Steven Aftergood
Steven Aftergood
Steven Aftergoodis a specialist in physics and a political activist. He is a critic of U.S. government secrecy, generally favoring more openness. He directs the Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy and is the author of the Federation blog/newsletter Secrecy News...
four information legal sued
It is ironic, ... We sued the C.I.A. four times for this kind of information and lost. You can't get it through legal channels.
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We have an interest on public access to government information and in government control of such access. Don't shut down these guys whether they are communicating with their families or they are reaching out to the larger public.
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It prompts speculation that perhaps the government was using information that was illegally obtained.
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Some categories of classified information are protected by statute and not only by executive order. Intelligence sources and methods are protected by the National Security Act and cannot be declassified even by the say-so of the president.
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I presume it's an attempt to provide some context for the information that was disclosed. If such information was already in public circulation or widely disseminated, that could arguably mitigate anything the defendants did wrong by communicating it.
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I think there will be problems and cases where employees are tripped up by the tests, ... But the bureau as a whole will adapt.
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I think there is enormous understanding and tolerance for an argument from necessity, and there's willingness to retroactively forgive what might strictly speaking be violations of the law.
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It's perfectly understandable the press office would be frustrated by leaks. But they are the ones with the documents, they are the ones who need to exercise discipline. You can't ask the press not to report what they learn.
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This whole activity was effectively concealed. It's baffling. It's basically a covert action taking place at the National Archives.
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FOIA is one of the most vital tools we have left and it's urgent that it be protected. It's under stress in this climate, but it's not broken.
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FOIA is one of the most vital tools we have left, and it's urgent that it be protected. It's under stress in this climate, but it's not broken.
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A lot of what we think we know of our recent history may be mistaken, ... It is a disgrace that it should be so in a democracy, but it is.
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It results in unnecessary secrecy that leaves citizens in the dark.
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It makes reporter's job more difficult, but also gives them the responsibility to work to overcome the impediments put in their way.