Illuminating Blacked-Out Words (PDB,Iraq)

[PfcHammer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/10/technology/10crypto.html

Illuminating Blacked-Out Words
By JOHN MARKOFF

Published: May 10, 2004

European researchers at a security conference in Switzerland last week demonstrated computer-based techniques that can identify blacked-out words and phrases in confidential documents.

The researchers showed their software at the conference, the Eurocrypt, by analyzing a presidential briefing memorandum released in April to the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks. After analyzing the document, they said they had high confidence the word "Egyptian" had been blacked out in a passage describing the source of an intelligence report stating that Osama Bin Ladin was planning an attack in the United States.

<snip>

"They have exposed a technique that may now become less and less useful as a result," said Steven Aftergood, a senior research analyst at the Federation of American Scientists, of the research project. "We care because there are all kinds of things withheld by government agencies improperly."

[salin]

1. prediction

the whitehouse works even harder to just never release any documents, let alone blacked out/redacted documents. Of course it would be hard to do that for all executive branch agencies...

[gottaB]

2. Executive Order

Executive Order: Establishing the Office of Secret Communications

By the authority vested in me as President by Kathleen Harris and the Five Robes of the Apocaplyse of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment of the Office of Secret Communications. There is hereby established within the White House Office an Office of Secret Communications (the "Office") to be headed by a Deputy Assistant to the President for Secret Communications.

Section 2. Mission. The mission of the Office shall be to secretly advise the President, the heads of appropriate offices within the Executive Office of the President, and the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) on utilization of the most effective means for the United States Government to ensure secrecy in messages that will promote the interests of the United States abroad, prevent understanding, forge consensus among coalition partners of the United States, and misinform international audiences. The Office shall secretly provide such advice on activities in which the role of the United States Government is apparent or publicly acknowledged.

Section 3. Functions. In carrying out its mission:

Ha. Like I'm going to tell you that

[salin]

3. LOL! Exactly! n/t