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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (8753)	11/3/2001 5:57:44 PM
From: MSI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

>"You have a claim that information should be available. Others have a claim that information should be kept secret in order to protect national interests. There is a process by which these claims are evaluated, balanced, and resolved." That's a pretty weak defense of the Administration action. The "process" has so far illegally bypassed Congress, and I suppose could eventually go to the Supreme Court, which likes the administration pretty well, since Pops got the hardliners in, and they've already shown they can repay the favor. Nowhere in that list are the "American people", who pay for all these shenanigans, but don't find out how much until years later. You are comfortable with it, but how many Americans really believe in any of the "National Security" secrets we're told not to think about? Sure, the atomic secrets were supposed to keep things under control, but that lasted all of about 6 months. Even Saddam Hussein's scientists have an updated copy of the Manhattan Project report. No American wants these things published, anyway, so that's not a problem, except the lack of our agencies ability to keep real secrets from the enemy, just from us. The FBI and CIA have been surprised to find agents with new houses bought with Russian bribe money to locate overseas agents, who then get killed or traded. No one wants that, either. It's all the other 99% of the information kept by everyone busily lining their own pockets, making deals with foreign oil companies, and hiding embarassing screw-ups, as well as the eventual large-scale criminal projects that accidently come out a few years later, that people get their dander up about. And, of course, it'll show wonderful, wise, heroic activities too, I'm sure. At least as many as might be expected, I'm sure. It's not about people "getting their way all the time", aged less than 3. It's more like Thomas Paine, who hardly ever got his way, or Patrick Henry, who got what he asked for once - "Give me liberty or give me death", and got both. And in this case Truth is closer to Liberty, and this brand new "official President's Secret's Act" is running off in exactly the opposite direction as fast as a scalded cat. Mr. Patrick Henry didn't know much about being bureacrat or running for election, so he looked at it differently. He said the key is to know the "whole truth", which has as much in it for us today as it did then: "Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. " libertyonline.hypermall.com

To: Ilaine who wrote (8753)	11/3/2001 9:46:05 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Hi CB, Re: You have a claim that information should be available. Others have a claim that information should be kept secret in order to protect national interests. We will agree to disagree on this. I sincerely and fervently believe that the interests that are to be covered up would appall the nation should they find out who is really being served by this and the former Bush government. I'll say in no uncertain terms, I do not believe it is the general public whose interests are being served and that is why the administration is using this device to hide the truth from the American people. It really does beg the question - what do they have to hide? Perhaps I naively thought our nation's interests were to the subject of the State of the Union address and many other Presidential speeches, among other sources. Am I hopelessly naive to think that what the Administration is telling us that it is doing in the nation's interest is no such thing? That the speeches are just so much eyewash and hog's wallow. Such a conclusion is beginning to seem unavoidable. I wanna find out about all the back room deals for the best bribers. Don't you? Salaams, Ray :)