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help[w88,jmc]		How we could help the Soviets in computing

I believe that our report should contain a section on how we could
help the Soviets in computing if we were motivated to do so and
if they wanted what we have to offer.

It isn't the place of the report to advocate helping them or to
advocate avoiding helping them.  My own opinion is that we should
help them only as part of a quid pro quo, where we get something
we want in return.  I shall also discuss what we might want from
them in the computer area, but we are far enough ahead in computing
so that the return would probably have to be in other areas ---
armament reduction, reduction of their territorial secrecy,
human rights or refraining from arming communist regimes.
It would then be the job of the State Department and the National
Security Council to determine what bargains would be in our national
interest.  However, evaluating what we have to offer is something
our committee is competent to do.

What we have to offer them is mainly access to various Western markets
as both buyers and sellers --- mainly as buyers.  They will probably
need some guidance.  The evidence for this is that in the past they
have not taken very good advantage of the access they have had.

1. Software maintenance.  The use of other people's complex software is
very dependent on continued access to the developing organization for
bug fixes, consideration of requests for improvements and maintenance.
Maintenance of software consists mainly of changes that keep its
capability intact as other changes in the hardware and software
system are made.  For example, when network conventions are changed
or input-output equipment is changed, many programs require corresponding
changes.  Much software is best maintained by the originating organization.

The Soviets apparently acquire both software and hardware as one shot
events, whether by licensed purchase or by theft.  This is often true
within the Soviet Union as well as internationally.  At least it used
to be true.  I remember hearing of Computation Center in Akademgorodok
acquiring their first disk files and being unable to make them work,
even after years and eventually giving up.  There are other similar
cases.

For this reason, it isn't obvious that they would take advantage
of access to the Western software maintenance market if offered.
Perhaps under {\it perestroika} it is more likely.