Release of secret reports delayed-Spy agencies foil Obama plan for transparency

[kpete]

Source: Boston Globe

Release of secret reports delayed
Spy agencies foil Obama plan for transparency
By Bryan Bender
Globe Staff / November 29, 2009

WASHINGTON - President Obama will maintain a lid of secrecy on millions of pages of military and intelligence documents that were scheduled to be declassified by the end of the year, according to administration officials.

The missed deadline spells trouble for the White House’s promises to introduce an era of government openness, say advocates, who believe that releasing historical information enforces a key check on government behavior. They cite as an example the abuses by the Central Intelligence Agency during the Cold War, including domestic spying and assassinations of foreign officials, that were publicly outlined in a set of agency documents known as the “family jewels.’’

The documents in question - all more than 25 years old - were scheduled to be declassified on Dec. 31 under an order originally signed by President Bill Clinton and amended by President George W. Bush.

But now Obama finds himself in the awkward position of extending the secrecy, despite his repeated pledges of greater transparency, because his administration has been unable to prod spy agencies into conformance.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/11/29/declassification_of_secret_documents_to_be_delayed/

[glinda]

1. Obama needs to clean house. CIA is supposed to work FOR the president not against him.

[chill_wind]

2. For anyone still surprised, I recommend one piece of reading.

The Fall of Greg Craig
By Massimo Calabresi and Michael Weisskopf Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009


http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1940537,00.html

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[placton]

4. yeah, Obama would LOVE to do this, if only

he had the power - oh wait, he does. Just more of the same bullshit about how "others" prevent St. Obama from fulfilling promises.

[robo50]

10. You really might find yourself happier at

Free Republic.

You seem to have nothing but impossible standards for the President. I bet you never had command of a staff of over 2 people, certainly not the 2 million employed by the USA.

If you need a link as to how to get to the dish and bash Obama sites, where you will be SO MUCH happier, I'm sure we can help you out there.

You seem so unhappy here.

[chill_wind]

14. Who's the obiquitous "we"? Are you a mod?

You're talking to a poster whose profile has them here since 2001, presumably through all of the George Bush and best and worst of DU political times. How long have you been here again?

Let's not get too carried away with this "who belongs" and who doesn't stuff.

[JDPriestly]

5. Who is in charge in Obama's White House?

Do we have a secret government somewhere, where they don't stand for elections, don't answer for their actions, just enjoy their steady stream of salaries paid out of tax money and hold on tight to the documents that would show ......?

The more the documents are withheld, the more I ask what in the world do they show that we don't already know?

Don't ever complain about conspiracy theories. Apparently whatever is in these documents is worse than our worst imaginings.

What are these guys afraid of? Getting fired?

More than 25 years ago. Let's see, wouldn't that be about 1980? October Surprise anyone? And aren't some of the Kennedy Assassination documents still being withheld from the American people?

[librechik]

7. yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

http://www.amazon.com/Family-Secrets-Dynasty-Powerful-Influence/dp/1596915579/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259531791&sr=8-1


The representative democracy we think we have is an illusion, gone a long long time.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. "promises to introduce an era of government openness"

Promises don't mean much after the votes are cast.

[Mr. Sparkle]

8. Sunlight is the best disinfectant !

[librechik]

9. Is anyone else terrified

by a CIA which won't obey the President?

And remember, they have us ALL on tape. We don't have any privacy from them. And they know everything about us.

This is not the country I expected to live in. It's more like East Germany. And of course I don't blame Obama. This
is the way it was when he arrived. I imagine he's been spending the last few months finding out who is really in charge.

[shanti]

11. oh, that was most likely

spelled out to him immediately after being sworn in! he's NOT really in charge.

[robo50]

12. I ceratinly am.

I want so much to fire those guys who are standing in the way, but that would put the life of Obama in more jeopardy......

Does anyone REALLY think Kennedy was killed single-handedly by a drop-out former defector to Russia, with one single shot?

[chill_wind]

13. Leon Panetta was rubberstamped and hustled right through.

He was very clear about his lines in the sand before he was even confirmed.
He appears to be doing exactly the job for which he was chosen and hired to do. Protect and Gatekeep.

[mcablue]

15. Who's the President?

It's time to exert some authority. The CIA does not govern itself.