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...
central focus implicit intelligence
an implicit repudiation of the CIA, which was established to be the central focus and the integrator of the nation's intelligence production.
act cannot categories classified executive information intelligence methods national protected security sources
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.
intelligence needed number start support system vast
If you think about all of the infrastructure needed to support that number of people, you start to get a sense of just how vast our intelligence system has become. Think about all the things going on that we don't know about.
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.
bureau cases employees problems tripped
I think there will be problems and cases where employees are tripped up by the tests, ... But the bureau as a whole will adapt.
argument enormous forgive might necessity speaking strictly tolerance understanding violations
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.
access control families government guys information interest larger public reaching shut whether
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.
ask exercise frustrated office perfectly press report
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.
action activity basically covert national taking
This whole activity was effectively concealed. It's baffling. It's basically a covert action taking place at the National Archives.
left stress tools urgent vital
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.
stress tools urgent vital
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.
disgrace history recent
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.
citizens leaves results secrecy
It results in unnecessary secrecy that leaves citizens in the dark.
government information perhaps using
It prompts speculation that perhaps the government was using information that was illegally obtained.