encryption. We're already over budget. But please do change the wings to green... wait red... now let's see your blue again?"