CIA Secretly Reclassifying Documents 525
SetupWeasel writes "The New York Times is reporting that the CIA is secretly reclassfying documents. How did we catch on? Historians have some of the documents. From the article: "eight [of the] reclassified documents had been previously published in the State Department's history series, 'Foreign Relations of the United States.'" Are our intelligence agencies rewriting history, stupidly paranoid, or both? We do know that they are ignoring a 2003 law that requires formal reclassifications. It puts that whole Google censorship thing in a whole new light. (Americans aren't allowed to see that video.)"
I don't get that video (Score:4, Interesting)
"Detonation of Improvised Explosive Device used against Coalition forces. We found this one before they could use it against us."
Are Americans actually not allowed to see it? Doesn't make much sense.
Re:take it for what it is. (Score:5, Interesting)
Ok, read this:
"John Doe died in 1942 after being shot in the face by the president of the united states for looking at him funny. The president attended his funeral and pissed on his grave."
Now, I won't rewrite history, I will simply deny access to a part of it:
"John Doe died in 1942. The president attended his funeral."
P.S. Any ressemblance between my example and real persons or events is purely coincidental. Use of "president" is made to give the anecdote a sense of historical relevance. No animals were hurt in the making of this comment.
It's an old problem... (Score:5, Interesting)
While I think most will agree that classification is important to basic security - protecting sources and methods saves lives - there is little doubt that the US government uses it too much and always has. There is always a fear that even a slight mention in a report or stating information that we shouldn't know and only know through a secret source or method will blow the program and potentially waste millions or, worse, put someone's life in danger.
Most of the time this is unwarranted and, in the case of these specific documents, one has to wonder a great deal about it. That said, from time to time, it's absolutely necessary. (Following is an anecdote from a professor I had who worked for Senate Intelligence Committe for a while and, yes, was a Democrat) In the late 1970's, an FBI author of a book on the Rosenburg incident, for example, was angered by what he believed to be censorship regarding important information on the case. After going through the motions to allow him to print that part what he wanted, he found the reason - the information he wanted to print came from a source who, after more than 30 years, was still reporting from the USSR. Putting it in his book would have, without doubt, led to his death.
The "missile gap" of the late 50's - early 60's is another example - it existed only in public perception, and this had been confirmed by secret intelligence programs. But, rather than divulge this information and risk intelligence-gathering the programs, Kennedy was allowed to use it as a political plank.
Don't get me wrong - the government absolutely over classifies data, something I know perfectly well from experience. But, from time to time, it has been extremely important to keep what we know under wraps.
Re:Secret? (Score:3, Interesting)
What an amazingly bad messure of importance... If the American Public still care must be important, vs. no longer cares = Unimportant.
So American Idol's next round is the next critical thing facing this country.
The average american's lack of focus, concern, and ability to understand an issue in no way alters its significance.
And your point that Doesn't sound very secret to me. Isn't secret when nobody knows about it?, So if they had done it correctly and reclassified without anyone knowing, then it would be fine because we don't know, but because they got caught reclassifing, then they... didn't actually reclassify?
Information still valid? (Score:2, Interesting)
What if they were using some of these documents for a paper or thesis; presumably they'll have to re-write that part? How about if they've already published a paper quoting parts of those documents verbatim - would the classification then extend to their paper? The documents are being reclassified while the information is already public domain... while it's going to be as ineffective as closing the door after the horse is long gone, does the classification thus legally extend to the information too?
Re:Secret? (Score:3, Interesting)
Selective omission (Score:5, Interesting)
The head of the national archives and records administration (NARA), a supposedly independent administration, has been replaced at the request of top levels of the Bush regime [gcn.com]. Not only is that rather unusual, but there are some big issues with the new appointment, Weinstein [hnn.us]. All that means is that NARA now has a politcal appointee at its head, unlikely to stand up for freedom of information.
Re:Route around that censorship. (Score:1, Interesting)
I don't think YOU (Americans) should be alarmed... (Score:2, Interesting)
Given the timing and keywords that surfaced, I'd say this has to do with now actual process of pulling mineral treasurechest of Balkans, Kosovo, out of Serbia, which was traditionaly a Russian ally - therefore you can conclude which side is backed up by US government.
Deeper into the subject and considering the 1950-1960s period, I guess that reports that document systematic fleeing of Serbs from Kosovo during the post-WWII period of communist rule are the target documents, because of anticipation that Serbian side will argue that so largely prevailing ethnic majority of Albanians of today's Kosovo was achieved thru similary objectionable means as was 1999 wartime expulsion of Albanians by Serbs.
I can imagine, given the war and postwar american simpathy for Serb nationalists' (anticomunists') cause that acquiring such information had been deemed worthy. Now, after the fall of Soviets and rise of nationalistic Russia, the Serbs are no longer american darlings. They may have hated Soviets, which made them useful for United States, but to them Russians without communism are another story. Well, in GEOGRAPHY, especially global political geography, To US, Russia is yet another Too Big Country in Northern Asia with Nukes (hot porridge) and it HAS TO be an Evil Empire. Therefore, Serbia is percieved as an (at least potential) proxy to it and therefore its whatsoever strategic importance (material sources, position controling certain routes, conscriptable manpower) must be neutralised or closely conrolled (i.e. by means of strategic military base in Kosovo).
You don't want to put your new allies into tough position yourself, do you?
Re: Fucking registration (Score:2, Interesting)
This was a very good example of investigative reporting because it's also widely known that NC is only funding it's highway maintenance a fraction of what it needs to in order to maintain good roads. They published a substantial amount of analysis by road experts to show that the roads are heavily damaged by overweight vehicles.
These vehicles allowed on state roads were even overweight for federal roads and state roads are made substantially thinner than federal roads (thus saw more damage than an interstate would).
I think this was the best example of investigative reporting but it's not the only one. Articles like these are well worth the price of a subscription even if they occur infrequently.
Re:Orwell is here (Score:2, Interesting)
Google Could Help? (Score:2, Interesting)
It seems like in 10 years that I will be able to go to the library and look at a work of fiction - but I won't be able to see govt. docs that are on the shelves today. Which will be more important to preserve for public access?