Intelligence Director Mike McConnell Updating Executive Order 12333

Intelligence Director Mike McConnell Updating Executive Order 12333

www.rr.com
(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.archives.gov

I guess the PAct doesn't give them enough power.

There are some legitimate reasons for "updating" this order, such as addressing the roles of new spy agencies, like the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, created since the order was written.

My concern is the continuing erosion of civil rights and liberties in this country and the opportunity, with the "updating" of this order by this administration, for that process to continue and escalate.

The original order is linked above.

www.rr.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 12-6-2007 by Icarus Rising]

Well now, guess what just got put on my list of things to do? Thanks for bringing this up.

the following instance of official government business may have some direct impact on how this EO gets modified, and what we are allowed to know about the pfficials records that it generates in the future.

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The following news item is take from the official web site of The House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform.

Thursday, June 21, 2007
Administration Oversight

Vice President Exempts His Office from the Requirements for Protecting Classified Information

The Oversight Committee has learned that over the objections of the National Archives, Vice President Cheney exempted his office from the presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information. The Vice President asserts that his office is not an “entity within the executive branch.”

As described in a letter from Chairman Waxman to the Vice President, the National Archives protested the Vice President's position in letters written in June 2006 and August 2006. When these letters were ignored, the National Archives wrote to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in January 2007 to seek a resolution of the impasse. The Vice President's staff responded by seeking to abolish the agency within the Archives that is responsible for implementing the President's executive order.

In his letter to the Vice President, Chairman Waxman writes: "I question both the legality and wisdom of your actions. ... [I]t would appear particularly irresponsible to give an office with your history of security breaches an exemption from the safeguards that apply to all other executive branch officials."

A fact sheet prepared by Chairman Waxman describes other instances in which the Vice President's office has sought to avoid oversight and accountability.

Documents referenced from this web source:

Committee Chairman's letter to the Vice President

Letter from the National Archive to the Attorney General

Second letter from the National Archive's to the Vice President's office

First letter from the National Archives to the Vice President's office

Fact Sheet on the Vice President's Efforts to avoid Oversight and Accountability

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The issue of centralized power is very complicated. As you can see from what's in this forum, everything relates to everything else. In this case, a power grab by the VP to cover his tracks can have long-term consequences for any of us to file a FOIA. In the case of a modified Executive Order, we may not be allowed to know what public record infornation it generates.

This is another example of why I go to ATS--news which makes me read/research more on a topic (Icarus) and researched replies (Justin)--thanks to both of you.
I can see an update of this EO. But not changes to violate the civil rights of Americans or reduce the openness of America society.

Interesting, though, that the CIA is "cleaning house" at the same time as this "update". Is this going to be a case for the CIA of "Look! See, we can't be bad, because we're sharing our darkest secrets." A misdirection in a sleight of hand trick. Look here, while over there (either at the CIA or the EO update) we'll do something worse. I hope young people read these outings, as some of us who have been around a while longer see the list and go, finally, confirmation of what we suspected. These are not just quaint (Buy US Savings Bonds...), typewritten bits of history.

And what a three ring circus, with Cheney wanting to play I've Got A Secret. But for his game, no one is allowed to know the secret. Again, update and clean house over here, while secrets pile up over there. Who does he think he is, a dictator? Yes.
I found John Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" a fascinating read.

Bombard your elected officials in Washington with your opinions/ideas, and vote.

The NRO was actually established in 1960. "The existence of the NRO was declassified by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, as recommended by the Director of Central Intelligence on September 18, 1992."[cite]

I really think the point about the NRO was less to do with the fact of its existence then the fact that it is not included in the EO as to its place in the intel pecking order.

I can understand why they made that decision. NRO is a terciary bureaucratic entity. It's one of those offices that can come or go on a whim. Now, they want it to go. The accountability that it was once intended to provide is now inconvenient. The U.S. government has gone through several phases during which it wanted to be more open...then later changed its mind. As a matter of civics, we should all pay attention to Federal institutions whenever they decide to be less accountable. When it comes to the conspiracy of centralized power, I can think of nothing better to exemplify that hidden agenda than this. Deliberately stepping away from accountability might be good for the politicians, but it can't be good for the rest of us.

I completely agree.

We need more accountability in government right now, not less.

The fact that there are currently efforts underway to aviod accountability is a glaring indication that circumstances exist, or are an imminent eventuality, for which government finds accountability undesirable.

And that...is why I'm here. Civics isn't cool, sweet, slick, or even something that will get you a date on Friday night, but it could keep you out of harm's way if and when your government decides they it knows better than you do.

The only time that any government would ever feel the need to avoid accountability would be...if...the leaders of that government had in mind to do something that was good them and bad for you. No matter where you live, that's a universal truth. That's why I say that the conspiracy to centralize power is real in the United States.

These fools Cheney, Wolfowitz, and Rumsfield have been in the deep dark trenches for decades in our Government. They don't want anything that sticks to them like flies on fly paper to reach the public domain if its the last thing they do. They should all be brought up on treason charges yesterday. Including Bush, his father, and Clinton. By the way, forget the Hague for these turds, I say you take them to an Islamic court in Iran and I don't really care if they get a fair trial of not.

In the long run, I don't think that history will be kind to many of hte peole you've just mentioned. Like all power-based movements throughout history, its only a matter of time 'til they over-play their hand. When all of this boils over, a lot of people will be looking for politicians to hang this on. Although it may very well come down to a revolt--which is not the same thing as a civil war--I'm hopeful that we will see some of that justice you want in my lifetime.

I'm hoping for something like the mythical hundredth monkey syndrome, a quantum leap in the individual awareness of the collective conscience.

A silent revolution.

I think we will eventually reach a tipping point where the truth, in any given situation, will become self evident instantaneously, and we will no longer be able to lie to each other. We will all be forced into moral and ethical purity, mutual accomodation, and equitably shared benefit.

I know it sounds utopian, but at the next quantum level of consciousness, it may be the only viable alternative.

That is, if there is anything viable to what I just typed to begin with.

Thos are commendable sentiments, but I think your moment of change is going to be quite loud and very messy. Revolution? Yes. Quiet? No.

I can see your point.

Many people, in their moment of realization, may take exception to being defrauded all along, and respond accordingly, if inappropriately, with all the suppressed anger and outrage that accompanies their newfound knowledge.

There may well be considerable backlash against those perceived to be responsible. In turn, those responsible may seek to pre-empt this blowback and turn or direct it to their advantage.

Accurate perception of the truth and appropriate action in response at the individual level will be key to weathering this storm.

THAT is exactly why I'm here. I couldn't said that any better myself. I hope that dgtempe and others will take note of that statement. There's a lot of truth in it.

I know that I can't stop this conspriacy, but I do know that I can arm lots of people with enough information to actually "do" something after the fact. The conspirators are short-sighted and they may not care that their agenda ends in failure. I care, and I know from my own experience as a bureaucrat that if somebody is ready to step in after the crash, good things can be done by good people.

I have to say that it is just sickening that our supposedly free press has nothing to say on these issues that have such a huge potential threat to all of us. It's bad enough that I have to actively look for news that is really detrimental to my freedom because they are more worried about their ratings than about the American people. Shouldn't we want to know? Shouldn't we complain to them when Britney Spears is more important than our civil liberties?